Alk too low

benjidick · 12/31/2014, 04:52 PM

Read forum on cyano, stating low alk was a cause of cyano algae. Alk reading 1.22. How fast can I bring up to 1.26?

disc1 · 12/31/2014, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjidick

Read forum on cyano, stating low alk was a cause of cyano algae. Alk reading 1.22. How fast can I bring up to 1.26?

Those numbers don't make any sense as alk numbers. Are you talking about alkalinity or salinity? Salinity should be at 1.026 SG. Alkalinity should be in the 8 dKH to 10 dKH range. There are other units for alkalinity, but none where 1.26 would be anywhere near a target.

benjidick · 12/31/2014, 05:38 PM

Sorry, present reading 1.022

Fudz Cwerner · 12/31/2014, 06:28 PM

1.022...so you are referring to salinity? An Alk that low would mean you are reading in Meq/L and 1.022 is way way way too low. It needs to be 2.5-4 meq/L which is equivalent to a 7-11 dKH. I aim for the middle of the band and try to maintain mine at 3.2meq/L or 9dKH.

outssider · 12/31/2014, 06:34 PM

use salt water as your top off water, that will bring it up slowly. Fish have a much harder time with increasing salinity than decreasing it.

so we are talking about salinity not alk

I don't think this is going to affect the algae problem though

wrott · 12/31/2014, 08:51 PM

You need to measure alk, not SG. And increasing it does not ward off cyano, sorry, I've tried it after reading similar accounts.
Alk should be ~3.0 Meq/L, or ~8.5 dKH. NSW is ~2.6 Meq/L if I'm not mistaken, and if you keep it >4 Meq/L, you may see alk burn on sps. Europeans kept there tanks w/ high alk a few years ago, I'm not sure if they still do now w/ zeo.
Randy has some good articles about alk if you search.

I edited

whosurcaddie · 12/31/2014, 08:53 PM

I'm confused....

Sapelo · 01/01/2015, 05:44 AM

Agree that regardless of which value we are receiving, neither are the culprit of a cyano outbreak.

12/31/2014, 04:52 PM	#1
benjidick Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: southcarolina Posts: 107	Alk too low Read forum on cyano, stating low alk was a cause of cyano algae. Alk reading 1.22. How fast can I bring up to 1.26? __________________ bd Current Tank Info: 30 gal,liverock,whisper,powerheads

12/31/2014, 05:38 PM	#3
benjidick Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: southcarolina Posts: 107	Sorry, present reading 1.022 __________________ bd Current Tank Info: 30 gal,liverock,whisper,powerheads

12/31/2014, 06:28 PM	#4
Fudz Cwerner Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Tx Posts: 115	1.022...so you are referring to salinity? An Alk that low would mean you are reading in Meq/L and 1.022 is way way way too low. It needs to be 2.5-4 meq/L which is equivalent to a 7-11 dKH. I aim for the middle of the band and try to maintain mine at 3.2meq/L or 9dKH. __________________ Live the dream! 210g mixed reef, AI Hydra/Vega combo, 3x MP40, Octopus 5000, BR140 running Biopellets 60g cube sea horse tank, AI Nano, 2x MP10, XS160, BR70 running Biopellets.

12/31/2014, 08:51 PM	#6
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	You need to measure alk, not SG. And increasing it does not ward off cyano, sorry, I've tried it after reading similar accounts. Alk should be ~3.0 Meq/L, or ~8.5 dKH. NSW is ~2.6 Meq/L if I'm not mistaken, and if you keep it >4 Meq/L, you may see alk burn on sps. Europeans kept there tanks w/ high alk a few years ago, I'm not sure if they still do now w/ zeo. Randy has some good articles about alk if you search. I edited __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt Last edited by wrott; 12/31/2014 at 09:27 PM.

12/31/2014, 06:34 PM	#5
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	use salt water as your top off water, that will bring it up slowly. Fish have a much harder time with increasing salinity than decreasing it. so we are talking about salinity not alk I don't think this is going to affect the algae problem though

12/31/2014, 08:53 PM	#7
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	I'm confused....

01/01/2015, 05:44 AM	#8
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Agree that regardless of which value we are receiving, neither are the culprit of a cyano outbreak.