Alk Question?

CuseReefer84 · 03/16/2018, 08:58 AM

Is my Alk supposed to go up with me putting any in?

CuseReefer84 · 03/16/2018, 08:59 AM

That was supposed to say, without me putting any in?

BrettDS · 03/16/2018, 10:18 AM

The answer is... maybe. If you did a water change with a salt mix that has higher alkalinity than your tank then that would raise your alkalinity.

It’s also possible that it was a testing error or within the margin of error of the test kit. You don’t give a lot of details here.

What is your alkalinity level and how much did it go up? What test kit are you using? Have you done any water changes or added anything else to the tank?

CuseReefer84 · 03/16/2018, 10:54 AM

Sorry, here's a little more info. Last time I did the test was 3 days ago and it was at 8.3 now when I tested it this morning it was at 10.9. I'm using a Salifert Alkalinity test kit. And I havnt done a water change yet. I do them every Sunday. I do 15 gallon water change on my 75g with 20g sump. Thank you for any help, greatly appreciate it.

CuseReefer84 · 03/16/2018, 10:59 AM

Oh and I havnt added anything to it yet, I've only had it up for about a month and a week, but it was someone else's FOWLR. I took out all the old sand and put in 2 bags of live sand. Nothing is going wrong in the Aquarium (knock on wood) my corals all have great polyp detention and healing nicely. I do make my own RODI water also, and I'm using Fritz salt.

CuseReefer84 · 03/16/2018, 11:00 AM

I wish I knew how to post pictures on here, cuz I'd love to share it.

BrettDS · 03/16/2018, 11:03 AM

I’ve never used the fritz salt, but google says that it should be at 8.5, so 8.3 is certainly a reasonable number. 10.9 is very high, especially if you haven’t added any additives. I suspect testing error. I would go ahead and try to test again and I suspect you’ll get a result closer to 8.3

CuseReefer84 · 03/16/2018, 11:07 AM

K, I'm a do it again now, I'll let ya know, I tested my calcium and it went down, so maybe I did test wrong or something.

CuseReefer84 · 03/16/2018, 11:16 AM

WOW! You were absolutely right. Lol. It tested at around 8.3 just like you said. I obviously tested wrong last time. Thank you a lot!

03/16/2018, 08:58 AM	#1
CuseReefer84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Syracuse Posts: 103	Alk Question? Is my Alk supposed to go up with me putting any in?

03/16/2018, 10:18 AM	#3
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	Alk Question? The answer is... maybe. If you did a water change with a salt mix that has higher alkalinity than your tank then that would raise your alkalinity. It’s also possible that it was a testing error or within the margin of error of the test kit. You don’t give a lot of details here. What is your alkalinity level and how much did it go up? What test kit are you using? Have you done any water changes or added anything else to the tank? Last edited by BrettDS; 03/16/2018 at 10:59 AM.

03/16/2018, 08:59 AM	#2
CuseReefer84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Syracuse Posts: 103	That was supposed to say, without me putting any in?

03/16/2018, 10:54 AM	#4
CuseReefer84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Syracuse Posts: 103	Sorry, here's a little more info. Last time I did the test was 3 days ago and it was at 8.3 now when I tested it this morning it was at 10.9. I'm using a Salifert Alkalinity test kit. And I havnt done a water change yet. I do them every Sunday. I do 15 gallon water change on my 75g with 20g sump. Thank you for any help, greatly appreciate it.

03/16/2018, 10:59 AM	#5
CuseReefer84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Syracuse Posts: 103	Oh and I havnt added anything to it yet, I've only had it up for about a month and a week, but it was someone else's FOWLR. I took out all the old sand and put in 2 bags of live sand. Nothing is going wrong in the Aquarium (knock on wood) my corals all have great polyp detention and healing nicely. I do make my own RODI water also, and I'm using Fritz salt.

03/16/2018, 11:00 AM	#6
CuseReefer84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Syracuse Posts: 103	I wish I knew how to post pictures on here, cuz I'd love to share it.

03/16/2018, 11:03 AM	#7
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	I’ve never used the fritz salt, but google says that it should be at 8.5, so 8.3 is certainly a reasonable number. 10.9 is very high, especially if you haven’t added any additives. I suspect testing error. I would go ahead and try to test again and I suspect you’ll get a result closer to 8.3

03/16/2018, 11:07 AM	#8
CuseReefer84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Syracuse Posts: 103	K, I'm a do it again now, I'll let ya know, I tested my calcium and it went down, so maybe I did test wrong or something.

03/16/2018, 11:16 AM	#9
CuseReefer84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Syracuse Posts: 103	WOW! You were absolutely right. Lol. It tested at around 8.3 just like you said. I obviously tested wrong last time. Thank you a lot!