Is my alkalinity too high?

[SideCar_Falcon619]

Did a test last night and found the kh or alkalinity too be at 214.8 which is the top of the range on the API test kit. Judging by ranges on my aqua planner app that is a little high. They say it should be between 125-200...

 

l noticed issues after a water change 3 days ago. My Xenias, frogspawn, Kenya Tree, and Acan all closed up and have been mostly closed up looking since. Then that night I found my cleaner shrimp dead.

 

Today the corals still look unhappy but seem to be recovering...

 

They only odd parameter I see is the alkalinity.

 

Any ideas?

[Tamberav]

What do you test salinity with? Strange it would be high from just a water change.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

I use a refractometer. However I now know salinity is the issue.

 

I have a lot of issue reading the refractometer because the lines are so small... What's ideal? Anybody have a pic of the ideal level on a refractometer so I can compare?

[RayWhisperer]

I never measured ppm, so I had to google the conversion. You're at a bit over 12dkh. 12 is about the highest I've ever run, and that was with a really stocked tank. I also ran it on the "dirty" side, which I think helped when having high alk.

 

I agree with tambourine, seems awfully strange to see a spike like that from just a water change. So, on top of salinity, what kind of salt are you using, and do you dose? If so, what, and how?

 

As for salinity on a refractometer, it should be relatively easy to see what you are reading. The border of the blue to whit background is what you are reading. That should be at about 35 ppt, or 1.025 specific gravity (whichever side of the scale you measure from.) now we'll add another question, or 2 into the mix. Is your refractometer calibrated, and what was it calibrated with?

[SideCar_Falcon619]

I never measured ppm, so I had to google the conversion. You're at a bit over 12dkh. 12 is about the highest I've ever run, and that was with a really stocked tank. I also ran it on the "dirty" side, which I think helped when having high alk.

 

I agree with tambourine, seems awfully strange to see a spike like that from just a water change. So, on top of salinity, what kind of salt are you using, and do you dose? If so, what, and how?

 

As for salinity on a refractometer, it should be relatively easy to see what you are reading. The border of the blue to whit background is what you are reading. That should be at about 35 ppt, or 1.025 specific gravity (whichever side of the scale you measure from.) now we'll add another question, or 2 into the mix. Is your refractometer calibrated, and what was it calibrated with?

 

salinity measured the same at the lfs as i got at home. I used RODI water.

 

I don't mix my own salt water I buy it from the lfs and normally I have no issue... I think i may have accidentally added more water than I took out during the water change... but it couldnt have been by that much?

 

I do dose I do do a cap full of the Kent nano 2 part because i had low readings, mostly calcium. now everything is much better. A capful of each nightly is what my tank calls for when i syringe drew to measure.

[RayWhisperer]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/bigimages/lg_refractometer.jpg

[RayWhisperer]

Ok, now we're getting into the meat of the issue. While Kent nano 2 part isn't a bad product, dosing by the cap full without measuring what's needed is bad. I'd suggest going on to bulk reef supply and watching the video on dosing 2 part, if you are going to continue dosing. More than likely, this is what caused your issue.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

Ok, now we're getting into the meat of the issue. While Kent nano 2 part isn't a bad product, dosing by the cap full without measuring what's needed is bad. I'd suggest going on to bulk reef supply and watching the video on dosing 2 part, if you are going to continue dosing. More than likely, this is what caused your issue.

 

I did slightly more than recommended because i was dialing it in. before the recommended amount was not improving the levels. It's a VERY tiny amount more tho. ill measure now brb

my tank calls for 3 1/2 ML and I'm doing 4 ML

 

Could it be that bad?

 

it wasnt until i started doing 4 ml that the numbers even started getting better

[RayWhisperer]

I don't think you are following what I am saying.....

Dosing by the capful because the directions say to do so, is wrong. I'm saying you need to measure you calcium and alkalinity and dose according to those results.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

also I do 25% water changes weekly

ahhhhh my mistake.

 

ok so I need to change the amount I'm dosing now that the levels are better?

 

correct?

last nights readings were:

 

Alk/KH: 214.8

 

Calcium: 380

[RayWhisperer]

What I would suggest is to stop dosing altogether for a while. Let everything settle down. Then, do a large water change. Like 50%, or more. That way you'll get back to NSW parameters. Then, you'll start dosing again, but only after measuring your cal and alk.

 

So, for example, say by measuring daily, you figure out your tank uses 5 ml of alk and cal in a week, you would dose 1 ml of alk and cal daily. Keep in mind, this is only an example. I don't use Kent 2 part, nor do I know what tank volume you have, nor what your consumption rate is.

[RayWhisperer]

Ok, flawed math I used there.... HARD MATH IS!

Lemme try this again.

You measure cal and alk every day for a week, and establish a consumption rate. So, say for example, your rate is 5 ml of each, over a week, you could dose about 3/4 ml daily, or 5 ml once a week. Again, this is only an example. Also, keep in mind. As corals grow, they will consume more. So, what's right now, won't be right in a month or two.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

Ok, flawed math I used there.... HARD MATH IS!

Lemme try this again.

You measure cal and alk every day for a week, and establish a consumption rate. So, say for example, your rate is 5 ml of each, over a week, you could dose about 3/4 ml daily, or 5 ml once a week. Again, this is only an example. Also, keep in mind. As corals grow, they will consume more. So, what's right now, won't be right in a month or two.

 

got it!

thanks for the help. I already did what I needed to correct the salinity. It looks better now and my acan is already opening back up.

 

When its time for my next water change I will do 50% and start watching the levels closer.

 

do you recommend a better dosing system?

[RayWhisperer]

BRS or B-ionic have always been the gold standard, IMO. That's just my opinion, though. I really couldn't say if one brand is any better than another. With those 2, it's more about how much you dose. If you don't use much, B-ionic is probably better for you. If you are going through a gallon every 6 months, BRS would be the better choice.

[Clown79]

I use esv bionic and love it.

 

The best way to dose is to determine consumption use of the tank.

 

Test newly mixed salt water

Test tank water after water change

Test the tanks water a day after the water change.

 

You should be able to determine the tanks usage that way. It may be a week of daily testing to figure it out.