Alkalinity?

[FalcoNg]

Well I have been cycling my bc29 for over three weeks now and my ammonia and nitrite levels have gone down to next to nothing, while my nitrates are around 7.

 

I figure that I am ready to start adding a clean-up crew but I am little worried about the alkalinity of the water. Using my Seachem test kit, it has consistently measured between 5 and 5.5 for the past three weeks.

 

I am wondering if I need to raise it to somewhere between 8-12 and how to do so.

[burtbollinger]

I would simply use some alk buffer to bring it up....a nice water change with some up-to-par salt water might also be in order (5 gal or so)...

 

how are the rest of your parameters?

[viinse]

First determine if your test is correct. Try API test or have LFS test to verify.

 

What salt are you using?

 

Read this http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Also read this about dosing baking soda or soda ash to correct Alk.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

First determine if your test is correct before making adjustments.

[FalcoNg]

Thanks for the replies,

 

I think I just made a goofball mistake. Looks like the kit measures it in meq/L, not dKH. Guess I'll search online to look for a conversion.

 

As of yesterday my parameters are as follows:

 

pH 8.1

Alk 5 meq/L

NH3 0.01 mg/L

NO2 0.01 mg/L

NO3 5 mg/L

sg 1.023

temp 80F

 

edit*

 

Well from using an online converter it seems like my dKH is at 14 which is too high. Guess I have the opposite problem than originally posted.

[masterbuilder]

http://ozreef.org/library/tables/alkalinity_conversion.html

[smedge]

I'd say you are at or near the end of your cycle and that it's CUC time. Grats. Use water changes and or chaeto to keep the nitrates in check long term.

[FalcoNg]

Thanks,

 

Going to get a couple errands done then its straight to a local reefers house that has kindly donated some chaeto and after that its to the LFS for my first livestock purchase.