Alkalinity problem can’t solved

[johndo]

Please help.
I am always having issues with Alkalinity.
When prepared RO water tested at i0 then mixed with Reef Crystal Salt for 24hrs tested at 11.8 Why?
After did water change tested again at 11.2.
Any suggestions
Thanks

 

[HuduVudu]

Generally speaking salts that aren't "Pro" are usually intended for FOWLR type tanks or low demand. The assumption is that the alk spike won't matter and it will help your tank in the long run to have the alk replenishment.

If you don't want this in your salt then you need to switch salts.

 

[johndo]

Generally speaking salts that aren't "Pro" are usually intended for FOWLR type tanks or low demand. The assumption is that the alk spike won't matter and it will help your tank in the long run to have the alk replenishment.

If you don't want this in your salt then you need to switch salts.

If my Alkalinity keep stayed around 11-12 should it be ok?
What others salt you would recommend?
Thanks

 

[Jekyl]

I use coral pro and love it. It also mixes at 11 or so. Do you have coral or just fish? Mine mixes that high and I still have to dose baking soda.

 

[johndo]

I use coral pro and love it. It also mixes at 11 or so. Do you have coral or just fish? Mine mixes that high and I still have to dose baking soda.

I have coral fish and anemones.

 

[Jekyl]

I have coral fish and anemones.

The idea as said previously is that your coral will use up the alkalinity in the water. Then it will be replenished in water changes as you go.

 

[johndo]

fish

The idea as said previously is that your coral will use up the alkalinity in the water. Then it will be replenished in water changes as you go.

So that it’s okay to stay at that level for Alkalinity that won’t cause any problems?

 

[Jekyl]

Right. How are the rest of your parameters? How often and big of water changes are you doing?

 

[johndo]

Right. How are the rest of your parameters? How often and big of water changes are you doing?

Salinity 1.024
Calcium 460
Magnesium 1260
Use Salifer for the test

 

[Jekyl]

How are your nitrates and phosphates?

 

[johndo]

How are your nitrates and phosphates?

I started do water change weekly for the last 2 months But never tested nitrates or phosphate. The tank been there over 10 yrs now. been traveling overseas back and forward. Since Pandemic I am able to have more time for it.

 

[Ippyroy]

If your Alk is too high, dose muriatic acid to lower it while mixing. There are a few threads about this on here. If your tank is new and you are doing smaller weekly water changes, it shouldn't be an issue. It will just help keep the Alk where it should be.

Lowering high Alkalinity when mixing new batch of Instant Ocean

Every 2 weeks I mix up a new batch 66L of new salt water to attain 1.026SG & 75degrees using RO water (0 tds) and Instant Ocean (purple pails). The result is always a dKH of 11.9. Since my desired dKH is 8.2, I have been using 31.45% Muriatic Acid, then adding 30 ml of this acid to 66L of...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Ippyroy]

I started do water change weekly for the last 2 months But never tested nitrates or phosphate. The tank been there over 10 yrs now. been traveling overseas back and forward. Since Pandemic I am able to have more time for it.

10 years! Nice. Research dosing muriatic acid for Reef Crystals to lower Alk. it is very simple and inexpensive. I am debating doing it as well.

 

[johndo]

10 years! Nice. Research dosing muriatic acid for Reef Crystals to lower Alk. it is very simple and inexpensive. I am debating doing it as well.

 

[johndo]

Dosing muriatic acid?
Or should I switch salt?

 

[Rmckoy]

With alk in the 11-12 range.
Shouldn’t mag be a little higher than 1260?

 

[johndo]

With alk in the 11-12 range.
Shouldn’t mag be a little higher than 1260?

It was at 1305 last time I checked. But after I did water change went down 1260.

 

[Ippyroy]

Dosing muriatic acid?
Or should I switch salt?

I'd personally switch salts. Choose a salt that matches closer to you desired parameters and meets your budget. A nice hint: It's really cheap and easy to raise Alk in saltwater while mixing and/or storing by dosing Sodium Bicarbonate. It will not cause precipitation nor any other issues other than raise the Alk. The best part is it is very cheap and readily available. Here is a a few years worth for 25 dollars.

 

[Spare time]

You can keep alk at that level. At 1.026, the alk of reef crystals is 13. It won't harm anything unless you have an ULNS.

 

[johndo]

You can keep alk at that level. At 1.026, the alk of reef crystals is 13. It won't harm anything unless you have an ULNS.

My salinity at 1.023-24 should I raise it to 1.026?