i have been using Fritz Reef Pro Mix. I have noticed that I can’t get my Alkalinity stable. Always low. Someone was saying it’s the mix im using. Does anyone have any idea on this? And is there a better mix I should be using?
Best salt for mixing
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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Low alkalinity in a reef tank is normal if you are not dosing any, and isn't typically satisfied by water changes with any mix unless the demand for it is unusually low.
Thank you. I’m kinda new at the reef. About 9 months. I have a 90 gallon reef. I am hand dosing. It takes forever to get my alkalinity up where it should be and the I do a water change of 30% and it’s down again
Randy Holmes-Farley
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What alkalinity level are you targeting and what salt mix are you using?
IMO, 7-11 dKH is fine, and if you are at the low end, no salt mix will cause a lowering due to a water change.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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The salt mix is not lowering that alkalinity then. Have you measured the new salt mix?
Most likely, it is just tank demand, and you need to look to dosing. That is expected.
Most likely, it is just tank demand, and you need to look to dosing. That is expected.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I don't know what you mean you can barely get to 7.
That is 7 dKH, not 7 meq/L, right?
Just dose more.
What are you dosing and how much?
That is 7 dKH, not 7 meq/L, right?
Just dose more.
What are you dosing and how much?
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Those calcium and magnesium values are well above the manufacturer starget levels for normal IO at 35 ppt salinity (I assume you do not mean reef Crystals). I suspect either the salt mix has become nonhomogeneous, the salinity is higher than 35 ppt, or the kits are off.
How are you measuring salinity and what do you think it is?
FWIW, the Red Sea magnesium kit often gives higher readings than reality.
(Instant Ocean)
It is higher, I suspect non-**** also. It's the 5gal bucket, so the Brazil Nut effect in transportation. Before I was using the box with 4 bags, and always using a whole bag at a time. LFS was out of boxes.
Normally it's Alk 11 with Ca 400-440 and Mg 1200-ish, with water at 25c and s.g. of 1.026. I use a refractometer that's properly calibrated.
Next time I get a barrel, I'm going to roll it around, top over bottom, a few times before opening it. I like the barrels to stockpile them, and they have a rubber seal.
lilbitreefer
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I use Hw Marine and it mixes great with a pretty high alkalinity.
hmmm... interesting. I've heard others liking the Fritz salt and their claim on levels are in the ideal range. I just bought a box and plan to use it as soon as my Red Sea salt is done... Maybe I'll go mix a batch for the next water change and measure the levels.
rkpetersen
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I switched from Fritz RPM, to IO Reef Crystals, to Red Sea Coral Pro. I find that using the Coral Pro, in particular, is letting me reducing my dosing by about 6% while keeping my alk steady at 9-9.5. I have to say that I like how clear the CP mixes up as well, although you can't let it sit, especially if you warm it to tank temp.
