Extremely High DKH

ReefingDan · Oct 30, 2020

Hello everyone. I'm new to the reef hobby. I had a 40 breeder at 1 time before I cracked it that was FWLRO but recently got a coral added in my new aquarium. I am running a 20 long because its easier for me to work with for now. My concern is that my DKH in both the tank and the salt water I mix is upwards of 20. I figured first tests were wrong but I have tested both the tank and my mixed salt water 3 times with same results. I went with this salt mix because I've seen many people have extreme success with their tanks but not sure what I'm doing wrong. I get RODI water from a LFS and only add replenish by searches to my topoff water. The gravity of my salt water is 1.023-1.025. I don't have a refractometer so I use the hydrometer. Im not seeing negative results with my chalice frag yet but don't want to keep waiting only to find its to late to change anything. I just lost my anemone that I had and figured maybe it was because of the ammonia spike of .25-.5 ppm but after this new test I'm not sure.

HairyGary · Oct 30, 2020

Sounds like bad test kit or reagent. Which one u using? I'd try a different test kit.

ReefingDan · Oct 30, 2020

HairyGary said:
Sounds like bad test kit or reagent. Which one u using? I'd try a different test kit.

I am using API test kits maybe it is the testing kits considering some of my tests I do are not the same as dip sticks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 30, 2020

I never understood how a dip stick could possibly work to measure alkalinity in seawater.

Try the API kit on some of the new water. If they gave you tap instead of RO/DI, it might get to 20 dKH.

ReefingDan · Oct 30, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I never understood how a dip stick could possibly work to measure alkalinity in seawater.

Try the API kit on some of the new water. If they gave you tap instead of RO/DI, it might get to 20 dKH.

I use dip stick for the nitrate and ph test I do the api drops for everything else

laverda · Oct 31, 2020

API ammonia test kits are notorious for being In accurate. Invest in some better test kits. Check your hydrometer against a know sample or a You could ask another reefer close to you to test your water or have a LFS test it.

jccaclimber · Oct 31, 2020

Does the hydrometer read 1.000 in RO water?
I question the test result as well. Maybe have the LFS test your tank water?

ReefingDan · Nov 2, 2020

jccaclimber said:
Does the hydrometer read 1.000 in RO water?
I question the test result as well. Maybe have the LFS test your tank water?

Yes the hydrometer reads under 1.014 with my RO/DI water.

KrisReef · Nov 2, 2020

ReefingDan said:
Yes the hydrometer reads under 1.014 with my RO/DI water.

Welcome to Reef2Reef.
I think RODI water should read 1.000.
It's been a while since I took chem but I do recall that.

Pistondog · Nov 2, 2020

hey reefingdan,
If you like the hobby, try to invest some good test sets.
Hanna is expensive, but gives a number.
Dkh is maybe the most important thing to get right for a reef tank.

Saltwater Aquarium Alkalinity Colorimeter (dKH) Checker® HC

The HI772 Marine Alkalinity Checker®HC (Handheld Colorimeter) provides a simple, accurate and cost-effective way to measure alkalinity as dKH (degrees of calcium hardness).

www.hannainst.com

Daddy-o · Nov 2, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I never understood how a dip stick could possibly work to measure alkalinity in seawater.

Try the API kit on some of the new water. If they gave you tap instead of RO/DI, it might get to 20 dKH.

Maybe they gave him saltwater

jccaclimber · Nov 2, 2020

ReefingDan said:
Yes the hydrometer reads under 1.014 with my RO/DI water.

Is that a typo, or is that the lowest reading? If it’s the lowest reading it sounds like there’s not a great way to verify the device accuracy.

ReefingDan · Nov 3, 2020

jccaclimber said:
Is that a typo, or is that the lowest reading? If it’s the lowest reading it sounds like there’s not a great way to verify the device accuracy.

That is the lowest reading on my hydrometer. The needle is literally rock bottom in the hydrometer.

ReefingDan · Nov 3, 2020

Daddy-o said:
Maybe they gave him saltwater

API's test strip test both fresh and salt water but dkh isn't measured for freshwater with the strips I buy.

ReefingDan · Nov 3, 2020

This is my ammonia test. Been less than a week since my anemone died. He was removed from the aquarium. Last test for ammonia was between .25 and .50 I did two tests but both with same results. Im not over feeding. I wonder if dosing ammo lock is keeping it from going to nitrite? Doing a 20% water change now and will probably do another either tomorrow or Thursday. I will test my Nitrate and DKH before water changes and post results too. I've never had this problem before.... Im freaking out.

Daddy-o · Nov 3, 2020

Time for the man @brandon429

CMMorgan · Nov 3, 2020

ReefingDan said:
This is my ammonia test. Been less than a week since my anemone died. He was removed from the aquarium. Last test for ammonia was between .25 and .50 I did two tests but both with same results. Im not over feeding. I wonder if dosing ammo lock is keeping it from going to nitrite? Doing a 20% water change now and will probably do another either tomorrow or Thursday. I will test my Nitrate and DKH before water changes and post results too. I've never had this problem before.... Im freaking out.

Holy smokes on the ammonia!!! That would explain dead things. As for DKH... I second the test kits. I was adding and adding and adding superbuffer because my kit kept saying I was low. Then my tank went haywire and my LFS tested it.... I was at 17. Turns out my kit, which I had only recently purchased has sat on the shelf a long time... it was expired.
Now, my tank is crazy messed up... algae blooms, my nitrates are crazy high.... water change and patience.... that's my best advice.
Also I got the most consistent water parameters when I filled 5 gallon bottles at Walmart or Publix for RODI. It was less than the LFS and my water parameters were always the same. Could not say the same from my LFS.... can't say why. Maybe the stores change the filters and membrane more often?
Best of luck.... we are here if you need help.