Help alkalinity crash

[tinyfellows]

So I just started my reef 3 weeks ago I picked up the Hanna alkalinity checker yesterday tested my alk it was 6.5 but I only have a Cuc and a Duncan acan mushroom and zoa. I was a little confused on what would be sucking it up so fast. Fast forward today and I checked it after work and the checker said 1.2? My Duncan is closed the mushroom zoa and acan are looking fine. I have no clue what could have tanked it so fast. The only new thing I did was turn the skimmer on 2 days ago but my ph is high at 8.1. My phosphate was .03 yesterday and nitrates were 5 as well. I’m mixing up 5 gallons of fresh salt water right now. Any thoughts?

 

[jimk60]

There's no way you used that much alk in one day. Either checker is wrong or error in performing the test.

 

[tinyfellows]

Ok I feel super dumb I realized I put an empty cuvette into checker to zero it. Redid the test and it read 6.9

 

[tinyfellows]

That’s kinda what I was thinking but I went into full panic mode thanks for the response

 

[Wasabiroot]

6.9 is a little low. I'd aim to raise it closer to NSW levels, around 8-8.4. Most commercial salts mix in this range so it will also give you the ability to make quick water changes in an emergency without worrying about the alk. Longterm there's nothing saying 6.9 is BAD per se, but it's close enough to 6 that I'd be worried about the total buffering capacity of your water.

 

[tinyfellows]

I’m using tropic Marin pro salt mix which if I’m not mistaken mixes at around 7. Right now I just have a Duncan mushroom acan and zoa with some clean up crew in the tank. Im letting everything just settle in nicely before I add more coral or even my first fish. I plan to use all for reef later. Im also new and wanting to make sure I’ve got flow, lighting, salinity and the basic stuff dialed in before adding in another factor to the tank like dosing. If that makes sense

 

[jimk60]

I’m using tropic Marin pro salt mix which if I’m not mistaken mixes at around 7. Right now I just have a Duncan mushroom acan and zoa with some clean up crew in the tank. Im letting everything just settle in nicely before I add more coral or even my first fish. I plan to use all for reef later. Im also new and wanting to make sure I’ve got flow, lighting, salinity and the basic stuff dialed in before adding in another factor to the tank like dosing. If that makes sense

That makes perfect sense! Instant ocean salt mixes a little higher and might be a cheaper alternative till you have more corals

 

[Wasabiroot]

Agreed. Sounds like a great approach!

That makes perfect sense! Instant ocean salt mixes a little higher and might be a cheaper alternative till you have more corals

I

 

[Tankkeepers]

I’m using tropic Marin pro salt mix which if I’m not mistaken mixes at around 7. Right now I just have a Duncan mushroom acan and zoa with some clean up crew in the tank. Im letting everything just settle in nicely before I add more coral or even my first fish. I plan to use all for reef later. Im also new and wanting to make sure I’ve got flow, lighting, salinity and the basic stuff dialed in before adding in another factor to the tank like dosing. If that makes sense

That's not good at all get a quality salt instant ocean I ok

Ime red sea cost only alittle more then IO but is alot better

Get rid of that salt tho and get a reef salt of some sort that mixes to the correct parameters to begin with

 

[homer1475]

6.9 is a little low. I'd aim to raise it closer to NSW levels, around 8-8.4. Most commercial salts mix in this range so it will also give you the ability to make quick water changes in an emergency without worrying about the alk. Longterm there's nothing saying 6.9 is BAD per se, but it's close enough to 6 that I'd be worried about the total buffering capacity of your water.

Just a little correction.... Natural Salt Water(NSW) is actually right around 7dkh, not 8. Nothing wrong with running a tank at 7DKH. Heck I've seen amazing tanks run right around 6.5.

That's not good at all get a quality salt instant ocean I ok

Ime red sea cost only alittle more then IO but is alot better

Get rid of that salt tho and get a reef salt of some sort that mixes to the correct parameters to begin with

And what exactly is in red sea salt that makes it so much better then IO? You do realize IO has been around since the early 60's? And is the number one manufactured salt in the world? Many, many tank of the months, and many public aquariums use IO exclusively. Been many polls over the years, and IO is used by probably close to 1/2 the reefers on these forums.

You obviously like Red sea salt, and thats perfectly fine, but to say IO is not a sufficient reef salt is just plain wrong.

FWIW... IO mixes up to around 11DKH, 400CAL, and 1500MAG what makes it not a reef salt?

 

[Tankkeepers]

Just a little correction.... Natural Salt Water(NSW) is actually right around 7dkh, not 8. Nothing wrong with running a tank at 7DKH. Heck I've seen amazing tanks run right around 6.5.




And what exactly is in red sea salt that makes it so much better then IO? You do realize IO has been around since the early 60's? And is the number one manufactured salt in the world? Many, many tank of the months, and many public aquariums use IO exclusively. Been many polls over the years, and IO is used by probably close to 1/2 the reefers on these forums.

You obviously like Red sea salt, and thats perfectly fine, but to say IO is not a sufficient reef salt is just plain wrong.

FWIW... IO mixes up to around 11DKH, 400CAL, and 1500MAG what makes it not a reef salt?

The amount of clay in IO is my main problem with it

Ever since I switch to red sea coral pro from IO reef crystal my tank has been more stable and healthy

I will never recommend IO to anyone after making the switch

I used IO for 10 years started a new tank and tried out red sea and OMG what a world of difrence between the 2


only use red sea now

And a ph of 7 while yes is in tje ocean this is low for our tanks as it's Less of a buffer if the OP is testing at 6.7 or so with lights on what's it hitting in the middle of the night

This is the main reason I shoot for 8 that way the drop at night even with fuge is not so much to lower it to a dangerous level

Reefs in natural have alot more valume to help keep swings from happening

knowing this the fact that salt mixes to 7 while 8 is safer and what we shoot for some run 9 ish then why use a salt that mixes low to begin with

And the fact that this salt mixes low brings up a quality concern why mix low when 8 is proven

NSW IS NOT WHATS IN OUR TANKS

 

[homer1475]

The amount of clay in IO is my main problem with it

Ever since I switch to red sea coral pro from IO reef crystal my tank has been more stable and healthy

I will never recommend IO to anyone after making the switch

And a ph of 7 while yes is in tje ocean this is low for our tanks as it's Less of a buffer if the OP is testing at 6.7 or so with lights on what's it hitting in the middle of the night

This is the main reason I shoot for 8 that way the drop at night even with fuge is not so much to lower it to a dangerous level

Reefs in natural have alot more valume to help keep swings from happening

knowing this the fact that salt mixes to 7 while 8 is safer and what we shoot for some run 9 ish then why use a salt that mixes low to begin with

And the fact that this salt mixes low brings up a quality concern why mix low when 8 is proven

NSW IS NOT WHATS IN OUR TANKS

All personal opinion, and not all wrong. But again it's all your opinion.

And whats PH got to do with ALK? No one even mentioned PH of 7 which is actually impossible with sand and rock. Maybe that was a mistype and should have been ALK?

And again, IO mixes up to around 11DKH whats low about that?

 

[Tankkeepers]

Not really an opinion when you have 2 identical tanks and one does significantly better then the other and the only difrence is the salt mix

And then when you switch everything starts growing alot better and brightens up hmmmm

 

[Tankkeepers]

All personal opinion, and not all wrong. But again it's all your opinion.

And whats PH got to do with ALK? No one even mentioned PH of 7 which is actually impossible with sand and rock. Maybe that was a mistype and should have been ALK?

And again, IO mixes up to around 11DKH whats low about that?

I did not say IO mixed low I said the OP salt mixes low

Sounds like your a fan of IO that's fine alot of people do run it

I will not to much clay in it

 

[Wasabiroot]

Just a little correction.... Natural Salt Water(NSW) is actually right around 7dkh, not 8. Nothing wrong with running a tank at 7DKH. Heck I've seen amazing tanks run right around 6.5.




And what exactly is in red sea salt that makes it so much better then IO? You do realize IO has been around since the early 60's? And is the number one manufactured salt in the world? Many, many tank of the months, and many public aquariums use IO exclusively. Been many polls over the years, and IO is used by probably close to 1/2 the reefers on these forums.

You obviously like Red sea salt, and thats perfectly fine, but to say IO is not a sufficient reef salt is just plain wrong.

FWIW... IO mixes up to around 11DKH, 400CAL, and 1500MAG what makes it not a reef salt?

My bad! I've had a long week at work

 

[homer1475]

My bad! I've had a long week at work

It's all good. I just wanted to clarify for anyone else reading.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Just a little correction.... Natural Salt Water(NSW) is actually right around 7dkh, not 8. Nothing wrong with running a tank at 7DKH. Heck I've seen amazing tanks run right around 6.5.




And what exactly is in red sea salt that makes it so much better then IO? You do realize IO has been around since the early 60's? And is the number one manufactured salt in the world? Many, many tank of the months, and many public aquariums use IO exclusively. Been many polls over the years, and IO is used by probably close to 1/2 the reefers on these forums.

You obviously like Red sea salt, and thats perfectly fine, but to say IO is not a sufficient reef salt is just plain wrong.

FWIW... IO mixes up to around 11DKH, 400CAL, and 1500MAG what makes it not a reef salt?

I don't know man... Red sea just... Tastes better...

 

[homer1475]

I'll stick to my guns and just say.....

Reef salt is reef salt. Your salt choice will not make your corals color up, or grow better as long as reef parameters are met with that salt.

I've been doing this for way to many years, and used way to many "salt of the months" to fall for that old reef fantasy.

 

[SWherrey]

I don't know man... Red sea just... Tastes better...

I gotta agree… ever since switching to Red Sea my tank has been doing great. I mix Blue bucket and Coral Pro 50/50

 

[Wasabiroot]

It's all good. I just wanted to clarify for anyone else reading.

Absolutely! The funny thing was when I posted this a tiny voice in my head was like...double check that...but I forgot. Sigh.