High alk salt on low alk tank

[Travis Stewart]

How does everyone handle the higher alk of instants ocean reef crystals when running about 8.5 alk tank? I know you can add muriatic acid, but is there anyone else that does something different. Not trying to add extra steps in my maintenance. Thanks!

 

[WIReefer]

If your not trying to add extra steps why not just get a salt that has your target alk?

 

[Travis Stewart]

If your not trying to add extra steps why not just get a salt that has your target alk?

been using fritz for a long time and wanted to get something a little better. I’ve heard great things with IO.

 

[stanlalee]

It's pretty inconsequential on an established reef with modest size water changes and decent amount of carbonate uptake. There are the stability freaks who want their water change water to be exactly what they keep their aquarium at...which is a good practice BUT if you are changing 20 gallons of 11 dKH water on a 100g maintained at 8 dKH and using 50ml of 2 part alk a day that discrepancy isn't something to "deal with" as it will barely make a dent. Perhaps that day dose 45ml instead of 50ml that day (I'm just guesstimating)

 

[Travis Stewart]

It's pretty inconsequential on an established reef with modest size water changes and decent amount of carbonate uptake. There are the stability freaks who want their water change water to be exactly what they keep their aquarium at...which is a good practice BUT if you are changing 20 gallons of 11 dKH water on a 100g maintained at 8 dKH and using 50ml of 2 part alk a day that discrepancy isn't something to "deal with" as it will barely make a dent. Perhaps that day dose 45ml instead of 50ml that day (I'm just guesstimating)

im dosing about at 20mL daily on both. Won’t it increase over time. Currently changing about 8g/week on about 90 gallons.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Higher alkalinity salt mix with a lower DT dkh can be done if the amount or percentage of water change isn’t very large as @stanlalee stated. Typical 10% weekly water change on a 90 gallon tank is only 9 gallons. Won’t make a dent in dkh.

 

[Hincapiej4]

Or, you could just switch to red Sea blue bucket

 

[Flippers4pups]

Anecdotally you can do even less as far as a percentage of water change. I have 240 gallons total system water volume and I only change out weekly 10 gallons. That’s only 40 gallons a month.

I don’t do water changes to help remove excess nutrients or inorganic or organic compounds. I do water changes to add elements from the salt mix.

And yes I use plain old IO and have for decades now.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Anecdotally you can do even less as far as a percentage of water change. I have 240 gallons total system water volume and I only change out weekly 10 gallons. That’s only 40 gallons a month.

I don’t do water changes to help remove excess nutrients or inorganic or organic compounds. I do water changes to add elements from the salt mix.

And yes I use plain old IO and have for decades now.

nice tank. I’ve been running for a couple years with pretty mature coral. What do you keep your alk at?
Also-just as you mentioned, it wouldn’t really make a dent in my dkh, so how does it make a dent in removing excess nutrients and adding “enough” elements to put back in your system? Just a thought here...

 

[Travis Stewart]

Or, you could just switch to red Sea blue bucket

Looked at that option also! Thanks for the reply

 

[BAUCE]

I run my alk at 8 dkh and use IO in my SPS dominant tank with good success. I use Seachem Acid Buffer to drop the alk from 11 to 8 dkh. I use 3 teaspoons of the stuff in my 30 gallon trash can to get there.

important note: you have to let the stuff mix in the fresh batch of salt water for a few days so the Ph comes back up. I brings down alk and ph at the same time but ph naturally rises with time.

Seachem - Acid Buffer

www.seachem.com

 

[Travis Stewart]

I run my alk at 8 dkh and use IO in my SPS dominant tank with good success. I use Seachem Acid Buffer to drop the alk from 11 to 8 dkh. I use 3 teaspoons of the stuff in my 30 gallon trash can to get there.

important note: you have to let the stuff mix in the fresh batch of salt water for a few days so the Ph comes back up. I brings down alk and ph at the same time but ph naturally rises with time.

Seachem - Acid Buffer

www.seachem.com

thoughts on adding water at 11 dkh to an 8dkh tank in small volume?

 

[BAUCE]

thoughts on adding water at 11 dkh to an 8dkh tank in small volume?

guess it depends on your goals of the water change. The guy above is only doing it to replenish trace elements. I personally like to change out more even though Im doing the same but every reef is different.

If you are doing water changes to keep nutrients in check I'd want to do bigger water changes which I'd definetely be using this acid buffer to get things in line.

 

[Flippers4pups]

nice tank. I’ve been running for a couple years with pretty mature coral. What do you keep your alk at?
Also-just as you mentioned, it wouldn’t really make a dent in my dkh, so how does it make a dent in removing excess nutrients and adding “enough” elements to put back in your system? Just a thought here...

Thanks! I’m not chasing removal of say N03 or P04. Yes, each tank is different and has it’s unique needs. I’m old school, so with knowing how my corals respond to my husbandry, I act accordingly. I also haven’t tested anything in over a year. When my Montiporas start to pale, I add some P04 and they color back up.
I say this because in all these years I’ve tested and tracked what my tank does and needs. It’s very stable and grows coral very well.

My dkh usually is 10-11 dkh. I use kalkwasser and dose nothing else, except for the occasional P04 bump.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Thanks! I’m not chasing removal of say N03 or P04. Yes, each tank is different and has it’s unique needs. I’m old school, so with knowing how my corals respond to my husbandry, I act accordingly. I also haven’t tested anything in over a year. When my Montiporas start to pale, I add some P04 and they color back up.
I say this because in all these years I’ve tested and tracked what my tank does and needs. It’s very stable and grows coral very well.

My dkh usually is 10-11 dkh. I use kalkwasser and dose nothing else, except for the occasional P04 bump.

thanks a ton! I’m going to give it a shot!

 

[Travis Stewart]

guess it depends on your goals of the water change. The guy above is only doing it to replenish trace elements. I personally like to change out more even though Im doing the same but every reef is different.

If you are doing water changes to keep nutrients in check I'd want to do bigger water changes which I'd definetely be using this acid buffer to get things in line.

Thanks again for your replies got some acid buffer on the way!

 

[Travis Stewart]

I run my alk at 8 dkh and use IO in my SPS dominant tank with good success. I use Seachem Acid Buffer to drop the alk from 11 to 8 dkh. I use 3 teaspoons of the stuff in my 30 gallon trash can to get there.

important note: you have to let the stuff mix in the fresh batch of salt water for a few days so the Ph comes back up. I brings down alk and ph at the same time but ph naturally rises with time.

Seachem - Acid Buffer

www.seachem.com

so is the recommended dose to get 11-8dkh a teaspoon per 10 gallons?

 

[Flippers4pups]

thanks a ton! I’m going to give it a shot!

Fins up!

 

[vanpire]

My am lazy. I do a 30% water every 3 -4 weeks. My Alk is 8.5 and I use IO regular or IO reef crystal, whichever is on hand.

Mixed salt Alk is about 11. After water change, my Alk goes to 9.2-9.3. I stop dosing for a day and everything alk moves back to normal.

Corals, inverts and fish do not even notice, and it might even seem like they perk up a bit. I have a mixed tank with zoas, mushrooms, LPS and SPS. I keeps fish and inverts: anemones, shrimps, cucumbers, urchins, and a starfish and of course, lots of snails.

 

[BigKid4788]

I use tropic Marin pro. Mixes at 7.8