High alk salt on low alk tank
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BAUCE
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yeah thats about right. Just make sure to let it mix for a few days before using so the ph comes back up.
Not to put IO Salt down but I would say it’s no worse than other salts, not sure many would claim it’s the best salt out there to go for that salt over one closer to your parameters you want to run the tank at.
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Travis Stewart
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ive always thought that too..
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Travis Stewart
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I’ve just heard a lot of good reef keepers use it and have really good success. I’m sure that’s the same with many of the other brands.
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RHF did a write up on salts a while back. Tropic Marin Pro and Instant Ocean rose to the top of his article because they had the least “extras”. Other salts are packed with all sorts of extra trace elements and additives. Between the two, IO is far cheaper, hence why it’s used by many. IO can do good things:
it’s been around for a long time so a lot of good tanks use it.
RHF did a write up on salts a while back. Tropic Marin Pro and Instant Ocean rose to the top of his article because they had the least “extras”. Other salts are packed with all sorts of extra trace elements and additives. Between the two, IO is far cheaper, hence why it’s used by many. IO can do good things:
Can’t argue with that, but the ‘IO is a lot cheaper’ is a big part why people love it.
Just trying to get across to the OP that the salt is only a part of a reef tank.
vanpire
Valuable Member
RHF did a write up on salts a while back. Tropic Marin Pro and Instant Ocean rose to the top of his article because they had the least “extras”. Other salts are packed with all sorts of extra trace elements and additives. Between the two, IO is far cheaper, hence why it’s used by many. IO can do good things:
Beautiful reef.
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Travis Stewart
Valuable Member
OP
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Travis Stewart
Valuable Member
RHF did a write up on salts a while back. Tropic Marin Pro and Instant Ocean rose to the top of his article because they had the least “extras”. Other salts are packed with all sorts of extra trace elements and additives. Between the two, IO is far cheaper, hence why it’s used by many. IO can do good things:
I follow you on reef central also! What do you keep your alk at?
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Travis Stewart
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I agree. I wouldn’t consider myself a “newbie”. Just worth a shot to make it that much better..
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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FWIW, muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4) are the two main ways to lower alkalinity in seawater. Both lower pH the same for a given alk drop. It is a big drop. As an example, a 1.4 dKH drop caused pH to drop from 8.11 to 6.91 in a test I did.
This is a good source:
www.etsy.com
Do not do it in a reef tank unless you do it VERY slowly, and aerate the water to remove the CO2 and raise the pH.
I also agree that small water changes reduce any concern. A 5% change with 11 dKH water on a 7 dKH reef tank only boosts alk to 7.2 dKH.
If you do continuous small changes, you need not match anything about the new salt water.
This is a good source:
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Do not do it in a reef tank unless you do it VERY slowly, and aerate the water to remove the CO2 and raise the pH.
I also agree that small water changes reduce any concern. A 5% change with 11 dKH water on a 7 dKH reef tank only boosts alk to 7.2 dKH.
If you do continuous small changes, you need not match anything about the new salt water.
OP
OP
Travis Stewart
Valuable Member
FWIW, muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4) are the two main ways to lower alkalinity in seawater. Both lower pH the same for a given alk drop. It is a big drop. As an example, a 1.4 dKH drop caused pH to drop from 8.11 to 6.91 in a test I did.
This is a good source:
This item is unavailable - Etsy
Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.
Do not do it in a reef tank unless you do it VERY slowly, and aerate the water to remove the CO2 and raise the pH.
I also agree that small water changes reduce any concern. A 5% change with 11 dKH water on a 7 dKH reef tank only boosts alk to 7.2 dKH.
If you do continuous small changes, you need not match anything about the new salt water.
thanks I will stick to small water changes. Like mentioned above, do you feel it’s necessary to stop dosing for the day?
currently doing about 9 gallons a week on 90 gallon water volume. Alk is stable at 8.5-8.6. Adding IO with 11 dkh...over time you don’t see this value rising?
Randy Holmes-Farley
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There is a negative feedback loop that prevents alk from rising (or falling) as fast as over dosing (or underdosing) would suggest, but if you do not adjust dosing, the alk will be a little higher using a high alk mix than a low alk mix. How much depends on the tank and the actual demand.
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Travis Stewart
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I did notice an increase of 1dkh from 8 gallon water change with higher alk. I am going to try and buff my water change water and run areturn pump to aerate the water in it for two days. Thanks for your continued help randy.
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Travis Stewart
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How long does it usually take for your pH to go back up?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
BAUCE
Well-Known Member
2-3 days max. It might be quicker but I dont usually test it till about then since I like to let it mix anyways.
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Travis Stewart
Valuable Member
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
so correct salinity and temp important before adding buffer?
