High Alkalinity compared to used salt.

[DanishReefer]

Hey everyone

im kinda confused right now. I just measured my water to be 12KH, using the salifert test kit, and the red sea salt im using is supposed to be around 7.5 to 8.2 or something like that.

How can this be? what can i do, and what have i possibly done wrong?

And is the high KH dangerous for the inhabitants?

Thanks, Victor

 

[Quietman]

What did you test? Display water or mixed saltwater storage tank?

 

[DanishReefer]

What did you test? Display water or mixed saltwater storage tank?

I tested the water straight from the display.

 

[Quietman]

Are you dosing kalk or 2-part or any other additives for Ca/Alk?

 

[DanishReefer]

Are you dosing kalk or 2-part or any other additives for Ca/Alk?

Im not dosing anything at all.
The only thing thats added to the tank through out the week, is pure RO/DI water.

 

[DanishReefer]

I could've done the testing wrong, but since i did it 5 times and getting result i think i did it the right way

 

[Quietman]

Probably right then. Salifert is a fairly accurate test for Alk. Did you check salinity...just to make sure you didn't over add? If you have any storage still...check that as well.

 

[jurgenph]

Test your freshly mixed water. How does that test?

High all inst dangerous.

It's the sudden change in all levels that is. So don't try to fix it quick.

High alk starts to become an issue in sps dominant tanks when you need to find the sweet spot between light levels, nutrient levels and alkalinity.


J.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You sure you are reading the syringe correctly? Was it mostly full of liquid or mostly empty when you got to the color change?

 

[DanishReefer]

Probably right then. Salifert is a fairly accurate test for Alk. Did you check salinity...just to make sure you didn't over add? If you have any storage still...check that as well.

Yes, my salinity is 1.026

How can it be right though, when the salt says that its supposed to be around 8?

 

[Quietman]

There are reports of batches not being completely homogeneous in the buckets this is more noticeable if you're making smaller batches for adding rather than large for storage. I make it a practice to 'stir' or transfer my salt back and forth between buckets before I store and use.

You could have bad test kit - even if not expired. Before taking action, you can try other product even if just cheaper product as a confirmation.

Also, and I say this from my own experience, sometimes we develop testing habits that do not lead to accurate results. I was taught in the Navy to always read and follow step by step the directions on water chemistry testing. It's a habit I've never been able to shake and haven't tried..it's a good habit to have. And yes, I can literally write out the process on alk testing from memory, yet there I am, twice a week with the directions out following along.

Go through the test, following everything step by step. Likely you're doing it right, but it's easy and will eliminate any test procedure error.

 

[lapin]

MyBatch: Instant access to a lab analysis for your specific bucket

A unique service from Red Sea, providing Red Sea salts users easy access to the chemical analysis of their specific batch of salt.

www.redseafish.com

 

[DanishReefer]

Sorry for your time spilled...

Im a dummy, and looked at 0.06 instead of 0.6.., my fault, everything makes much more sense right now

 

[DanishReefer]

No sorry, again. This time i did the test with everything half, and i was supposed to multily the result by 2.

I got 5.4 and 5.4 *2 = 10.8 KH

thats still high

 

[DanishReefer]

My calcium (495) an alk (10.8) is way too high, while my magnesium (1260) is very acceptable.

Im really not understanding this

But as its both calcium and alk that are too high, it must be my water then?

 

[Intense37754]

Have you checked the results from the mybatch link that was posted?

 

[DanishReefer]

Have you checked the results from the mybatch link that was posted?
[/QUO

You sure you are reading the syringe correctly? Was it mostly full of liquid or mostly empty when you got to the color change?

It was mostly empty

 

[DanishReefer]

Test your freshly mixed water. How does that test?

High all inst dangerous.

It's the sudden change in all levels that is. So don't try to fix it quick.

High alk starts to become an issue in sps dominant tanks when you need to find the sweet spot between light levels, nutrient levels and alkalinity.


J.

I havent tested the freshly mixed water, but my RO water is 0-0.3 KH

 

[DanishReefer]

Have you checked the results from the mybatch link that was posted?

My batchnumber is has fallen off or is just missing. Because where it is supposed to stand, its just blank

 

[DanishReefer]

There are reports of batches not being completely homogeneous in the buckets this is more noticeable if you're making smaller batches for adding rather than large for storage. I make it a practice to 'stir' or transfer my salt back and forth between buckets before I store and use.

You could have bad test kit - even if not expired. Before taking action, you can try other product even if just cheaper product as a confirmation.

Also, and I say this from my own experience, sometimes we develop testing habits that do not lead to accurate results. I was taught in the Navy to always read and follow step by step the directions on water chemistry testing. It's a habit I've never been able to shake and haven't tried..it's a good habit to have. And yes, I can literally write out the process on alk testing from memory, yet there I am, twice a week with the directions out following along.

Go through the test, following everything step by step. Likely you're doing it right, but it's easy and will eliminate any test procedure error.

it says that the that the information on the bucket is only "precise" if you're mixing at least 350g of salt. And im mixing 570g when im doing it, so that im not mixing enough salt, is impossible.