High alkalinity??

[jmerideth1]

I have a relatively new tank that I've only recently been testing. Last 2 times I have a dkh of 11.5 and then 12. Only done water changes and added some calcium. I just have no idea how.

 

[Fitzreefer]

What salt are you using?

 

[jmerideth1]

Red Sea

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

There is likely very little in the tank using alk. May I assume its dry rock as well?
Is it Red Sea coral pro?

 

[jmerideth1]

Not sure I use a bucket and tossed the bag. It seems high enough that I'm kinda concerned, even though every-thing is doing well. I've never heard of alkalinity seeming too rise .

 

[ashr]

How many different test kits have you ran? How old are the test kits? They would be reading off.. My Red Sea kits test higher than AP.

 

[GoVols]

Not sure I use a bucket and tossed the bag. It seems high enough that I'm kinda concerned, even though every-thing is doing well. I've never heard of alkalinity seeming too rise .

To Salty's point.

For the most part the Red Sea salts come in buckets.
Can you remember what the bucket color was that your Red Sea salt came in?

Or did it come in white and red bag?

Thanks, GoVols

 

[jmerideth1]

Was white with fish graphics I'm going too go look at the lfs I got it

 

[jmerideth1]

Brand new red sea test kit

 

[GoVols]

Did it look like this?

 

[GoVols]

Brand new red sea test kit

Is it the Red Sea Pro alk kit?

 

[Fitzreefer]

Red Sea

If it is Red Sea Coral Pro salt, it mixes up to around 11 - 13 dKH. If you check their website, you will find the regular Red Sea salt in the blue bucket mixes to 8 dKH, where coral pro mixes to 11.

 

[Fitzreefer]

Typo meant 11 - 12.

 

[Alan gilbert]

How many different test kits have you ran? How old are the test kits? They would be reading off.. My Red Sea kits test higher than AP.

I would assume that the water your using is the problem. I used water from an osmosis machine outside my local grocery store and tested the alkalinity level after I mixed it with ocean salt. Then I used water filtered from my osmosis machine and tested alk after mixing that 5 gallons. The water filtered through my tap had a higher alk reading. The water from the glacier machine read 7 and my water filtered from the tap read 9.8.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Many salt mixes provide that high of alk and it is not any concern unless you are keeping SPS corals in an ultra low nutrient system.

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

I really like Red Sea but had to reduce use down to 1/3 with 2/3 reef crystal to get an acceptable dkh

 

[GoVols]

I really like Red Sea but had to reduce use down to 1/3 with 2/3 reef crystal to get an acceptable dkh

Just to clarify for others.
Are you saying that you like the Red Sea - "Coral Pro" - mix and you reduce it down with the Reef Crystals to hit the dkh that you like?

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

That's what I do (or did before I switched to local ocean water). That got me an acceptable dkh even though it still came out a bit high. I did that for the past few years after finding that Red Sea just drove the dkh way too high.

 

[GoVols]

That's what I do (or did before I switched to local ocean water). That got me an acceptable dkh even though it still came out a bit high. I did that for the past few years after finding that Red Sea just drove the dkh way too high.

Thank You

 

[jmerideth1]

Okay this is a bit embarrassing but it is actually Sea-chem salt mix I have been using. After looking at the bag it even states an alkalinity range of up too 12. I feel better with all the posts, relieving some anxiety!