how to get alkalinity down

[Dave1993]

just filled aquarium and hanna checker is reading 240 ppm = 13.4 dkh how can i lower this

i mixed my salt to 1.025 so it should be 11.5 it says on the bucket

 

[piranhaman00]

If its without inhabitants muriatic acid.

 

[Davey-Jones’-Locker]

Just filled? As in new tank?

 

[Dave1993]

Yes brand spanking new tankk salt mixed in aqrium it has no rock no sand in currently

 

[SPR1968]

i would just do a few water changes, or if no inhabitants just take out some water, add RODI and then readjust the salinity

If it’s Coral Pro salt your using (or similar raised foundation element salt mix)I would double check the readings before doing anything as it could just be test error because sometimes they can mix higher depending on the salinity level.

I think Coral Pro for example, mixes to around 12.6 from memory so it’s not that far out anyway taking into account test error margins

 

[Davey-Jones’-Locker]

Solution is patience. Don’t start chasing numbers and putting buffers in there. You’re tank will have all kinds of swings as it cycle. Also, it’s better to mix salt in another container before adding it to the tank so I wouldn’t get in the habit of mixing in the tank

 

[Dave1993]

it was just the first mix inside the aquarium as 25 litre buckets cost £14 each i didnt want to buy 8 of them i have 1 that i will mix in from now on

 

[Davey-Jones’-Locker]

I too use Coral Pro salt which says it mixes at 12 dkh. My tank averages around 7.9 dkh. Let things stabilize and enjoy the hobby

 

[Dave1993]

so will everything will kinda stabilize after a while

 

[Davey-Jones’-Locker]

Yes but you need some sort of ammonia supply and surface area for the beneficial bacteria to live for the cycling process to begin.

 

[Dave1993]

yeah just ordered some indo live rock should be coming next week got some dr tims ammonia and got some dr tims bottled bac aswell

 

[arking_mark]

just filled aquarium and hanna checker is reading 240 ppm = 13.4 dkh how can i lower this

i mixed my salt to 1.025 so it should be 11.5 it says on the bucket

Since you used a quality salt mix, you are fine.

Using these high parameter salts, you may want to consider just doing water changes as your only water maintenance. I did this for many years on a 34gal tank. Once things settle, you will find that your alk will come down as it gets used in the tank. Your water changes will be able to maintain a good alk. I used IO reef which has a high alk. I did a 15% water change every 2 weeks and my alk would go from about 9.5 to 8.5 over that time. I was mostly a softy tank though, so not high demand.