I really need help!

[jmp21677]

I've been in this forever! I've never had a ton of luck keeping SPS. Lps and zoas are not an issue. In fact my current tank (reefer 170) grows zoas like a weed! I only have a few frags of sps and continue to have trouble getting my ALK up. I'm dosing triton chemicals. The line that you add water too. My current readings are
ALK 6.5
Calc 430
These were taken with hanna tests. Why can't I get that alk up? Also, I'm getting white tips on my sps like alk burn? What is going on?

 

[eb_reef]

I do not know for sure as I am just staring to keep SPS myself but I did read that if your magnesium is off you may have trouble raising your ALK and it is common for salt mixes to have low Mag.

 

[jmp21677]

Of course my mag kit expired in 2016!

 

[jmp21677]

New mag kit.

Mag 1480.

High but would this cause the issues with the alk?

 

[Centerline]

I've been in this forever! I've never had a ton of luck keeping SPS. Lps and zoas are not an issue. In fact my current tank (reefer 170) grows zoas like a weed! I only have a few frags of sps and continue to have trouble getting my ALK up. I'm dosing triton chemicals. The line that you add water too. My current readings are
ALK 6.5
Calc 430
These were taken with hanna tests. Why can't I get that alk up? Also, I'm getting white tips on my sps like alk burn? What is going on?

How about PH?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

New mag kit.

Mag 1480.

High but would this cause the issues with the alk?

No.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not know for sure as I am just staring to keep SPS myself but I did read that if your magnesium is off you may have trouble raising your ALK and it is common for salt mixes to have low Mag.

I actually do not believe magnesium is low in most current salt mix formulations unless you are mixing to low salinity. I do not know of a single brand that currently has below NSW levels of magnesium (1280 ppm) when mixed to 35 ppt, although here might be one.

That was not always true in the past. Normal IO used to have fairly low magnesium, and I always added some when i made a batch, but they raised it a number of years ago and extra additions to it are no longer needed to reach NSW levels.

if your target level is well above natural levels, then I agree you may still want to add some to some salt mixes.

 

[jmp21677]

I actually do not believe magnesium is low in most current salt mix formulations unless you are mixing to low salinity. I do not know of a single brand that currently has below NSW levels of magnesium (1280 ppm) when mixed to 35 ppt, although here might be one.

That was not always true in the past. Normal IO used to have fairly low magnesium, and I always added some when i made a batch, but they raised it a number of years ago and extra additions to it are no longer needed to reach NSW levels.

if your target level is well above natural levels, then I agree you may still want to add some to some salt mixes.

Any idea what is causing the issue with my low alk? I know the goal with triton is equal parts dosing.... but should I increase the alk mix?

 

[rossco]

If your SPS are getting burnt tips that look like alk burn you might consider double checking the meter with either the Hanna standard solution or picking up a different test kit just to be sure.

 

[jmp21677]

I just ordered the calibration fluid. It will be interesting to see what it reads? I just can't seem to figure this one out

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any idea what is causing the issue with my low alk? I know the goal with triton is equal parts dosing.... but should I increase the alk mix?

If alk is lower than you want it, and the alk added each day is not obviously excessive or leading to apparent precipitation, yes, increasing it is appropriate.

 

[jmp21677]

Got the calibration kit and it read 5.3 so within the acceptable range. Got my alk up to 7.1 with Baking Soda two days ago and today it's 6.5. That's with increasing my Alk from my triton chemicals. I increased from 12 to 13ml. I'll increase to 15 and see if that at least stabalizes? If anyone has other ideas I'm in