I'd like to share something I've learned...

[Dom]

About 7 days ago, I posted about water chemistry and Anemones. The Nems were looking unhappy and I began testing to see what was up. And boy was I surprised; my water chemistry was pitiful!

And it serves me right because in that post, I boasted about not being an alarmist. I try to rely only on visual cues to know when things were going awry, and test only when I want to zero in on the cause of those visual changes.

So, it has been daily testing for me over the last 7 days in an effort to get things back in order. Frequent testing over the last week has helped to me develop a more intimate understanding of reef chemistry and how the different elements effect each other.

So if you truly want to scratch the surface to a deeper understanding of reef chemistry, test every day for two weeks and take notes. You will be surprised at how much you can learn.

Dom

 

[krash7172]

Sounds like me I keep learning one param at a time. Tonight it was temp. TEMP!

 

[NanoDJS]

Very important post , Cheers Dom , Happy 2020 the year of the Reef !!!!!

 

[Dom]

Sounds like me I keep learning one param at a time. Tonight it was temp. TEMP!

One at a time is nice, but when looking at several all at the same time, you REALLY come to understand how the presence and concentration of one effects the others.

 

[Auquanut]

Yeah. I get a little twitchy if I don't test for awhile. Even with fairly regular testing, I'm still surprised from time to time.

 

[Dom]

Yeah. I get a little twitchy if I don't test for awhile. Even with fairly regular testing, I'm still surprised from time to time.

There is something I don't understand...

I'm preparing 5 gallons of RODI for a water change. I am at 35ppt using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. It mixed to 7.5dKH.

I dissolved 1 teaspoon of Kent Marine Super buffer in to the mix which raised it to 8.5dKH, 1 full dHK. I wanted to be in the 10-10.5 range, so I added 2 more teaspoons. now, it is over 14 and off the chart.

Where did I go wrong?

 

[Auquanut]

There is something I don't understand...

I'm preparing 5 gallons of RODI for a water change. I am at 35ppt using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. It mixed to 7.5dKH.

I dissolved 1 teaspoon of Kent Marine Super buffer in to the mix which raised it to 8.5dKH, 1 full dHK. I wanted to be in the 10-10.5 range, so I added 2 more teaspoons. ow, it is over 14 and off the chart.

Where did I go wrong?

That's strange. Maybe the increase isn't linear at higher concentrations? Maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley can shed some light on this.

 

[Dom]

That's strange. Maybe the increase isn't linear at higher concentrations? Maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley can shed some light on this.

I assumed it was linear. I'm trying to bring it down by dilution. Of course, my salinity will drop too. Maybe just toss the batch and start again?

 

[ScottB]

IORC mixes to 11.5 dkh so something is OFF. I have to buffer my mix DOWN for large water changes.

Triple check salinity with another meter or two. (And never trust a conductivity probe. Ever.)

 

[Dom]

IORC mixes to 11.5 dkh so something is OFF. I have to buffer my mix DOWN for large water changes.

Triple check salinity with another meter or two. (And never trust a conductivity probe. Ever.)

I'm using the probe to check pH. It is a new probe which was calibrated using the calibration solution. I have double checked its results using the Red Sea pH test kit.

I am also using Red Sea to check ALK.

What do you suppose could be off? The ALK reagent is not expired and testing was done with salinity at 35ppt.

 

[ScottB]

I'm using the probe to check pH. It is a new probe which was calibrated using the calibration solution. I have double checked its results using the Red Sea pH test kit.

I am also using Red Sea to check ALK.

What do you suppose could be off? The ALK reagent is not expired and testing was done with salinity at 35ppt.

My guess is that your salt mix is below 35. That is the only way IORC could mix to ALK that low. Unless the batch separated or something. I'd be checking your refractometer with another or even a hydrometer.

Sorry, the conductivity probe is not for pH, it is a (IMO unreliable) measure of salinity.

 

[Dom]

My guess is that your salt mix is below 35. That is the only way IORC could mix to ALK that low. Unless the batch separated or something. I'd be checking your refractometer with another or even a hydrometer.

Sorry, the conductivity probe is not for pH, it is a (IMO unreliable) measure of salinity.

I can say that I was at 35ppt salinity when I added buffer.

I need to clarify... the probe is installed in the sump. I don't know what I included that in the post. Details are important but too many can cloud whats important. Where my new salt mix is concerned, pH was tested using the Red Sea test kit.

My steps:

1. Added 5 gallons of RODI to the mixing container.
2. Added 28 ounces of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals which mixed to a salinity of 35ppt.
3. Tested ALK to 7dKH.
4.

HOLY SMOKES!!! I just thought of something....

I refrigerate my open bags of IORC to keep humidity out. How does THAT effect the mix??

 

[Cory]

Sounds like me I keep learning one param at a time. Tonight it was temp. TEMP!

Yes keep your temp 78-81f. Within this range corals calcify fastest. I just leanred this myself.

I realized my lighting wasnt low enough (bright enough) for growth too and lowered it. That combined with temperature increase got my corals growing again.

 

[ScottB]

I can say that I was at 35ppt salinity when I added buffer.

I need to clarify... the probe is installed in the sump. I don't know what I included that in the post. Details are important but too many can cloud whats important. Where my new salt mix is concerned, pH was tested using the Red Sea test kit.

My steps:

1. Added 5 gallons of RODI to the mixing container.
2. Added 28 ounces of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals which mixed to a salinity of 35ppt.
3. Tested ALK to 7dKH.
4.

HOLY SMOKES!!! I just thought of something....

I refrigerate my open bags of IORC to keep humidity out. How does THAT effect the mix??

On your Step 2: how many devices did you use to measure salinity? What was the temp of the mixed water?

I've been using IORC for about 10 years so well over 10,000 gallons by now. Not that I have tested ALK every time, but I always get a bump up in ALK after water change because it mixes so high... usually higher than 10.5 dKH when I choose to test.

So I can only guess that you have a bad batch or a badly calibrated refractometer. I would double check the refractometer.

There are many tables published here that show what the various salts mix to. And BRS videos too. You are reporting a significant dKH anomaly that is worthy of some investigation. My 40 gallon brute downstairs just read an even 11 at 1.026 like usual.

Have fun!

 

[fcmatt]

Maybe the buffer was not fully dissolved. Because it sounds like you are new to the products. If you did this often you would already know the amount to get into the right range, right?

 

[Dom]

On your Step 2: how many devices did you use to measure salinity? What was the temp of the mixed water?

I used my refractometer. It was calibrated as recently as a month ago with new calibration solution purchased from BRS. The temp is 77 degrees.

When you say a "bad batch", are you speaking of the salt mix? This is an interesting theory as the problem with the Nems began around the same time that I opened a new 200 pound box of IORC.

I purchased the box from BRS. Do I send the open bag back to them for testing? Do I deal directly with IO?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Good reminder to test often

 

[Dom]

Maybe the buffer was not fully dissolved. Because it sounds like you are new to the products. If you did this often you would already know the amount to get into the right range, right?

I am new to using buffer, but I have been using IORC for years without having to add anything.

I spoke with BRS today and they informed me that on rare occasions, salt mixes have been known to be defective.

I'm starting over...

Step 1. Completely clean out the mixing container with RODI and wipe dry with paper towel.
Step 2. Add 5 gallons of RODI water, circulating and heating to 77 degrees.
Step 3. Add 28 ounces of IORC, which will test to 35ppt at that temp.
Step 4. Test Alk, pH and Temp.

The results will dictate the next steps.

 

[fcmatt]

Dont heat the water and then mix. I have better results with colder/room temp and then warm it up once mostly mixed to almost the right salinity. Then add a bit more to get exact.

The reason is precipitation happens at higher temps it seems. Colder I never experience it.

Not sure if it matters. Just my opinion.

 

[krash7172]

Yes keep your temp 78-81f. Within this range corals calcify fastest. I just leanred this myself.

I realized my lighting wasnt low enough (bright enough) for growth too and lowered it. That combined with temperature increase got my corals growing again.

Yeah, I normally maintain 78F but I stopped manually checking. The probe on my 2-1/2 year old heater seems to be failing as it was reading 6 deg off. I played with a refugium and frag tank and I ran out of outlets so I removed my redundant heater. Sigh.