Info please

[Akreefnewguy]

Ok so im seeing my first test. 10 gallon. Ph 8.2 calcium 400 alkalinity 13.1! Nitrate color test hard for me to tell in between 0 and 10 tops but don't think I see the yellow change. Ok so I was using distilled water. But decided before I get to along to try our city water. Alk tests at 6.5 from that. Calcium seems a bit low alk obviously high. I'm watching videos and would usually just do a water change probably 20% . However I think it's the water I switched to trying to save a few bucks. Suggestions on bringing alk back down to about 9 or 10 where I had it. I only have a zoa frag or rock with roughly 30 polyps. 2 clowns and full clean up crew. Simplest fix I assume go back to distilled water. I want to buy a rodi setup but don't have running water at home. Considering a trashcan sub pump setup to rodi . Think it would work?

 

[ryanjohn1]

water change to bring it down. No running water threw me for a loop but I look and saw Fairbanks Alaska? Right

 

[Akreefnewguy]

water change to bring it down. No running water threw me for a loop but I look and saw Fairbanks Alaska? Right

Yes fairbanks, dry cabin , drinking water from a city style filtered well fill jugs take home. No chlorine so I thought I'd try it. But this is the first I've seen a imbalance.

 

[Akreefnewguy]

Yes fairbanks, dry cabin , drinking water from a city style filtered well fill jugs take home. No chlorine so I thought I'd try it. But this is the first I've seen a imbalance.

It's a challenge lol but isn't the whole hobby

 

[Akreefnewguy]

Yes fairbanks, dry cabin , drinking water from a city style filtered well fill jugs take home. No chlorine so I thought I'd try it. But this is the first I've seen a imbalance.

Honestly it's not the cost of the distilled, but the waste of 7 plastic jugs a week. And no recycling centers up here

 

[ryanjohn1]

Lol people in the lower 48 pay big money for high alk water to drink. You could take it and pump it threw rodi system you would want it to pump at like 4 gallons a minute through it. Otherwise it might blow out the bladder

 

[ryanjohn1]

I would guess the well that was driller for water is probably into limestone rock that probably why it’s high alk.

 

[Akreefnewguy]

Lol people in the lower 48 pay big money for high alk water to drink. You could take it and pump it threw rodi system you would want it to pump at like 4 gallons a minute through it. Otherwise it might blow out the bladder

That was my biggest concern and question I was researching what flow does rodi take . Ty for the heads up

 

[ryanjohn1]

Average house has 4 gallon per minute service.

 

[Akreefnewguy]

I would guess the well that was driller for water is probably into limestone rock that probably why it’s high alk.

Ya I realized my old landlord started the company. I'll contact her and see what info she has on where water comes from and filtration. Best water I've drank in four states. Like I said no chlorine but I also haven't tested for minerals. I'm not worried about my alk levels necessarily because I figure once I have corals they should help keep it down a bit , and my tank is still maturing, only green calcified coraline algae so far. And again I can lower with distilled water changes. Just thought I'd use this for some info.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok so im seeing my first test. 10 gallon. Ph 8.2 calcium 400 alkalinity 13.1! Nitrate color test hard for me to tell in between 0 and 10 tops but don't think I see the yellow change. Ok so I was using distilled water. But decided before I get to along to try our city water. Alk tests at 6.5 from that. Calcium seems a bit low alk obviously high. I'm watching videos and would usually just do a water change probably 20% . However I think it's the water I switched to trying to save a few bucks. Suggestions on bringing alk back down to about 9 or 10 where I had it. I only have a zoa frag or rock with roughly 30 polyps. 2 clowns and full clean up crew. Simplest fix I assume go back to distilled water. I want to buy a rodi setup but don't have running water at home. Considering a trashcan sub pump setup to rodi . Think it would work?

This is why Tap water is a No-no. As you can see with results. . . . . the amount of Alk in tap water can potentially decrease and in some cases double this number easily and affect CA and PH not to mention content of heavy metals, chloramine, pollutants. fluoride and other elements not contained in sea water. tap water also offers no ph buffering and note many areas have copper in their tap water which you do not want in your system. Next will be phosphates in water which will cause further issues.

 

[Akreefnewguy]

This is why Tap water is a No-no. As you can see with results. . . . . the amount of Alk in tap water can potentially decrease and in some cases double this number easily and affect CA and PH not to mention content of heavy metals, chloramine, pollutants. fluoride and other elements not contained in sea water. tap water also offers no ph buffering and note many areas have copper in their tap water which you do not want in your system. Next will be phosphates in water which will cause further issues.

Yes I wouldn't use regular tap water. This is different however I still dont no all the minerals etc . So yes I went and bought distilled. But now I'm dealing with our first power outage.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes I wouldn't use regular tap water. This is different however I still dont no all the minerals etc . So yes I went and bought distilled. But now I'm dealing with our first power outage.

Oh no. . . . . Keep tank warm- If cold weather blankets around /over tank will help maintain temperature

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you believe the tap water is otherwise OK (risky without a good test of it for things such as copper) and you cannot use an RO/DI for whatever reason, then you can lower the alk in the new salt water and top off water easily enough using muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate:

Sodium Bisulfate to Reduce Alkalinity in New Salt Water or in Display Tanks

I just want to record these calculations in their own thread to refer back to in other threads. When alkalinity is too high in new salt water or in a display tank, acid can be used to lower the alkalinity. You can easily use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), or sodium bifulfate (e.g...

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