Kh? Alkalinity

[ajwalker261985]

What can it mean if ph,calc and magnesia is ok but dkh is reading low?

 

[navila06]

how low is low?

 

[glb]

It sounds like there's nothing going on that would raise or lower your ph, like excess co2, etc. I would just keep an eye on it. What are the actual numbers for mg, ca and alk?

 

[ajwalker261985]

Ph 8
Mag 1480
Calc 480

But dkh is reading at 5/6

 

[ajwalker261985]

Don't think it's major but just wondering.

 

[Mike J.]

A alkalinity reading under 7 is not good. Your Mag and Cal are higher than I'd like. Not enough info. Do you have corals in the tank? Are you dosing? What kind of salt are you using?

 

[ajwalker261985]

They're high because iv just done a water change,I buy my water from my lfs..maybe I'm testing it wrong?

 

[ajwalker261985]

Iv got a green star polyp and an Xenia.

 

[Mike J.]

I'm wondering if your LFS is using Kent Marine salt? I used it (very temporarily) and had reading similar to yours. Since I keep my tank parameters very stable I don't use a salt mix with elevated levels higher than what I keep my parameters at. High calcium levels drive down your alkalinity and vice versa. All I can say right now is that an alkalinity less than 7 is not good.

 

[ajwalker261985]

Ok I'll re test it later,could be that I made a mistake when I did the test.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'd say your ok, those numbers aren't going to hurt anything. Just bump up your ALK some. I run CAL normally at 460. Your MAG is a bit up there, but that too the tank will eat up in time. Something is using your ALK up though, time to Dose.

 

[ajwalker261985]

What sort if things use up the alk?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Corals, LR, Coralline.

 

[ajwalker261985]

And I have all three! Ha ha plus some unsightly aistasia and cyano bacteria which I plan to get rid of soon!

 

[glb]

You can add a buffer to raise Kh. Seachem makes two that I know of. One helps raise the ph and I think the other just raises alk. Others with more experience should have additional ideas. Good luck!

 

[Reefing Madness]

I just use Baking Soda to raise my ALK up.

 

[navila06]

how much baking soda and how often?

 

[Reefing Madness]

I only add mine by the Teaspoon, and only when the tank gets to 8dKH. I add enough to bump it to 10. But Im running a 285g total system volume.

 

[Mike J.]

Let's all take a step back. Here is the info the OP has stated: Mag-1480, CAL-480, dkh-5/6. OP has corals; a GSP and a Xenia. OP further states he has Aipstasia and Cyano. It's quite obvious that the OP has to step up water changes and detritus export. Let's not tell him he has to start dosing yet. Regular or maybe stepped up water changes is what we should be telling the OP to do.

 

[ajwalker261985]

Actually iv been doi g water changes pretty regular.