Kh questions

[Jinavette]

So I’m having trouble with getting my kh to 8ppm it’s consuming daily 1.1 to 1.3 I am testing the tank daily to measure the perimeters and depending on them I add the Red Sea foundation I go by the saltwater aquarium measurements that they have on their page to add the right amount. The maximum that I have been able to get the KH to is 6.9 and the goal is to have it at 8 as so Ive heard. I test it the following day and the tank will keep consuming about the 1.1-1.3 I wanted to know if that is normal and is there other ways of getting the KH up to 8. Also all other perimeters are stable and good I also did a water change 3 days ago of 20% because I had medicated the tank for Cyanobacteria. The KH problem has been there even before I treated the tank for the Cyanobacteria I thought that after the 20% water change the KH was going to stabilize itself but it did not.

 

[Oldreefer44]

IMO, the first thing to do is to verify that your test results are correct. If you have a local LFS you can take a water sample there. If not, recommend a second test kit that is a different brand than what you are currently using. Once you have a result that you are sure is correct, there are numerous threads that will help you raise and stabilize your KH.

 

[Unitylover]

By ppm i hope you mean dkh, as kh, or alkalinity, should be 8-12 DKH, or approx 139-214 ppm.
Also what test kit are you using? I struggle to get my alk over 8,but its a high 7, around 7.8, so it's ok, and my corals are happy with it, so its ok. Remember, stability is more important than the parameters, as it is better to have 7 DKH with it fluctuating than a constantly fluctuating 8-12 DKH parameter.

 

[Jinavette]

By ppm i hope you mean dkh, as kh, or alkalinity, should be 8-12 DKH, or approx 139-214 ppm.
Also what test kit are you using? I struggle to get my alk over 8,but its a high 7, around 7.8, so it's ok, and my corals are happy with it, so its ok. Remember, stability is more important than the parameters, as it is better to have 7 DKH with it fluctuating than a constantly fluctuating 8-12 DKH parameter.

Hanna test

 

[MNFish]

What is your salinity at? Do you dose a lot of calcium as well? What is your fresh mixed salt water at for alk. Stability is the best but being unable to raise it does seem odd to me....

 

[Unitylover]

+1 above ^
Calcium and alkalinity are linked. If one is messed up, the other may mess up too.

 

[Jinavette]

+1 above ^
Calcium and alkalinity are linked. If one is messed up, the other may mess up too.

The calcium is at 470

 

[Jinavette]

What is your salinity at? Do you dose a lot of calcium as well? What is your fresh mixed salt water at for alk. Stability is the best but being unable to raise it does seem odd to me....

Salinity is at 35, I do not dose calcium because it is at a 470. And the alk is at 5.2 today with the Hannah test, yesterday it was at 6.9