Low alkalinity on Tropic Marin Pro-Reef

[Philly Reefer]

Hello all,

I am wondering if I am getting a bad batch of Tropic Marin Pro-reef salt. This is my very 1st bucket of salt since I just started. I just tested my saltwater bucket(brute 20g) and I'm getting 6.1dkh.

I tested my DT alkalinity the last 2 weeks. I got 6.1 last week and today I got 5.8dkh.

so.. am I doing something wrong or do I have a bad batch? its supposed to be 7dkh - 8 dkh, right?

I used Hanna checker and Aquaforest alkalinity test kit

 

[ReefLab]

what are you using to test salinity? I believe TMP should mix in the low 7's

 

[Philly Reefer]

what are you using to test salinity? I believe TMP should mix in the low 7's

Salinity, I use refractometer.

 

[Philly Reefer]

I should mention I did 10% water change yesterday.
Tank 40b with 20g sump. No corals in yet just 2 clowns

 

[Hydrored]

7-7.2 is what I see regularly from TM pro reef. Check your calibration or it’s a bad bucket. I’ve never experienced an issue with it in over a year of use

 

[Philly Reefer]

7-7.2 is what I see regularly from TM pro reef. Check your calibration or it’s a bad bucket. I’ve never experienced an issue with it in over a year of use

Not sure if I can calibrate the hanna checker alkalinity. Unless the reagent is expired. which is not. its close to be expiring - 10/2020. but if thats bad, I would think it would be way different with the aquaforest test result

And the aquaforest test kit expire next year.

 

[Philly Reefer]

oooo sorry. I forgot to mention. I mixed it to 1.026 with the refractometer

 

[anth]

Think he means calibrate your refractometer

 

[Philly Reefer]

Think he means calibrate your refractometer

I just did it again just to make sure. I use the brigthwell refractometer calibration solutions

 

[anth]

I also use the same salt and always have a dkh of 7 at 1.026 salinity.
Have you rechecked your salinity after the calibration?
How much salt in grams per litre are you mixing?

 

[Philly Reefer]

I also use the same salt and always have a dkh of 7 at 1.026 salinity.
Have you rechecked your salinity after the calibration?
How much salt in grams per litre are you mixing?

Yup just did it just now, 1.026.

Not sure how much salt in grams but I use 8.5 cups for 20g brute bucket

 

[anth]

Just to be sure your salinity reading is correct, i use 1025 grams of salt for 25 litres of water.
Measure out 8.5 cups of salt and weigh it, it should weigh about 820 grams taking into account the 5 litres less that you mix compared to me.

 

[Greg Goby]

Salt settles substantially in the bucket when being shipped, moved, and stored. I read somewhere else on this forum of a user who rolls their bucket of salt around on the floor for a bit after receiving it to redistribute everything, I have been doing the same ever since.

 

[anth]

Salt settles substantially in the bucket when being shipped, moved, and stored. I read somewhere else on this forum of a user who rolls their bucket of salt around on the floor for a bit after receiving it to redistribute everything, I have been doing the same ever since.

Plus 1 to this!
It normally says to do so on some brands

 

[Philly Reefer]

I know I did the calculation when I got this salt.

This is from tropic pro marin website.

But fortunately I stopped on 8 cups then check with the refractometer. I think its 8 for me because I dont flatten the cups. So its always extra salts the cups

 

[mike550]

Yup just did it just now, 1.026.

Not sure how much salt in grams but I use 8.5 cups for 20g brute bucket

I just mixed 20G yesterday, and it took me around 10 cups to get a salinity of 1.026 salinity (Hanna). I don't "flatten" the cups either. But I also consistently get an Alk reading of 6.8 (Hanna Checker) when my salinity is at 1.026.

 

[Philly Reefer]

I just mixed 20G yesterday, and it took me around 10 cups to get a salinity of 1.026 salinity (Hanna). I don't "flatten" the cups either. But I also consistently get an Alk reading of 6.8 (Hanna Checker) when my salinity is at 1.026.

Hmm... I might need to ask my friend to come over with his salitiny solution and his refractometer to check this out

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Salt settles substantially in the bucket when being shipped, moved, and stored. I read somewhere else on this forum of a user who rolls their bucket of salt around on the floor for a bit after receiving it to redistribute everything, I have been doing the same ever since.

I get the concept of that and even support it but rolling it around for a few minutes, you're just fooling yourself. You'd have to empty it from the bag and put it on a barrel style paint roller for hours to counter the effect you're trying to counter act.

 

[treedog5]

Same here, I get around 6.9- 7.2 when I mix up 4 gallons of new salt water.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

I just mixed 20G yesterday, and it took me around 10 cups to get a salinity of 1.026 salinity (Hanna). I don't "flatten" the cups either. But I also consistently get an Alk reading of 6.8 (Hanna Checker) when my salinity is at 1.026.

It takes me around 27-29 cups to do 55 gallons. I see variation but I expect that batch to batch based on water concentrate in the salt mix. This puts you right in the ratio I'm finding in practice.