Lowest Alk Salt Mix / How to Lower Alk

[Crabs McJones]

yes I just got a few tiny corals and some are bleaching/distressed looking.

I used API test to cross check

If you mentioned it above I apologize, but do you know what your reef Crystal's is mixing to in a fresh batch? And are you using reef Crystal's in a bucket or a box? If bucket, try tipping the bucket on its side and rolling it around a bit, there have been cases where if the bucket sits for a while, the elements sort of settle out, and cause spikes in different elements depended on how settled out it is.
Roll your bucket around to mix it all back up, make up a small amount of fresh saltwater to 1.026 sg and test it and see what it reads.

 

[leepink23]

Muriatic acid?

Can I use this to lower ALK in freshly mixed saltwater.? Do I just add a little bit at a time and test until it gets to the level I would like it?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[bmcd45]

If you mentioned it above I apologize, but do you know what your reef Crystal's is mixing to in a fresh batch? And are you using reef Crystal's in a bucket or a box? If bucket, try tipping the bucket on its side and rolling it around a bit, there have been cases where if the bucket sits for a while, the elements sort of settle out, and cause spikes in different elements depended on how settled out it is.
Roll your bucket around to mix it all back up, make up a small amount of fresh saltwater to 1.026 sg and test it and see what it reads.

I tested the distilled water I’ve been using = 0
I tested a batch of mixed water and it was at 11dKH. I was using a box Of RC

 

[leepink23]

Yeah I’m still a little hesitant on it. I just started researching about it tonight.

If you are nervous to use muriatic acid, then you could by a lower alkalinity salt mix like Red Sea blue bucket or tropic marin

 

[Crabs McJones]

If you are nervous to use muriatic acid, then you could by a lower alkalinity salt mix like Red Sea blue bucket or tropic marin

Also to add to this the regular instant ocean is claimed to mix lower to

 

[bmcd45]

If you are nervous to use muriatic acid, then you could by a lower alkalinity salt mix like Red Sea blue bucket or tropic marin

I am looking into those right now. I tried the petsmart earlier today in the town next to me.. they only sell IO. There’s no other stores so I’m checking online.

I’m also researching about the muriatic acid tonight. Another late night tank research night lol

 

[nanchil]

I use Red Sea pro salt. Its Alk is too high. What I do is, I blow air using a tube into the water mix which instantly lower the Alk.

 

[Crabs McJones]

What I do is, I blow air using a tube into the water mix which instantly lower the Alk.

I've never heard of that before, how does that work?

 

[Jilly92]

Driftwood

 

[fishguy242]

Driftwood

can you explain this ? never heard of

 

[Jilly92]

can you explain this ? never heard of

You've never heard of driftwood lowering ph? It releases tannins in the water which lower the ph, it also builds fish immune system. It will however give your water a slight yellow hue sometimes. I learned this with my freshwater tanks

 

[bmcd45]

can you explain this ? never heard of

I thought driftwood was a big no in marine tanks

 

[Jilly92]

I thought driftwood was a big no in marine tanks

Hmm never heard of that, I cant imagine why

 

[fishguy242]

correct, and your ph is stable ,by chance did you rinse your api kh w distilled and recheck?

 

[Jilly92]

Hmm never heard of that, I cant imagine why

So its a no go if you have a normal ph because it would cause your tank to be too acidic, but in your case its fine, just take it out when your ph is where you want it to be

 

[bmcd45]

correct, and your ph is stable ,by chance did you rinse your api kh w distilled and recheck?

i did :/ same results

 

[fishguy242]

So its a no go if you have a normal ph because it would cause your tank to be too acidic, but in your case its fine, just take it out when your ph is where you want it to be

ph is stable the alk is problem

 

[bmcd45]

So its a no go if you have a normal ph because it would cause your tank to be too acidic, but in your case its fine, just take it out when your ph is where you want it to be

pH is where I want it 8.25 It’s my Alk that is high

 

[fishguy242]

at this point i would do nothing,wait for expert advice ,may take hours but they will come ,if not in 6-8 hrs just type in "bump" to bring post back out @WallyB??

 

[Jilly92]

pH is where I want it 8.25 It’s my Alk that is high

Sorry I think I was reading the comments and not the post. Do you use RODI water?