Marinemix reefer salt issue

[hllb]

I switched to this mix because it has the parameters I want to keep, especially alk. However, my alk has been low lately so I tested the fresh water today and the alk is only 7.5, tested with Hanna. I want to keep between 8 and 9 and feel this is too low. Anyone else have this issue? It should be at 9, freshly mixed. Salinity at 35.

 

[hllb]

Just tested with Red Sea pro and got 8.7. What’s wrong with my hanna? Any way to calibrate it?

 

[hllb]

Tank is testing at 7.7 right now with titration. I target 8.5.

 

[Gareth elliott]

First hanna test issues:
Biggest issue you will experience is contamination of the syringe or bottle. Don’t let water touch the syringe or get into the reagent bottle. Will change its ph and drastically throw off the test. Always use the new syringe with each new bottle.

Next alkalinity i actually prefer to keep my tank around 7.5 dkh i get .5 dkh wiggle room and being close to natural sea water makes it easier to acclimate mariculture corals.

How often are you testing alkalinity? Your tank maybe be consuming or precipitating which is showing a lower value than the fresh made salt water. Try testing exactly 24 hours apart. The difference will determine dosage of kalk, 2 part that will be needed to maintain your target:

 

[hllb]

First hanna test issues:
Biggest issue you will experience is contamination of the syringe or bottle. Don’t let water touch the syringe or get into the reagent bottle. Will change its ph and drastically throw off the test. Always use the new syringe with each new bottle.

Next alkalinity i actually prefer to keep my tank around 7.5 dkh i get .5 dkh wiggle room and being close to natural sea water makes it easier to acclimate mariculture corals.

How often are you testing alkalinity? Your tank maybe be consuming or precipitating which is showing a lower value than the fresh made salt water. Try testing exactly 24 hours apart. The difference will determine dosage of kalk, 2 part that will be needed to maintain your target:

I think I’m careful with the syringe lol. I may try without the tip though. Not sure the reason for that.
I generally test once a week with water changes. I don’t have significant consumption of alkilinity or calcium. Generally maybe .2 dkh per week in alk.

I tested with Hanna last night and got 7.6. I dosed 1.5 ml of Red Sea foundations alk and tested at .7 this morning. My hammer has been unhappy lately and I’m thinking it may be the alk.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I switched to this mix because it has the parameters I want to keep, especially alk. However, my alk has been low lately so I tested the fresh water today and the alk is only 7.5, tested with Hanna. I want to keep between 8 and 9 and feel this is too low. Anyone else have this issue? It should be at 9, freshly mixed. Salinity at 35.

If you are confident in the result, and that you have the salinity correct, it is very easy to raise it with baking soda.

 

[hllb]

If you are confident in the result, and that you have the salinity correct, it is very easy to raise it with baking soda.

Not confident in the result as it tested 8.7 with titration. I’ll do more tests tonight when I get home. I mixed two buckets of water and they both tested the same with Hanna. It’s strange.