My Triton Lab Results

Crackem · Sep 28, 2015

My new 120 gallon has been running since June 2015. It is barebottom and all rocks are man made and were dry when purchased. I've been monitoring my alkalinity and it has been steadily increasing. I am not dosing anything. I sent my water out to be tested to see if anything abnormal shows up and here are the results. It's been a very long time since I've taken a chemistry class so if you could shed some light on my results that would be great.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 28, 2015

Man made rock often means made from cement, and such rocks are usually cured for quite a while before being suitable due to release of hydroxide into the water, which boosts pH and alkalinity.

It sounds as if they may not have been adequately cured.

How high is the alkalinity now?

I can't see the Triton results well (its a little small), but from all of the green and only red for lithium, I think there's nothing special to worry about from that test (lithium is not a big deal, IMO).

Crackem · Sep 28, 2015

These might be better images

Crackem · Sep 28, 2015

If you click on image and click open in original location you should see a clear image

Crackem · Sep 28, 2015

What about the aluminum results?

Crackem · Sep 28, 2015

Before I did any water changes my alk was up to 12dkh. It started at 10.75dkh. I did a few 25 gallon water changes after using muriatic acid to lower the alkalinity and I was able to get it down to 8.9 dkh in my display and a few days later it was up to 9.20dkh. I haven't tested in a few days.

Crackem · Sep 28, 2015

Aluminum is 9.36 but I'm not sure what units they were measured in. It says 2.0 is the set point

Reduck · Sep 28, 2015

Are you using phosguard or al99? Really that al number is still pretty low. I don't think I'd do anything about it. Unless you are using one of the two products I mentioned.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 28, 2015

I still cannot see the data very well on my screen.

Aluminum would be in ppb. IMo that set point is not very important.

In my tests, 500 ppb of soluble aluminum was a significant concern for various soft corals, which closed up. 5 and 50 ppm were not apparently a problem after 24 h. SO I personally wouldn't worry about 9 ppb, but if I were using an aluminum based media of some sort (Phosguard, or most any other white ceramic type material), I might switch to something else.

FWIW, there is some uncertainty of the forms of aluminum in reef tanks, and what I tested is likely the most toxic form.

Crackem · Sep 28, 2015

9.36ug/I are the units they were measured in except it's a weird lookin u that I don't have on my keyboard. I'm using high capacity gfo. Since the Aluminum result is in green I'll consider that a good result like you stated. Thank You

Reduck · Sep 28, 2015

µ is in the character map, or by using alt+0181 and stands for Mu or micro.
Stick with the GFO. Maybe it came from your hand soap or antiperspirant. Just not worth worrying about.

Crackem · Dec 22, 2015

My alkalinity is still steadily rising

My tank is still fallow and all I have is a cuc. Here's my last few alk test results.
I used muriatic acid to bring the alk down in my mixing container before doing the first test which is how I got it down to 8.79. Tank has been up and running since June and all my rocks were purchased from West Mariculture. Anyone have any input besides taking out my rocks and starting over?

11/22/15 10:45 pm
Alk 157= 8.79

11/27/15 12am
Alk 164= 9.18
11/27/15 1:26pm
Alk 163= 9.12

12/21/15
Alk = 199= 11.14

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 23, 2015

If alkalinity is getting too high for your preference, you can add either muriatic acid or Seachem Acid Buffer in water changes or directly added to the aquarium.

Note that it will also reduce pH substantially, but mostly temporarily.

Reduck · Dec 23, 2015

What salt mix are you using? RSCP tends to mix high as do some others. Could be that you are just seeing the effects of high alk from that source?

Crackem · Dec 25, 2015

I use reef crystals. I haven't done a water change since 11/17/15. Tested alk on 11/22/15 and it was at 8.79dkh. Now it's over 11 dkh.

Sabellafella · Dec 25, 2015

Throw some corals in there, that sob will be down in no time

omykiss001 · Dec 25, 2015

Crackem said:
I use reef crystals. I haven't done a water change since 11/17/15. Tested alk on 11/22/15 and it was at 8.79dkh. Now it's over 11 dkh.

I've had reef crystals that have dKh high as 12 after mix and others low as 7. In 2 boxes of 200 gallon mix. Wonder if they've had some manufacturing issues lately, luckily the 12 was what I started a tank with so allowed it to drop on its own over time. I'm going to try the HW- marine mix and see if it's more consistent and worth the extra cost.

Sorry just noticed your alk rose in the tank, not due to salt mix

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 26, 2015

omykiss001 said:
I've had reef crystals that have dKh high as 12 after mix and others low as 7. In 2 boxes of 200 gallon mix. Wonder if they've had some manufacturing issues lately, luckily the 12 was what I started a tank with so allowed it to drop on its own over time. I'm going to try the HW- marine mix and see if it's more consistent and worth the extra cost.

Sorry just noticed your alk rose in the tank, not due to salt mix

I think the alk near 11-12 dKH is more the norm for Reef Crystals than lower values would be, but, of course, it depends on what salinity you use

omykiss001 · Dec 26, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I think the alk near 11-12 dKH is more the norm for Reef Crystals than lower values would be, but, of course, it depends on what salinity you use

Always mix at 1.024. Might have just gotten an off batch too.

Reduck · Dec 27, 2015

omykiss001 said:
Always mix at 1.024. Might have just gotten an off batch too.

Most likely the dry mix settled. Do you roll or mix the salts prior to using it? Also, it wouldn't hurt to test a batch or two in the course of mixing just to be sure.

Looking at an earlier post, I see you have two DOS units. Are you dosing anything yet, or just preparing to dose?
Happy Holidays everyone!