params off.........

[tgp4274]

ok my tanks been up for little over a year n none of my pramas seem to move... I don't have much in the tank n I don't dose anything..... just tested tonight and tests are

pho at 2.0
cal at 500+
mag at 1500+
alk at 14

none of them seem to go down.... am concerned on the alk ad I know I need get the pho down...
am using api for the pho ad the alk
using salfist for the cal n mag
I am using npx pellets at moment
any ideas helpful thanks!!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Whats your tank look like? Corals? Coralline??
with phosphates that high, coralline has a hard time competing against algae to grow, thus using up the ALK.
You can use Muriatic Acid to lower that number to where it should be, then when doing a water change, use the acid in the mixing container to where you want it first, then add it to the tank.

 

[tgp4274]

really??????? woulda not thought of that...... so where I get said acid???? n corralane is
slow......... don't have much algey in tank tho..... n in the year I have never had to scrape coralane off of my glass which I have always thought was kinda weird... not even the back.
n corals are mostly lps
2 brains
frog spawn
hammer
on small clam
pulsing xenia
colt
two toadstoles
and one birdsnet frag about 2" tall...
thanks!!

 

[Reefing Madness]

All your LPS and the Clam are doing ok? But your ALK and Cal never come down? Or do you do water changes and they stay at those levels?
Muriatic Acid, is a pool acid, you can get at any pool store. You do not need alot of acid to drop that ALK.

The "acidity" (that being essentially negative alkalinity) of muriatic acid straight from the bottle is about 11,000 meq/L.

So adding 1/11,000 of the water volume as this acid will drop alkalinity by 1 meq/l (2.8 dKH).

You want a drop of 13-7 = 6 dKH, or 2.1 times that amount, so you'd add 1/5,100th of the water volume.

13 gallons ~ 49 L

1/5100 of 49 L = 9.6 mL

So I'd add 5 ml and stir well for a few minutes and see what alkalinity you get. Then dose again assuming it seems on the right track.

You'll need to aerate well after adding the acid to blow off the excess CO2 and bring up the pH
Randal Holmes-Farley

 

[tgp4274]

yes clam looks GREAT!!!! lps looks good also. no my alk never comes down before or after water changes..
so if I add drop by drop to the tank is that going to goof with my ph???
n where should I do te drops?? in front of the return pump???
thanks!!! will try n get some tomarow. I think I can get it from WM scince they hve pool chemicals

 

[tgp4274]

bump

 

[Reefing Madness]

I've done it in my tank before, when I had a Sump, but I'd really not do it if you have corals in the tank, and not a sump. I'd actually lower the Alk in your water changes ( in seperate container ) to bring the total alk down in the tank. That way you can bring it down, and then let the PH stabilize before throwing it in the tank.

 

[tgp4274]

ok thanks that makes sence!!

 

[tgp4274]

ok so holy crap!!!!!! I use reef crystals salt mix n I just tested my alk of my 10 gal water change... its a 25!!!!!!!!

 

[tgp4274]

bump

 

[fishroomlady]

I think your test kit has to be off or your salt batch is messed up

 

[tgp4274]

well I put 30ml acid in the water change n have it down to an 8.....

 

[saltykisses]

8 is that your kh •d ? Are you running carbon?

Muriatic acid is that the same as lanthanum chloride?

 

[fishroomlady]

well I put 30ml acid in the water change n have it down to an 8.....

you shouldn't have to do this

 

[tgp4274]

yes is my kh. tanks at a 14 n doesn't go down ..... not sre if is the same type acid but was recommended earlier to help me get my alk down..

 

[leocom2000]

Just leave it be and check your water with a different test kit. Better yet, ask someone else to test it for you.