Poll: Stable #'s and water changes

[jsker]

I'm sorry ....should have clarified ....I meant after I add the acid to bring down the alk. IO is 11...I want my fresh batch to be around 8 or lower

Sorry, should have made that clear

It will not hurt to add another power head at the top

 

[specialk]

It will not hurt to add another power head at the top

Ok, and have that kicking air and bubbles into the water ....Will 45 minutes of that be good enough you think? ...then add it to the tank?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Anyone on my aerating question... ?

Not sure the question.

I mix mine in 5g buckets with a 1200 Maxijet. Depending on the day depends how soon I use it really. Most often , immediately.

What’s the concern?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Colors are good as well? Also how many gallons you have ?

PO3 and nitrate relatively low?

Two tanks, 55 n 30

As far as nutrients ,Depends on when in the last number of years we’re talking about really or if the wife is feeding the tank. Lol.

 

[madweazl]

I use Instant Ocean salt and maintain the following levels:

Alkalinity - 7.5 - 8.0 dKh (generally 7.7)
Calciaum - 400 - 420 (generally 405)
Magnesium - 1290 - 1380 (generally 1320)

I do 13% water changes (10 gallons) weekly on a 75g system. I add 3ml muriatic acid to each 5g bucket of new ASW; this drops the alkalinity to approximately 7.5 dKh. I do not add calcium or magnesium supplements to the ASW and my levels increase slightly (Ca typically around 415 and Mg typically around 1320-1350). I use a small powerhead in each 5g mixing bucket and I use the venturi attachment for aeration. I mix the water with a heater like this for 12-18 hours. When I do a water change, there is zero response from the corals (acropora dominated tank); it is like nothing happened. There is no observable change in pH on my controllers probe.

Edit: prior to using muriatic acid to lower the alkalinity, I'd measure .3-.5 dKh increase after the water change. A few of the acropora would slime for a short period right after but were otherwise ok.

 

[specialk]

I am hoping that aerating a 18 gallon bucket of freshly mixed water, with a power head on the top surface blowing bubbles and air into the water, will be good enough to get the PH back to normal

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

so a powerhead at the bottom of the bucket mixing the salt submurged under water would probobly aerate it and bring the ph back up?

Yes. The pH may drop into the 6's, so monitor to know when it is done. Others have done this and find it also solves the problem of any precipitate in IO mixing barrels.

 

[specialk]

Yes. The pH may drop into the 6's, so monitor to know when it is done. Others have done this and find it also solves the problem of any precipitate in IO mixing barrels.

Perfect thank You! Was not sure if that powerhead at the bottom would be enough, OR if I had to have one at the top of the surface as well being more agressive with pulling air into the water...

Good to know one at the bottom will be enough

 

[specialk]

Yes. The pH may drop into the 6's, so monitor to know when it is done. Others have done this and find it also solves the problem of any precipitate in IO mixing barrels.

Also Randy ...I'm going to test and monitor, but is there a ballpark time you think it would take for 20 gallons and the ph to come back up? (Just so I have an idea)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Time depends entirely on the vigorousness of the aeration. The more the faster. I've not tried it to see how long but I wouldn't expect less than overnight. Might be longer, especially of the CO2 accumulates in the room air around it and isn't flushed out reasonably fast.

 

[specialk]

Here I was thinking it would only take an hour or so ..dang

 

[specialk]

Just curious ... what would happen if I did add the new batch of salt mix too soon and that new saltwater went in with lower ph? (in this case, I would be adding 17 gallons of new water to a 145 gallon system -- well 128 gallonn of water as I took out 17 gallons)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just curious ... what would happen if I did add the new batch of salt mix too soon and that new saltwater went in with lower ph? (in this case, I would be adding 17 gallons of new water to a 145 gallon system -- well 128 gallonn of water as I took out 17 gallons)

It could stress organisms. I can't see a reason to do it, but if you do, do it slowly.

 

[specialk]

It could stress organisms. I can't see a reason to do it, but if you do, do it slowly.

Yah I will make sure I do not .. was just curious. I am currently doing it right now, and you were not kidding ... that ph did drop like a rock. wow.

I currently have the powerhead at the bottom submerged mising the water, and then another power head at the top, 1/2 way submerged and kicking in air bubbles into the water .. so I am curious how long this is going to take ... which is fine because I have a lot of work in my tank today ... so I am going to continue to monitor.

I tested the ph with the new salt (just using API test kit) and it was around 7.8. Alk was around 11.2. I added 5 ml acid.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Using IO with 10% water changes every other week, I just never worried about it that much. Never saw a diffence in the tanks or coral growth. Alk at 8. (Ish ...lol)

Kinda sps heavy too....

This is my basic take on it too

 

[hybridazn]

If where you keep your parameters differ that mich from IO that a 15% bi weekly change affects things that bad I would highly suggest finding a new salt that reflect closer to where you want to be.

By the time you calculate the cost of IO, extra materials and your time to fight IO to match, you can just buy another salt mix. That would be my course of action.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If where you keep your parameters differ that mich from IO that a 15% bi weekly change affects things that bad I would highly suggest finding a new salt that reflect closer to where you want to be.

By the time you calculate the cost of IO, extra materials and your time to fight IO to match, you can just buy another salt mix. That would be my course of action.

IO adjusted to lower alk won't cost appreciably more than IO. An $8 bottle of muriatic acid has the potential to drop 8,000 gallons of seawater by 4 dKH.

 

[reefndude]

I use io and use acid to drop alk. I mix 20 gallons at a time. Drop 7.2 ml of muriatic acid to bring it down to right around 8 dkh. I mix for 24 hrs with no heat. If I'm doing water change i will then add a heater about a hour before hand to bring temp up.
Tank parameters stay steady at 7.8-8 dkh
400 ppm Ca
And 1350 mag
With dosing tank it stays pretty consistent

 

[hybridazn]

IO adjusted to lower alk won't cost appreciably more than IO. An $8 bottle of muriatic acid has the potential to drop 8,000 gallons of seawater by 4 dKH.

Oh yea I def get that, I suppose I should have worded my response a bit differently lol. I can only speak for myself but spending an extra $10-15 on a box of salt that is closer to the parameters I like would be easier to use and less "hassle" are worth the extra money.

There are so many options out there in this hobby I just can't see why we would want to add buffer or acid to manipulate a salt mix to match what we want when it's already out there.

 

[specialk]

IO adjusted to lower alk won't cost appreciably more than IO. An $8 bottle of muriatic acid has the potential to drop 8,000 gallons of seawater by 4 dKH.

+1

This is my first go round of this and I am finding it extremely easy. I started about 2 hours ago and am finding my ph rebounding quicker then I expected. So this really is not a hassle at all. And I get my #s to evenly match up.

Also on the cost, the salts that have #s close to mine, are $35+ more then what I pay now for IO. So I am fine doing this .. again very very simple.

But to eachs own and everyone has their own methods and madness ... lord knows I have a ton of the latter!