Poll: where does everyone run their alkalinity?

GoVols · May 10, 2020

Copingwithpods said:
Its not the reagents doing that it's just handling them and cleaning them that erases the numbers, I have the same problem with redsea syringes.

Do you think applying a Scotch Tape seal (around the syringe) would effect the test results?

Copingwithpods · May 10, 2020

GoVols said:
Do you think applying a Scotch Tape seal (around the syringe) would effect the test results?

I don't see why it would, I coat mine in clear nail polish. No part of the syringe ever touches any reagent so no problem with contamination.

Cwentz758 · May 10, 2020

The syringe they give you is 1 ML fully extended so I don’t look at the numbers. I run my tank at 9.5 I’m running my phosphates a little higher than most just to see what growth I get. I dose about 10-12 ML of soda ash a day. I drop to about 9.1 in 24 hours

Hemmdog · May 10, 2020

LRT · May 10, 2020

Scorpius said:
Yeah, buy Salifert test kits instead.

Very easy test kit to use!

GoVols · May 10, 2020

Copingwithpods said:
I don't see why it would, I coat mine in clear nail polish. No part of the syringe ever touches any reagent so no problem with contamination.

Thanks!!

My wife has a lot of clear nail polish.

LRT · May 10, 2020

Recently found my RODI was bad and my alk was running at 14.2.
Since then I've added new 6 stage RODI and have slowly been bring it back down and currently sitting at 11alk.
Wanting to get it down to 8-9.
I will say though the high alk was not affecting my mushrooms but do believe my Zoas didnt like it.

MarineVet · May 10, 2020

My Hanna checker for alk has been consistently good. Are more people having problems? Should I cross reference with Red Sea?

ReefReadyYouTube · May 10, 2020

High alk and calcium is proven to grow coral faster so I run my alk at 9.0 and calcium at 480

nereefpat · May 10, 2020

Copingwithpods said:
I don't see why it would, I coat mine in clear nail polish.

Nice. Good idea

tehmadreefer · May 10, 2020

I stay around 7, once I get close to 8 I get burnt tips plus NSW is typically 6-7 ish.

Potatohead · May 10, 2020

6.9 - 7.3

PHXReefguy · May 10, 2020

ReefReadyYouTube said:
High alk and calcium is proven to grow coral faster so I run my alk at 9.0 and calcium at 480

I’m interested to read more if you don’t mind dropping a link to the data.
Thank you,
Phil

ca1ore · May 11, 2020

Anywhere between 8 and 9 dkh for me. Hard to know accurately, so I shoot for consistency (precision). Trident shows nominally 8.5-6, but hanna is all over the place. Older reagent said 7.5; newer said 9.3 .....sigh.

Copingwithpods · May 11, 2020

ca1ore said:
Anywhere between 8 and 9 dkh for me. Hard to know accurately, so I shoot for consistency (precision). Trident shows nominally 8.5-6, but hanna is all over the place. Older reagent said 7.5; newer said 9.3 .....sigh.

Bet if you mixed the reagents you'd be in that 8.5 sweet spot

ReefReadyYouTube · May 11, 2020

PHXReefguy said:
I’m interested to read more if you don’t mind dropping a link to the data.
Thank you,
Phil

Potatohead · May 11, 2020

ca1ore said:
Anywhere between 8 and 9 dkh for me. Hard to know accurately, so I shoot for consistency (precision). Trident shows nominally 8.5-6, but hanna is all over the place. Older reagent said 7.5; newer said 9.3 .....sigh.

lol

I find Hanna to be reliable as long as the vials are pristine. I replace them about every year (probably 150 tests) but I store them upside down on a folded paper towel after rinsing with RO, this ensures nothing stays on the glass and they can get at least a tiny bit of airflow.

The reagents are quite good out of a new bottle but after about 20 tests (1.5 months) or so I do notice it starts to creep up. So a new bottle will test say 7.0 but after a while it will start testing like 7.2. Then towards the end of the bottle and a couple months it will test 7.3-7.4. Then a new bottle will go back down. Not really sure why but maybe very slight evaporation of the liquid in the reagent or something.

Potatohead · May 11, 2020

Personally I think is largely in part to the pH in a higher alk tank naturally being higher than in a lower alk tank.

MarineVet · May 12, 2020

Thanks to all who have contributed. I appreciate the feedback

Radman73 · May 12, 2020

I used to aim for 8-8.5. When my 220 leaked and I downsized to a 100 I broke open a new box of IO salt and mixed it up and added what I needed to get the tank full without testing anything. Alk shot up to ~9.5 but the few frags I had, mostly LPS, all looked significantly better. So I've just kept it there.