Test results

[spamvicious]

Just been to a lfs and these are the results for a water test. What does the alk translate to in kh?.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

PPM parts per million ....96PPM which equals to 5.3 DKH



here's the calculator https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/AlkConversion.php

 

[spamvicious]

PPM parts per million ....96PPM which equals to 5.3 DKH



here's the calculator https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/AlkConversion.php

Thanks. The KH was 9 on the 3rd September so it’s draining fast.

 

[czoolander]

That is a cool LFS you have that can test water like this .......... very jealous

if your ALK is 5.3 that is very low you will want to slowly bring that up

 

[exnisstech]

Time to start dosing.

 

[GobyGuy]

Sweet tester never seen something like that before

 

[spamvicious]

So it’s a long story I have been dosing myself as it started at 5.4 and I was dosing with bicarbonate and it was continually depleted every time I dosed. The LFS suspects it was the water I was using from another lfs so he suggested 50% water change and half a bottle of atm colony to try replenish so I’ve just done that and will test again. I’ve got my own rodi unit now and will be mixing my own salt water.

 

[spamvicious]

That is a cool LFS you have that can test water like this .......... very jealous

if your ALK is 5.3 that is very low you will want to slowly bring that up

It’s great but it’s not very close to me so don’t go often.

 

[spamvicious]

Sweet tester never seen something like that before

Yeah it’s a place called radical aquatics in Leeds (for any Uk people reading)

 

[Miami Reef]

I’m skeptical of that result.

By around 6.5dkh, calcification is greatly inhibited. Even with heavily stocked tanks.

I don’t trust those machines because their claimed accuracy is off by a large margin IMO. The result is also skewed depending on how much sample water the LFS fills the unit.

I’d greatly trust a result from an alkalinity titration (Red Sea) over this machine.


How can calcium be 430ppm and alkalinity at 5dkh? They’d both be extremely low if the alkalinity result was correct (unless you only dosed calcium).

But like I said, you alk would not get that low naturally. Not within a week for sure. Not even if calcium was held constant at 430ppm.

I’m sure @Randy Holmes-Farley can confirm to see if this value seems likely or not.

 

[spamvicious]

I’m skeptical of that result.

By around 6.5dkh, calcification is greatly inhibited. Even with heavily stocked tanks.

I don’t trust those machines because their claimed accuracy is off by a large margin IMO. The result is also skewed depending on how much sample water the LFS fills the unit.

I’d greatly trust a result from an alkalinity titration (Red Sea) over this machine.


How can calcium be 430ppm and alkalinity at 5dkh? They’d both be extremely low if the alkalinity result was correct (unless you only dosed calcium).

But like I said, you alk would not get that low naturally. Not within a week for sure.

I have used both Red Sea and Salifert tests. This has been an ongoing problem since the tank was cycled. I dosed the magnesium and calcium once two weeks ago.

 

[Miami Reef]

I have used both Red Sea and Salifert tests. This has been an ongoing problem since the tank was cycled. I dosed the magnesium and calcium once two weeks ago.

What alkalinity are you getting on the Red Sea?

 

[spamvicious]

The first time I noticed the problem was when the Red Sea test said 5.4 alk. Like you everyone was sceptical and said the test was wrong and to get a salifert one. Which I did and same result. So I buffered using bicarbonate but every time it raised it would go down three or four dkh by the next time I tested (within one week). It was 9 on 3rd of September after dosing more bicarbonate. Now back down to 5.4.

 

[spamvicious]

The only common denominator is that the shop I was using doesn’t have a good reputation (which I obviously didn’t know). The guy I saw today said the same as you there is no reason for these issues as the tank is barely stocked.

 

[Miami Reef]

Remember, Red Sea Alkalinity tests need you find how much titration you used, not how much is remaining.

For example, if you used 0.62mL if titration, the result will be 8.7dkh

BUT!

If you calculated how much titration was remaining…you’d get 0.38mL.

Plug 0.38mL in that chart and you’ll get the result of 5.3dkh.

 

[Miami Reef]

Also, you need 10mL of sample for the Red Sea test kit.

I’ve verified multiple of the Red Sea Alkalinity tests with a homemade DIY 8dkh standard, and the green color matched perfectly to 8.1dkh.

It’s a highly accurate titration. I’d believe it as long as it was preformed and read correctly.

 

[spamvicious]

Also, you need 10mL of sample for the Red Sea test kit.

I’ve verified multiple of the Red Sea Alkalinity tests with a homemade DIY 8dkh standard, and the green color matched perfectly to 8.1dkh.

It’s a highly accurate titration. I’d believe it as long as it was preformed and read correctly.

You can look at my previous threads where I showed the tests and results on the syringe. The results are accurate. There is no way three different tests including a proper testing machine are all wrong.

 

[Miami Reef]

You can look at my previous threads where I showed the tests and results on the syringe. The results are accurate. There is no way three different tests including a proper testing machine are all wrong.

OK, Just making sure.

I wonder what could be taking up so much alkalinity. Especially since I don’t see much coral/coralline growth.

 

[spamvicious]

OK, Just making sure.

I wonder what could be taking up so much alkalinity. Especially since I don’t see much coral/coralline growth.

Yes sorry didn’t mean to sound rude I guess it’s just cos I’ve had to confirm it so many times. I only have three small coral frags so no idea. I’ll have to retest tomorrow and see if the atm colony helped at all.