High Alkalinity

[NEWSALT]

My alk is running high, like close 12 dKh. I use Reef Crystal salt. I'm wondering if I have a bad Salifert Alk Kit. Anyone nearby (Middlesex)have a kit, Salifert or other that I can borrow to check my kit against?

Thanks

 

[RichT]

I'd bet on the test kit being bad. I read about the bad kits on RC. I had a new one and tested against the one I was using. New kit was bad. PA said they would replace it if I sent the shipping info. Been a couple months now. Guess I need to remind them.

 

[MikeNapoli]

Salifert is rumored to have a bad batch of kits.... some stores can't even get them because they may go out of business.... just what I heard.

 

[HerbieK]

I have a LaMotte Alk kit which I really like. I live in Kendall Park (South Brunswick). If you bring over a sample, I would be more than happy to test it for you.

Let me know.

Herb

 

[blange3]

Mike,

I have a Lamotte as well. I may be home tonight. I'll know by the end of the work day.

 

[reneeRN]

12 is just fine, dont freak out like i used to. mine is always 13-14 with my ph at 7.9 and calcium at 450. it is all about balance. too low is a problem. read the randy farley info.
i have a professional ysi photometer i bought from aquaticeco.com last week. it tests alkalinity among every test you can think of. it is EXACT! i have the reagents for calcium, low range phosphates, and pH as well. this 800 dollar purchase was because of my frustrations with the many conflicting test kits available to consumers such as us. if you want, i will bring my meter and i will test your water for everything at the next meeting, just throw me a few frags.

 

[Phyl]

The next meeting is at his house. We should have a BIG water sample there! ;D

 

[raider77]

Reef Crystals Alk is high. When I tested my water change water it read 13 dkh and once at 14 dkh.

 

[albie611]

i too use reef crystals and the last time i tested my w/c water the alk was 12 using api test kit
i wouldnt worry too much...its still within the range and its more about the balance of calcium, alk and mag.
happy reefing ....al

 

[NEWSALT]

Maybe my Salifert Alk test kit is ok afterall. I am in the middle of switching my salt from Reef Crystals to Red Sea Coral Pro. I just mix my first 5g batch of Coral Pro. After mixing for 24hrs. I got the following results:

Alk: 7.4 dKH, 2.63 meq/L
Ca: 470

Ca seem a bit high. According to the following test, Ca averaged about 399 and Alk averaged about 2.1 meq/L
http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages.com/AWT_Salt_Analysis_0208.pdf

 

[ken6217]

Reef Crystals have an alkalinity of around 11-12 dkh. There is nothing wrong with having your alk at 12 dkh. I try to keep my alk between 11-dkh. My SPS certainly love it.
Ken

 

[Carlo]

The level you keep you alkalinity at isn't that critical but if you can keep it nailed around 9 you might be the better off for it. This gives you plenty more then natural sea water at around 7-7.5ish dKH but not unreasonable high either. The main problem with running high levels of alkalinity is that you "mask" other problems like low mag levels which you can normally tell (somewhat) by depressed pH. When you have high alkalinity you also can't hold as much mag or calcium as it will precipitate out of the water easier since the water can only hold so much at any given time.

Remember when you mix that 11-12 dKH made up water with you tank water it will mostly drop unless you keep your tank at that level also.

The one thing regardless of where you choose to keep your alkalinity "nailed at" is to adjust it slowly. Corals are very intolerant (generally speaking) of alkalinity bouncing. It's far better to adjust alkalinity 1 dKH per day regardless of how high or low it really is. Nothing we normally do in our tanks will kill off corals faster then shifting alkalinity too fast!

Carlo