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There must be Viagra in my saltwater!

post #1 of 8
2/22/12 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 

Because my water gets harder and harder every time I test it!

 

Seriously though, whenever I test for my water's hardness, the water seems to be harder than the last time. On the instructions it states to bring the hardness down, I need to do a water change, but every time I test the water the day after I change the water, the water is slightly harder than the last time I tested.

 

According to my API alkalinity test kit, it should take between 8 and 12 drops for the water to turn from blue to yellow, which would indicate the water's hardness is appropriate for marine animals and corals. Last time I tested, it took 19 drops to change the water from blue to yellow.

 

None of my animals seem to mind though, as all my fish, inverts, and corals all seem to be doing just fine.

 

But I would like some suggestions on how to bring my water's hardness down before it becomes a problem,

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 8
2/22/12 at 5:12pm
How are you changing the water and what are you using?
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post #3 of 8
2/22/12 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 

Normally I make 25% water changes usually every 2 weeks and once in a blue moon I would make a 50% water change. I use saltwater purchased from my most trusted LFS.

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post #4 of 8
2/22/12 at 5:22pm

Take some of your water to your favorite LFS and have them test it.  You may have a bad teat kit or you may be doing something wrong.  Are you dosing with anything?

 

Did you leave the cap off of the Solution?

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post #5 of 8
2/22/12 at 5:29pm
Over time the alkalinity drops. When you do a water change the new saltwater will raise the alkalinity if it was lower in the tank to start with. Normally the new water is not excessively high as yours is, so API is directing you to do a water change to bring down the alkalinity assuming that the new water is lower in alkalinity then the tank.
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post #6 of 8
2/22/12 at 5:29pm
Thread Starter 

I dose to maintain proper levels of calcium, magnesium, iodine, and PH.

I heard that PH buffer could affect hardness, but I only use the buffer when the PH falls below 8.0, which is usually only once a month. 

 

I do have an alkaline buffer but I haven't used in in a long long time. 

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post #7 of 8
2/22/12 at 5:32pm
It may be a bad test kit as the API expires it does give you a reading that is high...
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post #8 of 8
2/22/12 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah Im beginning to think maybe I just have a bad test kit... I would imagine that if my alkalinity was as high as the test kit says it is, my fish would be showing signs of stress and/or my corals wouldn't be looking so happy.
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