Alkalinity Levels
- Thread starter donna2933
- Start date
donna2933
Member
Originally posted by donna2933:
What should the alkalinity level be in a reef tank? I use the AquaLab I test strips and my tanks alkalinity usually runs between 240-300. These strips run from 0-300. The reef tank is 75 gallon.
I would like to stay with the test I have now for alkalinity. I was hoping someone could tell me about the levels using my test and the range this test shows.
broomer5
Active Member
Hi Donna,
I'm not familiar with your particular test kit, but I imagine your measures alkalinity and gives you results using parts per million ( ppm ) of CaCO2 Calcium Carbonate
Some folks use degrees DKH and still some other people use milliequivalents per liter meq/l
So ... here are some conversions I got out of my SeaTest Kit for Alkalinity
meq/l x 50 = ppm CaCO2
meg/l x 2.8 = DKH
If you are getting reading of 250 to 300 ... what units are you using. If indeed your kit gives readings in ppm then it would appear that you are in the range of 5 meq/l to 6 meq/l ( or for those DKH fans 14 to 16.8 DKH )
That may be a little high depending on who you talk to, there is a lot of opinions on what levels are best.
I have been monitoring my alkalinity and it was very high ( 20 DKH )or about 357 ppm. That was very high according to most. I've since done 3 15% water changes over last 6 weeks or so and it has come down to an acceptable level now.
Using your kit I suppose somewhere in the range of 175 to 250 ppm would be considered by many to be a good safe range.
Are you adding calcium ?
If so are you having problems maintaining your calcium levels ?
Brian
I'm not familiar with your particular test kit, but I imagine your measures alkalinity and gives you results using parts per million ( ppm ) of CaCO2 Calcium Carbonate
Some folks use degrees DKH and still some other people use milliequivalents per liter meq/l
So ... here are some conversions I got out of my SeaTest Kit for Alkalinity
meq/l x 50 = ppm CaCO2
meg/l x 2.8 = DKH
If you are getting reading of 250 to 300 ... what units are you using. If indeed your kit gives readings in ppm then it would appear that you are in the range of 5 meq/l to 6 meq/l ( or for those DKH fans 14 to 16.8 DKH )
That may be a little high depending on who you talk to, there is a lot of opinions on what levels are best.
I have been monitoring my alkalinity and it was very high ( 20 DKH )or about 357 ppm. That was very high according to most. I've since done 3 15% water changes over last 6 weeks or so and it has come down to an acceptable level now.
Using your kit I suppose somewhere in the range of 175 to 250 ppm would be considered by many to be a good safe range.
Are you adding calcium ?
If so are you having problems maintaining your calcium levels ?
Brian
donna2933
Member
Originally posted by broomer5:
Hi Donna,
I'm not familiar with your particular test kit, but I imagine your measures alkalinity and gives you results using parts per million ( ppm ) of CaCO2 Calcium Carbonate
Some folks use degrees DKH and still some other people use milliequivalents per liter meq/l
So ... here are some conversions I got out of my SeaTest Kit for Alkalinity
meq/l x 50 = ppm CaCO2
meg/l x 2.8 = DKH
If you are getting reading of 250 to 300 ... what units are you using. If indeed your kit gives readings in ppm then it would appear that you are in the range of 5 meq/l to 6 meq/l ( or for those DKH fans 14 to 16.8 DKH )
That may be a little high depending on who you talk to, there is a lot of opinions on what levels are best.
I have been monitoring my alkalinity and it was very high ( 20 DKH )or about 357 ppm. That was very high according to most. I've since done 3 15% water changes over last 6 weeks or so and it has come down to an acceptable level now.
Using your kit I suppose somewhere in the range of 175 to 250 ppm would be considered by many to be a good safe range.
Are you adding calcium ?
If so are you having problems maintaining your calcium levels ?
Brian
The test is PPM and my range is 250-300. I do use calcium and I am not having trouble maintaining calium level (425-500). I usually have to ad calcium once a week and I use Reef Success Calk every day to keep the balance. Does all this sound OK?
Thanks
Donna