alkalinity problem.

[cprdnick]

Would alkalinity have a major effect on my coral or inverts? I've checked my alk today and it's still too high to register on my test. I was going to do a water change only to find out that the water I was about to do a water change with was the same reading. So I need to find another water source or a alk sponge. Is there such a thing. How would some of you more experienced people handle this?

 

[bdhough]

If you're alk is high in the first place my guess is you are using city water? That could be a blessing to your tank because if you need some alk just add the city water.... But you need RO water with water changes. Properly salted RO water will not have this problem.
BTW A high alkalinity 14+ which is excessive will inhibit calcifictation in corals,inverts, and corraline algae, and slowly thier growths. If you don't have anything using the alk then it will stay that high for quite a while. I only wish i had this problem. Mine drops by one or 2 a day....

 

[bdhough]

Oh yeah. The intant ocean problem.
Kip: i wish i could maintain those levels in my 20...... I may start adding calcium and alk daily to keep them up. I just worry about skimming out what i put in....

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by bdhough
I just worry about skimming out what i put in....
If you test your skimmate for Calcium and Carbonate you'll discover that your skimmer doesn't remove these elements. They will test similar to your tank water.

 

[cprdnick]

I am using city water, but I have a DI filter. I tested my DI water and it is perfect before mix. AFTER I add the Instant Ocean salt it goes up.

 

[nacl-man]

I had a small box of IO do that once.. luckily it wasn't one of the big mutha buckets I usually buy!

 

[cprdnick]

I haven't noticed the bucket being chalky, but the water stays cloudy while in the bucket. I'm just gonna ditch the IO and Red Sea and all of that crap, I only need 5 gallons every water change and my LFS is selling pre-mix at 1.023 for a dollar a gallon, so I'm just gonna do that.

 

[cliffrouse11bas]

Not sure which test kit you are using it is hard to get mine where i want it...

 

[deansreef]

I just made a fresh batch of i.o using ro water and then mixed it for 24 hrs . Alk is 27dkh and calcium is 180. what the hell is going on with instant ocean?

 

[bang guy]

I don't know.... I hope they fix the problem or a good salt mix is going to be shunned.