getting things in balance

taylor1556

taylor1556

New Member
Hi, I have a bit of a question with my water chemistry. I normaly just read every one post and come up with the answer , but this time I just dont know. This is what I have I have a 29 gal with a 10 gal sump almost 40 pnds of live sand and 45 to 50 pounds of live rock. the tank is about a year old. I have about 10 snails, a brittle star and a serpeant star. a rose and seabae nem. 2 clowns a mandirin and diamond golby. The question i am having is will i was in afganistan the only things that got watched were sality, ph, and nirates and ammo. I am working on staring my reef tank and want the water perameters perfect. my alk is 17 dkh. ph is 8.2 nirates 0. nirites less than 10 specific gravity 1.023 temp 78. cal is 360. how do i get my alk to come down. any help would be great. I would like to fixe it before moving into a 56 gallon tank. thanks again.
 
taylor1556

taylor1556

New Member
i am using ro/di with io salt mix. thank you i always get the nitrates rites back wards. just tested some new water that i have for the next water change the alk in it is 20dkh so my water in the tank is a lot lower at 17. The cal is only at 320 in the new water but is 360 in my tank. not sure if the alk is a danger or if it will lower as i add the calcium do it. I started three days ago with kent liquid cal and the level went from 320 to 360. 1/2 tables spoon a day that is the only chem i have added in a year every thing is healthy and i have the same fish the entire time. I have had to nems do crazy things so i got rid of them. I dont know if i have a problem just wanted a second.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
If you're planning a reef, your Ca is too low (IMO) and your dKH is WAY too high.
A question before we go further, what are you using to test and how old are the test kits?
In this new batch of water that was made and tested high dKH as well, was it RO water? It may be time for new filters, OR your test kits may be bad.
Another thing, your salt, I'd change it. If you're intent on using it, mix it up some, it may have settled and therefore not be the right mixture when you're adding it to the tank. But I'm more inclined to believe you have bad test kits. Have the LFS double check your readings.
 
taylor1556

taylor1556

New Member
mid all of my test are api its all the lfs store has the alk test i got from the internet is tropic marin its suppost to be german. tomorrow I was planing on taking it and getting it checked . Im going to drive a little bit to a different store and get a outside op. Im trying to raise the cal. up to 4s. I just read a lot about not using io salt. I will have to order it online what would you suggest
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by taylor1556 http:///forum/thread/382140/getting-things-in-balance#post_3332998
mid all of my test are api its all the lfs store has the alk test i got from the internet is tropic marin its suppost to be german. tomorrow I was planing on taking it and getting it checked . Im going to drive a little bit to a different store and get a outside op. Im trying to raise the cal. up to 4s. I just read a lot about not using io salt. I will have to order it online what would you suggest
I have been using SeaChem AquaVitro Salinity, I LOVE it. Many people use IO Reef Crystals, it's fine. I've just found that my tank runs best with SeaChem Salinity. Of course, there are people who swear by Tropic Marin, but IMO, it's overpriced. Salinity is around the same price, but makes more than Tropic Marin does. I've also used Coralife and liked that very much as well. Stay away from Brightwell's and Kent salts, you'll find more people have issues with these salts as one batch to the next is inconsistent.
API kits are fine as long as they're less than a year old.
 
taylor1556

taylor1556

New Member
I think we got crossed my test kit for the alk is a tropic marin and the only salt i have only ever used io salt but i understand the salt part is the tropic marin a good test kit
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by taylor1556 http:///forum/thread/382140/getting-things-in-balance#post_3333001
I think we got crossed my test kit for the alk is a tropic marin and the only salt i have only ever used io salt but i understand the salt part is the tropic marin a good test kit
I have never used the Tropic Marin kit, but almost everything they make is good, so I would assume so. I use mainly Salifert kits, except for nitrates, I a SeaChem nitrate kit.
 
taylor1556

taylor1556

New Member
so in your op. do you think i have a problem or should i not stress over it and change salt. any thoughts on the kent liquid cal
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
id get a second opinion (second test) on that alk buy another tester or have your LFS test it and see what they come up with.
 
wilioli

wilioli

Member
i just recently switched to io reef crystals and my calcium jumped up to 420... before i was using io salt mix -- the same kind that you are using. I agree with btldreef, get new salt.
I'm new to this hobby -- but i had similar results as u are having. I was using tap water, and my alkalinity was high. Switched to ro/di and now my alk is 10-11. So as the others are saying.. check ur testing (get the 2nd opinion) or even the ro/di source.. maybe time for new membranes, etc etc..
 
taylor1556

taylor1556

New Member
it doesnt seem to make sense that it would be that and everything be close to right though so i was planing on getting a second water test done but i trust this place a lot more that the guy at the lfs
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
have him do the test right in front of you so you can see it. And don't tell him/her you think you have an alk problem
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I'm more inclined to believe that you're test kit is bad, or all your kits are bad and the alk is right. Either way, get a second opinion on ALL of your readings.
I would change salts regardless if you're planning on a reef setting. IO is fine for fish only, but it's not the best for reef tanks. If using a better salt, you should not have to add calcium (the liquid calcium you're speaking of) until you have a large SPS population or a lot of clams.
 
taylor1556

taylor1556

New Member
thanks for all the input. I went to the lfs and just asked if the could test my water. he tested every thing i test for every thing was close to what i got. except the alk. it was 14. he said my cal was low and when it comes up it will lower on its own. I think from what I have ready that sounds close to right.I plan on changing salt im going to mix it 50/50 for the next few water changes and not use it all when i start my new tank. thanks again and if i got any thing wrong please feel free. thanks again.
 
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