How Do I Lower My Alk. And More?????

tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
The LFS said my alk. is really high and when i test it with the red sea test it 3.6 and on there chart it is in the high range. So how do i lower it????by
Also got my salinty tested by a pin point and it read 1.022.7......high can i raised this?????
Is it normal to have some small patch of green fuzz alage on the rocks???
water parm. Cal:440
nitrate:0 phos:0.25-0.5
nitrite:0 salinity:1.022.7
ammonia:0
PH:8.2
alk:3.6.......Red sea test kit SIDE NOTE: have some soft corals in tank
 
rcguy

rcguy

New Member
hey there
first of all you need to know in what measurement your alkalinity is being tested.. meq/l vs dkh etc
if it is being tested in dkh.. that is generally the desired target of 10 dkh or 3.5 meq/l
regarding your salinity most corals require a minimum of 1.023 to thrive.. although most can handle it normally i would not change anything other than possibly going up on salinity if you are not still adding more fish.
the green algae could be caused from the phospate levels.. and those can be caused from overfeeding mainly if your others levels are in parameters .. which in my opinion they are.. other than the phosphate of course
 
rcguy

rcguy

New Member
by the way.. if you want to raise your salinity just top off with saltwater for a couple of days until the salinity is where you want it and then go back to using top off water
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
3.6 mequ/l is fine! 3.6 dKh is LOW!So depending on what you are talking about...you are either to LOW or JUST RIGHT...But you ARE NOT to high.
 
tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by RCGUY
http:///forum/post/2713395
hey there
first of all you need to know in what measurement your alkalinity is being tested.. meq/l vs dkh etc
if it is being tested in dkh.. that is generally the desired target of 10 dkh or 3.5 meq/l
regarding your salinity most corals require a minimum of 1.023 to thrive.. although most can handle it normally i would not change anything other than possibly going up on salinity if you are not still adding more fish.
the green algae could be caused from the phospate levels.. and those can be caused from overfeeding mainly if your others levels are in parameters .. which in my opinion they are.. other than the phosphate of course
Could it also be i added a new light fixture about a month ago??? How can i keep my phosphates low ...is it normal to have some phosphates....Also i feed once a day .......just started to skip a day
 
tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by ifirefight
http:///forum/post/2713440
Then you are fine. milli equaivalents per liter is the same as mequ/l
RED SEA test kit says normal sea water alk. is at 2.5 .....so should i try to lower it and how would you do that?
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2713449
RED SEA test kit says normal sea water alk. is at 2.5 .....so should i try to lower it and how would you do that?
NO need to lower it..Yes 2.5 is correct for NSW...actually I use NSW and raise the alk up before I add it to my tank during a water change...however anywhere from 2.5 to 4.0 is fine the key is stability... I keep mine at 3.0 If you keep it towards the "center" of the scale...there is more room for adjustment in case of an error.
 
tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by ifirefight
http:///forum/post/2713455
NO need to lower it..Yes 2.5 is correct for NSW...actually I use NSW and raise the alk up before I add it to my tank during a water change...however anywhere from 2.5 to 4.0 is fine the key is stability... I keep mine at 3.0 If you keep it towards the "center" of the scale...there is more room for adjustment in case of an error.
well don't i need to raise my ph up 8.3 and if i won't that raise my alk?
 
pjlovesbaskets

pjlovesbaskets

Member
I live by the bionic balance method. To lower Alk. you add calcium. Many of the questions asked on this site would be eliminated by this approach.
 
tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by Pjlovesbaskets
http:///forum/post/2713464
I live by the bionic balance method. To lower Alk. you add calcium. Many of the questions asked on this site would be eliminated by this approach.
my calcium levels are at 440......not sure about adding more calcium
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2713458
well don't i need to raise my ph up 8.3 and if i won't that raise my alk?
tdog...I think it is great that you are putting so much effort into your tank...and worrying about the levels..I did that my self when I first started...BUT as I have come to learn....you can chase these numbers all over hells half acre and still not get the numbers 100% on the money... You said your PH was 8.2....thats fine...PH can fluctuate depending on lots of different things,including time of day and air exchange...IMO ALL of your levels look great,and the best way to keep them great is with regular water changes..Keep up the good work!
 
veni vidi vici

veni vidi vici

Active Member
Originally Posted by ifirefight
http:///forum/post/2713475
tdog...I think it is great that you are putting so much effort into your tank...and worrying about the levels..I did that my self when I first started...BUT as I have come to learn....you can chase these numbers all over hells half acre and still not get the numbers 100% on the money... You said your PH was 8.2....thats fine...PH can fluctuate depending on lots of different things,including time of day and air exchange...IMO ALL of your levels look great,and the best way to keep them great is with regular water changes..Keep up the good work!

+1
3.5meq/l is optimal IMO,it has some room to go up or down and still be in the acceptable range.
 
tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by ifirefight
http:///forum/post/2713475
tdog...I think it is great that you are putting so much effort into your tank...and worrying about the levels..I did that my self when I first started...BUT as I have come to learn....you can chase these numbers all over hells half acre and still not get the numbers 100% on the money... You said your PH was 8.2....thats fine...PH can fluctuate depending on lots of different things,including time of day and air exchange...IMO ALL of your levels look great,and the best way to keep them great is with regular water changes..Keep up the good work!

Sorry.....I just want everything to be right...And when i go from one LFS to another they always have somthing to say different......so iam try to learn as much as possable....i get alot of my info from this message board but as always THOSE LFS TELL ME I AM WRONG. Anyways i got one more???? for you and thats about my phosphates the LFS said 1.0 i could not grow any sps or lps..I did get it to lower to 0.5 with some phosgard. Do think this is a quick fix or is it going to be a on going problem?.......THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!!111
 
rcguy

rcguy

New Member
i agree with pj.. bionic is a great and wonderful system.. also in my opinion you should test your alkalinity with the lights off in the morning..
also.. lfs are great.. i know several people who own them.. but you have to do alot of research on your own and decide what system works best for you. saltwater is a very opinionated hobby.. and each tank runs different.. trust to an extent your local fish store but trust yourself first.. remember.. that even opinions here will vary to some extent depending on what system someone is using.
you definately want to get your phosphates down.. what are you feeding/dosing in the aquarium currently?
how long are you running your new lights?
you have to determine what is causing the phosphate levels.. and i really think that is all you should be concerned with at the moment.. all other levels look really good
 
tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by RCGUY
http:///forum/post/2713622
i agree with pj.. bionic is a great and wonderful system.. also in my opinion you should test your alkalinity with the lights off in the morning..
also.. lfs are great.. i know several people who own them.. but you have to do alot of research on your own and decide what system works best for you. saltwater is a very opinionated hobby.. and each tank runs different.. trust to an extent your local fish store but trust yourself first.. remember.. that even opinions here will vary to some extent depending on what system someone is using.
you definately want to get your phosphates down.. what are you feeding/dosing in the aquarium currently?
how long are you running your new lights?
you have to determine what is causing the phosphate levels.. and i really think that is all you should be concerned with at the moment.. all other levels look really good
My lights run 9hrs a day .......I feed frozen food soaked in vitiamins ..........I add once a week REEF PLUS and one capfull of DT.....I use RO for everything except for cleaning filter pad and thawing food. I use my PUR. faucet filter for that stuff. I also use active carbon in my aqua clear.
 
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