Is my alkalinity to high?
- Thread starter wolffvet
- Start date
broomer5
Active Member
Wolffvet
I'll try my best.
Yes your alk is too high in most folks opinion.
High alkalinity - have you been adding buffers or carbonate hardness builders ?
Water changes will bring it down if your freshly mixed up saltwater is not high alk to begin with.
What is your freshwater source ?
What is the alkalinity of this fresh water ?
What is your calcium and pH readings ?
Alkalinity - Calcium - pH - Salinity
These all interact somewhat with each other.
You must know all measurements before you can take the next step to correct.
I'll guess your calcium is very low as well at that alkalinity - just a guess - but I've been there before too.
Phosphates may be entering into your system from a number of different sources.
Overfeeding - especially flake foods.
Algae die off.
Over stocked tank.
Freshwater ( tap )
Poor quality saltmixes
Phosphates are a pain in the butt - but once you ID where they are coming from - and take steps to reduce them - you can get them under control.
test you FRESH WATER for phosphates !
I hate to answer Q's with more Q's ... but need more info.
Let's get this going and see what everyone can do to help you out here - okay
I'll try my best.
Yes your alk is too high in most folks opinion.
High alkalinity - have you been adding buffers or carbonate hardness builders ?
Water changes will bring it down if your freshly mixed up saltwater is not high alk to begin with.
What is your freshwater source ?
What is the alkalinity of this fresh water ?
What is your calcium and pH readings ?
Alkalinity - Calcium - pH - Salinity
These all interact somewhat with each other.
You must know all measurements before you can take the next step to correct.
I'll guess your calcium is very low as well at that alkalinity - just a guess - but I've been there before too.
Phosphates may be entering into your system from a number of different sources.
Overfeeding - especially flake foods.
Algae die off.
Over stocked tank.
Freshwater ( tap )
Poor quality saltmixes
Phosphates are a pain in the butt - but once you ID where they are coming from - and take steps to reduce them - you can get them under control.
test you FRESH WATER for phosphates !
I hate to answer Q's with more Q's ... but need more info.
Let's get this going and see what everyone can do to help you out here - okay
wolffvet
Member
This tank has only been running for 2 weeks and there are no fish just live rock and sand. I used my tap water to fill the tank which was a mistake and I guess that is probably the source of the phosphates and high alkanlity as I have not added anything but some kent ph buffer once. I now have an ro/di unit and will start changing out part of the water. My ph is around 8.2-8.3. I do not have a calcium test yet.
full of questions
Member
High readings of alkanlity in a new set up,is
common.Just give it a chance.The start up of a
tank is a hair pulling time.
common.Just give it a chance.The start up of a
tank is a hair pulling time.
broomer5
Active Member
Wolffvet
If you want to - you may want to test your tap water for phosphates and nitrates.
Don't have to ... but it may be good to know.
RO is great - but tap sometimes is not the worst either. Some tap water is good - mine is not.
I ran a tank for about 6 months before I found out that my tap water was crummy.
Algae battle was always there.
Good luck to you with this !
If you want to - you may want to test your tap water for phosphates and nitrates.
Don't have to ... but it may be good to know.
RO is great - but tap sometimes is not the worst either. Some tap water is good - mine is not.
I ran a tank for about 6 months before I found out that my tap water was crummy.
Algae battle was always there.
Good luck to you with this !
