alkalinity

[addam4208283]

what else can i do to lower the alkalinity of my tank other then doing a water change? the test that i did said the the level was high. i know thats not really helpful but for the moment thats all i have. i plan on getting a new alk test soon. i did a 20% water change and that didn't help.
here are what all the levels of my tank were last time i checked on april 25.
nitrate=0
nitrite=0
ammonia=0
alkalinity=high
ph=8.2
temp=74.8
SG=1.025
thanks for the help. also does anyone have any recs for a different test, at the moment i am using a red sea test kit.
ADAM

[davejnz]

Unfortunately,high doesn't tell us much about what the actual levels are.You will need to get a new test kit.For alkalinity and PH,I use a Tropic Marin brand test kit.For calcium,phosphate,and nitrate,I use Salifert.Most people tend to keep there alkalinity between 8-11dKH,I prefer 9dKH.

[lReef lKeeper]

looks like the temp is WAY to low also Adam !! about 5 degrees.

[reefgeek]

Im probably mistaken here, but I was always under the impression that PH and alkalinity were close if not synonymous. Im probably all goofed up on that. The PH scale claims a neutral of 7.0. Higher the number is alkaline, and lower is acidic. How can you have a low alkalinity if your scale is coming in at 8.2 I just dont understand this, and really could use some good explination on this part of it. I test both, and they have always been in line with each other.

Thanks

RG

[PurpleAardvark]

My guess is that you are using the all in one test strips. Those test strips are never really that acurate. If you are using the test strips I would say try the Salifert test kits so you can give us more details on what is going on which would help us give you a solution to the problem. also do you have corals in the tank? If not then you really don't even need to worry about the alk.

[Whoyah]

I suggest finding out a real value before trying to adjust you alkalinity.

[addam4208283]

i will have to place an order for a different test kit when i get home from work tonight. you guys say that Salifert test kits are good? unfortunatly i don't really have the money at the momment to go out and order all new test kits so for now i will just get the ph and alk. now are these the dip sticks, or are they like the red sea water kit?
also thanks on the heads up for temp, i am still playing around with it to get it at a constant temp. the time i ran tests before it was something like 85*.
nothing is in the tank yet. still trying to figure things out. it just went through cycle/ is now ending it so all thats in there is the sand LR and what ever little guys came with. but i was hoping to get a clean up crew tomorrow, if not then early next week.
thanks for the help
ADAM

[lReef lKeeper]

not a problem Adam, the temp should be between 78 and 80 degrees, it really is dependant on the lighting because you will need to adjust the heater if you are using MH's. they heat the water alot unless you have fans blowing across the tank to move the hot air around. i would suggest getting some fans anyway, because sooner or later you will upgrade the lighting and need them. better to be safe than sorry.

[davejnz]

Stay away from any of the dipstick testing kits.Tropic Marin as well as Salifert use a chemical reagant that you add to 5ml of tank water.You count the numner of drops it takes for the water to change from green to orange.Each drop represents 1dKH of alk.

[davejnz]

Im probably mistaken here, but I was always under the impression that PH and alkalinity were close if not synonymous. Im probably all goofed up on that. The PH scale claims a neutral of 7.0. Higher the number is alkaline, and lower is acidic. How can you have a low alkalinity if your scale is coming in at 8.2 I just dont understand this, and really could use some good explination on this part of it. I test both, and they have always been in line with each other.

Thanks

RG
They have a relationship as well as calcium and CO2 levels in your tank.Alkalinity is the term used to describe how much "buffering capacity" a solution has.For example,with an alkaline PH of 8.3 and a low alkalinity of say 2dKH,the PH is going to be more prone to dropping when acid bi-products from the animals are released into the water.With a high alk of say 9dKH and the same 8.3 PH,it is going to take alot more of these acid bi-products to drop the PH.

[reefgeek]

Thanks DAVE.... CLEAR AS MUD NOW.....

U D MAN

RG

[addam4208283]

for lighting do you guys leave the ant and reg lights on all day or just the 10000? i am still trying to fig that out and the temp.
so far up to 77.
ADAM

[addam4208283]

well i got my new alk test kit in today. i ran the test and the results are as followed
alk=(1-.35)*5.71=3.7
KH in dKH=(1-.35)*16=10.4

so can anyone help me out with changing this?
thanks
ADAM

[Whoyah]

A rating of 10.4 dkh is about right in the middle of the standard range, 8 -12. Natural sea water is 8 but folks run there alk higher to dampen the pH swings in the tanks. I like mine around 9-10 but I know some folks on CR run theirs higher.

[addam4208283]

the ph= 8.0-8.3.
so what your saying is that a high alkalinity is a good thing? one of my books says that the dKH shouldn't be any higher then 10, with the good range being between 7-10.

so then it would be ok to go and get my clean up crew on thursday then? i was holding back until i got the new test kits.
thanks for the fast reply and help.
ADAM

[perpetual98]

This outta cloud up your mud...

http://www.myreef.com/smf/index.php?topic=10.0

[addam4208283]

well after reading the link that perpetual98 posted i went out and got a salifert calcium test. i am a little confused with what i am looking for in a change of color. the paper says a clear blue color. now does that mean "clear" as in like before i added the crystal substance and it was just water, or does it just mean the change from red pink to purple then to a definite blue?
thanks
ADAM

[perpetual98]

That's why I never test for anything. The tests are too confusing. :)

Actually I just tested my Calcium a couple days ago on my frag tank. It's so subjective. You can look at the "color" of the water, and your reading would be 400, then one more drop and the color doesn't change much but your chart tells you that you're at 420. It's frustrating. Maybe the electronic Calcium monitors will come down in price and become a little more reliable. Lab grade ion-specific probes are rather spendy though.

[addam4208283]

i just wish that they would all just do a color comparison like red sea just more accurate of a test. i do agree with you about the numbers to much room for error. the kid at my lfs told me that i should be checking my alk and cal at least once a week and add "buffers" for both at least once a week as well. man, you had to post that link. lol now i am all confused with what i should do. if i did the cal test right, the results show that it is a little low. but i don't want to add anything until i know i performed the test correctly. so you add anything to your tank at all?
you were right with this statement.
"This outta cloud up your mud..."
ADAM

[perpetual98]

I don't add anything to my tank. Water changes are the about it. Occasionally I'll get a wild hair and I'll check pH and if that's off, I'll whack it with some kalk or baking powder if it's low. I'm getting a calcium reactor soon, so I'll probably be more diligent with testing. For a while at least.

I'm the laziest reefer out there. I can honestly go months without testing things. If things look good in the tank, I'll assume that it's all systems go. :)