Help PH 8.2 powder on corals!

[psmith444]

No Alk is 300ppm + ( My Alk test chart only goes up to 300 and my reading is higher then that. So Alk should be good.)

[da6d2003]

No Alk is 300ppm + ( My Alk test chart only goes up to 300 and my reading is higher then that. So Alk should be good.)

300 what? What kit are you using?

[JoeJ]

So far, this is my favorite alk/ca/mg site that helped me get a better feel for these parameters.
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html

alkalinity is described in dKH, meq/l and ppm. I like dKH simply because the API kit turns out to be 1 drop of reagent = 1 dKH.

300 ppm is about 17 dKH according to this chart: http://ozreef.org/library/tables/alk...onversion.html

[psmith444]

Thanks JC for the chart conversion. What is a normal range then? (I am just using a 5 tests in 1 "Quick Dip" by Jungle as I ran out of my API strips.)

[JoeJ]

The best range is grayed out in the chart, but most people here seem to shoot for 8-10 dKH (140-200 ppm). If you want to get serious about these parameters (especially for SPS and Clam keeping), you should get a solution-type kit which gives you more reliable results once you get the hang of using them.
Alk is only one part of the solution, Calcium and Magnesium being the other part. (then there's salinity, pH, feeding, filtering, temperature.....etc.....hehehe....)

[desert_s10]

8-11dkh is what you should shoot for. try a different test kit. salifer or api. same for the ph test if it is one of the 5.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=102605

[psmith444]

Yeah, I also have a Red Sea individual test kit but its test chart is really bad since it just shows a color graph. It doesn't say this "color=this #" it is like if you r in this range then you are between 1.7-2.8 milli equaivalents per liter. I was trying to be a little more precise. BTW- The test strips that I was using showed 180- 300 (which I was 300) as "ideal" therefore I thought that I was in good shape.
I also have a Magnesium test kit, PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, & a Hydrometer. (Sorry not a refractometer)
So I do consider myself "serious" about my parameters. And yes I do have a small Crocea Clam.
For checking my PH I use the 5 in 1 and then I also run a Red Sea individual test to verify as well.
I know that this seems like a lot of extra testing but I like to double check for accuracy Especially if 1 of my tests seem low/high when I test it.

[JoeJ]

You recently did a lot of water changes, so your parameters should be back to "normal".
But, you indicated that the alkalinity is on the high side.

So, now I'm curious on which salt mix you're using and what salinity you're aiming for with your hydrometer?

Have a look at the parameters of these salt mixes which were tested Jan '08 on RC.

[psmith444]

I buy pre-mixed water (from Fish Haven) since I only have a 12g and I only change 1 - 2 gallons at most per week. Even when I did those 2 water changes last night I still only changed out 3 gallons. (I have a DI system for top off) I keep my salinty between 8.3-8.5 and usuaslly 1.024. I will check all of my readings again when I get home from Chris's house and let you know.

[467echo]

Patty, have you been drinking? Salinity 8.4??? Are you confusing your tests?

[mikeyfromsd]

Check the RO water. If you get it from Fish Haven, the PH is pretty low, in the 6's.

[psmith444]

Patty, have you been drinking? Salinity 8.4??? Are you confusing your tests?

Haha LOL! Yeah, I was typing that while I was trying to run out the door and pick up my order through Chris. Sure looked like I had been drinking! It is all corrected now though!!!

Current readings with Red Sea individual test kits...
Ammo 0
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0-20ppm (about 10)
Alk about 2.5 milli equaivalents per liter
PH 8.0-8.2 (about 8.1)
Mag needed 6 drops of reagent C so running around 1000ish

Tested tank at around 9pm tonight.

[psmith444]

Yeah my RO water PH runs low too. (I have my own RO system at the house.) This is why I had the powder 8.2 to use for the RO water in a bucket.
Last night I had noticed that my PH had dropped and I knew that I was picking up some goodies today from Chris so I wanted to get my PH set for them. The problem was that I was distracted by the phone and tried to short cut the process not really thinking about what I was doing or the consequences. I am fortunate that everything has made it so far. The sad part is that I really do know better and just wasn't thinking about what I was doing. Basically on auto pilot. (Another reason I don't like to talk on the phone while driving.)

[LarryM]

Patty... How much PH rock do you have in that tank?... Need to figure what yours is doing so other dont see same results.

[psmith444]

9 lbs of PH rock. Possible problem is not enough oxy. (This has been corrected since this morning.)