YHSublime December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 So I recently purchased an Alkalinity Hanna Checker, and decided to give it a go today for the first time. It read 105, which I grabbed Tom's converstion chart, and checked, means that my dkH is at 5.88! Couldn't believe it, so I tried again. 105. Must be true, or should I try again? My sps is looking good, but that's pretty low for alkalinity. I think I'm going to do a 40 gallon water change, and test again, it's been a while since a water change anyways. Question: The hanna checker is pretty explicit about making sure there are no fingerprints dirt, etc. on the vial. Does everybody just rinse with water and let it dry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sachabballi reef December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 do you have a salifert test around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 10, 2013 Author Share December 10, 2013 do you have a salifert test around? I don't, that's why I opted for the hanna checker, as I've been usin API. I'm upgrading everything as I go. 5.88 seems phenominaly low, right? Any advice on the rinsing of the vial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sachabballi reef December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 impossibly low looking at your corals....you would have a brown out by now if that was accurate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnevo December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 Are you dosing today? My alk was in that range before I started 2 part. I would do your wc and see where you are and then start bringing it up slowly. You could check your wc water too to see if its you or the water It seems though you may be at the point that supplementing is required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L8 2 RISE December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 What's your pH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sachabballi reef December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 i dont use the alk meter but do use the low range phosphate...and I rinse the vial with ro when done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowieReefer84 December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 I would def do a double check with a salifert, but with sps and no dosing it definitely could in fact be that low. Test your freshly mixed water, salinity, and everything else as a baseline. You may find your Mag low as well if you are not dosing that yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x-ray December 10, 2013 Share December 10, 2013 I do rinse mine and air dry it. When I fill to test I fill and dump multiple times to make sure there is no residual impurities in the vial. Once I cap the vial I dry and wipe off with a cloth and look through it with a light on the other side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 11, 2013 Author Share December 11, 2013 Are you dosing today? My alk was in that range before I started 2 part. I would do your wc and see where you are and then start bringing it up slowly. You could check your wc water too to see if its you or the water It seems though you may be at the point that supplementing is required. No dosing yet, this is all in prep for dosing! I'm going to check my WC water, that's a good idea. I just tested again, and it read 99, which is not even on the chart. What's your pH? Checking now. i dont use the alk meter but do use the low range phosphate...and I rinse the vial with ro when done... Yeah, I just rinsed with ro, letting it air dry. I would def do a double check with a salifert, but with sps and no dosing it definitely could in fact be that low. Test your freshly mixed water, salinity, and everything else as a baseline. You may find your Mag low as well if you are not dosing that yet. No salifert to check against, just API, may try that though and see. Looks like I'll be testing tonight. I do rinse mine and air dry it. When I fill to test I fill and dump multiple times to make sure there is no residual impurities in the vial. Once I cap the vial I dry and wipe off with a cloth and look through it with a light on the other side. Yeah, that's what I ended up doing, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 11, 2013 Author Share December 11, 2013 Fresh mixed bucket of SW is reading at 10.20 dkH Testing the tank again, one last time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Puckstable December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 My dkH used to be around 6.2-6.5. I would slowly bring it up to 7ish via dosers. When I asked people about my low alk, I was told not to be concerned as for sps you're aiming for stable/consistent levels and not just chasing numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sachabballi reef December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 holy cow isaac you need to sloooooowly bring that up.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 11, 2013 Author Share December 11, 2013 My dkH used to be around 6.2-6.5. I would slowly bring it up to 7ish via dosers. When I asked people about my low alk, I was told not to be concerned as for sps you're aiming for stable/consistent levels and not just chasing numbers. Yeah, just tested the tank again, it's the same as before, just a little higher, at 108. Consistency is working for me it seems. holy cow isaac you need to sloooooowly bring that up.. Seems that way. Do you think a 40 gallon water change on almost 200 gallons of water would be too much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowieReefer84 December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 Fresh mixed bucket of SW is reading at 10.20 dkH Testing the tank again, one last time. What kind of salt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 11, 2013 Author Share December 11, 2013 What kind of salt? I only use Reef Crystals, and the salinity is 1.026 (probably closer to 1.025, but it's at the halfway mark) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sachabballi reef December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 Yeah, just tested the tank again, it's the same as before, just a little higher, at 108. Consistency is working for me it seems. Seems that way. Do you think a 40 gallon water change on almost 200 gallons of water would be too much? consistency is definitely key but man that is low ... I do about that weekly so I don't think it is too much RC right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 11, 2013 Author Share December 11, 2013 strange thing is, I have added acros, and they have done fine after dips and getting dropped into the tank... what is consistent for me is obviously not for others, if those readings are acurate, which they seem to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowieReefer84 December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 I only use Reef Crystals, and the salinity is 1.026 (probably closer to 1.025, but it's at the halfway mark) It should be b/t 11&12 Alk with Reef Crystals. I would just pick a number like 8 for alk and use the same test for stability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 Was going to say that hanna had a bad batch of alk reagent a while back, but that fresh sw measurement sounds in the ballpark. What has your ph been with alk that low? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sachabballi reef December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 what is your calcium and PH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmerek2 December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 40g won't hurt anything. I think you will find that it won't raise your Alk as much as one would think. I have to do a little baking soda here and there for alk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 11, 2013 Author Share December 11, 2013 It should be b/t 11&12 Alk with Reef Crystals. I would just pick a number like 8 for alk and use the same test for stability. I just tested with my API kit, FWIW, and it gave me a dkH of 7. When you say pick a number like 8, you mean as a number to bring up to and keep at? Was going to say that hanna had a bad batch of alk reagent a while back, but that fresh sw measurement sounds in the ballpark. What has your ph been with alk that low? 7.8- 8 via API, FWIW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 11, 2013 Author Share December 11, 2013 what is your calcium and PH? Calcium is low, just tested and it's at 380! PH above, at about 8. 40g won't hurt anything. I think you will find that it won't raise your Alk as much as one would think. I have to do a little baking soda here and there for alk I think I'm going to do 40 gallons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowieReefer84 December 11, 2013 Share December 11, 2013 Calibrate your refractometer as well to ensure everything is accurate. I am saying 8 just because I think it's a good number. As some others have said the end goal is stability. Stick with the same test kit brand and aim for a constant number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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