High Alk Update

[rusty]

Well thanks to Zhenya I feel more at ease.I can only put my high alk levels down to the Reef Crystals.

I made up a new salt batch in my mixing tank and checked everything.

The R/O was fine

Temp 80 Ph 8.3 - salinity 1.024 - Calc 430 - alk11.2.



If I set the salinity at 1.022/3 the alk read 13.5

In my previous set ups I always used Kent salt and the calcium and alk was always on the low side, which was fine as I could raise it to appropriate levels with kent A&B.

As I said the tank is settling down and I will let it run its course for a week.

Readings at present are.



New tank set up

Alk 11.2

Calcium 390

Ph 8.4

Ammonia 0.25

n/rate 2.5

n/rite 0.0

skimmer running

wet&dry Rowafoss only

Temp 80

One last thought. If I add Kent A to raise calcium levels to 420 will this effect the Alk level and which way???

Thanks for all those who helped especialy Zhenya.

Any comments most appreciated

[Poseidon]

Yes Ca and Alk are a balancing act. If you raise the Ca it will almost always lower your Alk! I use a balanced additive, Kalk! Here in the states I can buy it in the grocery store by the name of either Mrs Wages, or Ball Pickling Lime. This is food grade Calcium Hydroxide and it takes care of BOTH for me, I just add a teaspoon or so to my make up water every other day!

[zhenya]

Hi Russ,

I wouldn't overly worry about alkalinity being 11.2 dkh, it is a little high but not high enough to get knickers in a twist ;)
I think you are doing the right thing by letting your tank run for a while and I wouldn't add anything for a few days. If anything, check on your calcium levels and see if they are not falling. If they do, adding some calcium chloride always helped me to raise it without much problems(Kent's Turbo calcium is Calcium chloride). You can use this calculator: http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/cacalc.htm
to calculate how much dry calcium cloride to add.

I think if you raise your calcium to 420-425 it will most likely not affect your alkalinty by much.
Here's a good article, a bit detailed but still pretty readable, hope it helps.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm