WMAS Discussion Forum : Need to lower my alk NOW! http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:14:13 +0000 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:15:44 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=43314 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : Things are about back to normal.I...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375844&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375844 Author: Laird
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 14 2010 at 7:15pm

Things are about back to normal.

I was curious, is there any calcium strip tests that are worth a damn?   Its not a huge pain to test it the way I currently do, but it would be nice to just dip a strip in to test it.  
]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:15:44 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375844&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375844 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : Sorry, but the bottle gives...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375471&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375471 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 12 2010 at 4:42pm

Sorry, but the bottle gives a maximum so that someone without understanding won't add too much when it isn't needed.
Do the instructions say anything about testing Alk to see if what you are adding changes the Ca level?
The tank needed more Ca than I even guessed.
Remember, I said that you can raise Ca by ~50ppm daily. You have not been adding enough Ca solution. The tank remains in a stress condition. It needed so much Ca that it sucked it up as soon as it hit the water. It is eating Ca faster than you know which is why it is still showing only 250ppm. If you follow what I am suggesting, at some point within the next few days it will reach equilibrium and the dose amounts needed will decrease.


Edited by Mark Peterson - September 12 2010 at 4:48pm]]> Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:42:30 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375471&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375471 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : As of now it&#039;s only been...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375385&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375385 Author: Laird
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 11 2010 at 10:45pm

As of now it's only been two days.   I've been adding the max amount that the bottle says I can.   I've put around 5 cups in. ]]> Sat, 11 Sep 2010 22:45:11 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375385&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375385 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : Okay good.- Alk was at 23 and...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375370&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375370 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 11 2010 at 7:20pm

Okay good.
- Alk was at 23 and has dropped to 15. That level will be fine now because it will easily drop into the acceptable range as the tank uses Alkalinity. The Alk range is 8-14 dKH.

- Ca was at 200 and has risen to 250. This is still an emergency situation. Hasn't it been about  3 or 4 days since the problem became apparent? By now you should have poured in approximately 6 cups of Ca solution to raise the Ca 50ppm per day which would have put it at the bottom of the range today. The Ca range is 350-550ppm
]]> Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:20:21 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375370&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375370 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : PM sent. ]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375340&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375340 Author: jcom
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 11 2010 at 12:12pm

PM sent.]]> Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:12:46 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375340&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375340 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : I&#039;d be interested in buying...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375311&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375311 Author: Laird
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 10 2010 at 11:52pm

I'd be interested in buying some of that calc from you.   Didn't you also get one of those Sps packs from r2r a couple months ago?]]> Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:52:33 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375311&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375311 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : Calc 250 Alk 15 Mag 1100 ]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375310&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375310 Author: Laird
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 10 2010 at 11:45pm

Calc 250
Alk 15
Mag 1100]]> Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:45:31 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375310&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375310 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : Sounds like a disaster was averted!...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375293&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375293 Author: jcom
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 10 2010 at 9:32pm

Sounds like a disaster was averted!  Clap
 
Hey, you should start making your own 2 part Ca & Alk.  I used to be a Tech A&B guy until I found out how easy it is to do.  Been saving mad $$$ ever since.
 
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
 
I have 5 gallons of high grade Calcium Chloride and could sell some to you.  For the Alk, I just use Arm & Hammer baking soda.  Just mix the right amounts with RO water and you're good to go.  They're they same as the stuff you buy at the LFS.


Edited by jcom - September 10 2010 at 9:37pm]]> Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:32:23 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375293&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375293 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : Don&#039;t you have some new Alk...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375291&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375291 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 10 2010 at 9:22pm

Don't you have some new Alk and Ca levels to reportQuestion Confused

Originally posted by Laird Laird wrote:

...My ph was low for a while so I was slowly using a concentrated buffer to bring it up.
That is a common mistake. You are not alone. Smile
I hope what I say next makes sense.

Number one: Is pH the same as Alkalinity? No. Basically, pH is a measure of the amount of CO2 in the water. Simply said, Alkalinity is a measure of the amount of carbonates in the water. The "Buffer" products talk about raising pH but what they are really raising is Alkalinity. Because pH follows Alkalinity, when the Alk rises, so does pH. It's a chemistry thing.Smile

Number two: Should a hobbyist even worry about pH? Yes, but not really. There are two things that should be done so that a hobbyist never has to be concerned about pH.
 1. Test Alkalinity regularly and add baking soda solution to keep it somewhere near the middle of 8-14 dKH, 3-5 meq/L or 150-250 ppm. This topic has received a lot of discussion here lately so that's enough here.
 2. Get CO2 out of the aquarium as fast as possible. The biggest CO2 producer in a typical reef aquarium is the sand bed. CO2 is moved best when water flow is moving swiftly from the depths to the surface; from the bottom of the aquarium to the surface, but it doesn't stop there. The surface water must be rolling or agitated by the rising water stream. A follow-up point to this is to ensure that the rolling water comes into contact with plenty of fresh air so that the CO2 can dissipate and O2 can enter the water. This is why it's bad to have glass covers or tight fitting canopies over a marine aquarium unless there is a fan to blow in fresh air.

I hope this makes sense. For what it's worth, I have not tested pH forever, but I test Alk and Ca regularly.


Edited by Mark Peterson - September 10 2010 at 9:25pm]]> Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:22:12 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375291&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375291 <![CDATA[Need to lower my alk NOW! : I&#039;m use aquavitro calcification.So...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375276&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375276 Author: Laird
Subject: 43314
Posted: September 10 2010 at 5:57pm

I'm use aquavitro calcification.

So I did a 15% water change a few hours ago.  Everything is already looking better again, but as I now know looks can be deceiving, haha.  the biggest difference that i can see is that the crabs and snails are out and more active.  I thought most of them were dead because they were all just in the sand not moving for a couple days.  Now they are out all over the tank and glass like normal.    
]]> Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:57:39 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43314&PID=375276&title=need-to-lower-my-alk-now#375276