Alkalinity clarification

Today I purchased a reef testing kit made by a company aquarium pharmaceuticals (API). I believe that is the brand of testing kit. In the booklet that came with it, it stated that carbonate hardness is also known as alkalinity, is that true? Also, my water for carbonate hardness tested at 4 degrees dKH or 71.6 ppm KH. Is this low, it appears as if this would be low according to the test reference guide. Any help?

 

Yep thats low. It should be 7-11 dKH.

Alkalinity and carbonate hardness is the same thing.

You can use Baking Soda from the grocery store which is sodium bicarbonate and/or Soda ash which is sodium carbonate to raise your alkalinity.

What is your salinity and pH?

Try testing again under white light.

 

Salinity is 1.024

 

I do have Seachem reef builder that raises carbonate alkalinity, that should do the trick correct. My phospahtes were almost at o to 0.25 and calcium was at 440. I think then my alkalinity is the only thing that is off.

 

Phosphates should be at 0. They will promote algae growth.

 

check your Mg. this helps stabilize Ca and Alk. If your Mg is off, you will have a hard time keeping your others on.

I use the Salifert Mg test. I find it slightly more expensive but very much easier than the Red Sea Mg test.

 

Keep you Mg at 1400, Ca 400 and 9 dKH

Salifert test kits are much more accurate.

 

Thanks for the input I definitely appreciate it.

 

Just wanted to point out there is a wide range of acceptable Mg, Ca, and Alk numbers. There is no such thing as one set of values that is best for every tank. Just keep that in mind... It took me a while to figure that out when I first started.

For reference, I keep mine at

Mg at 1500, Ca 440 and 13 dKH

They should be stable though. That's the key.

 

baking soda will lower your ph and soda ash(sodium carbonate) will raise your ph.