HELP - Lowering Alk...Unnaturally

Greg,

I am doing a 20 gallon change on roughly 80 gallons of TWV. I guess I could do 2 smaller changes over a couple of days, or even 4 smaller changes, but I would think it would raise it more than 1 dKh with that TWV. I understand the raise in SG would up the levels, but not that high...and this is always the SG I try to maintain. Been very busy lately, and my tank maintenance has suffered. First water change in over a month.

I mix slowly. Fill my container to the desired volume, and add a few scoops with 2 pumps (Koralia 1400 and Rio 8HF) to stir. I check with refractometer (always calibrated with solution), and add as necessary.

I fill a large, air-tight bucket with multiple bags of salt, and mix with a scoop before adding anything to the water.

 

Instant Oceans standards for Alk on their salt is between 3.8 - 4.2 meq/l. That is a DKH of 10.6 - 11.8. Due to all the public aquariums all over the world that they service, the likelyhood of a bad batch is far more likely than with other brands of salt. Their new (since 2010 or 2011) mixing facility is truly state of the art.

It is possible that due to transport, the salt could have settled and if the entire 50g bag was not mixed together you could see inconsistant levels. This can be curbed by thouroughly mixing the bag of salt prior to adding it to water.

 

Just did a 5 gallon change...will test alk in an hour and check levels.

 

I would start buying the Regular Red Sea Salt. Not the Coral Pro. It mixes right around 8dkh.
This is who I order from. It will be on your door step the next day, even on a Saturday for $9.99 shipping
Red Sea Salt, Aquarium Salt Mixes for Sale Online | PetSolutions

Doing small 5 gallon WC's is your best bet for now.

 

FWIW I take 2 bags out of the 4 and dump them into a 5 gallon bucket. I then roll the bucket on the floor (after covering of course) to hopefully thoroughly mix the two bags. Seems to have worked well so far for me.

 

damn dkh in wife tank has jumped from 11.5 to 17 in 1 week, not sure of cause but we did do a 10 gal water change 30gal tank. Water change on mine is do today and wondering if I am going to end up with same result. going to try Marshall strategy of mixing salt bags. Cal in her tank is 440, PH is 8.0, no nitrate or phosphate. Wife has canister filter on her tank so had her put in carb pad(we do not always keep 1 in) and change out filter pad.

My tank is at 12dkh today so will be interesting to see what happens.

Please make sure to update your params faceofdeceit. Looks we are both in same boat.