Low ALK?

So im still pretty new with saltwater, but I read and do my homework on it every night, so im constantly learning.;D

Not to mention I spend more time on this site, than anything else lol.

But when it comes to chemicals and the right doses of it, I don't know a whole lot

First Off, I use the Red Sea Marine Aquarium Test Lab. All of my parameters read perfect, except for my Alkalinity which reads low.

The test says, A low alkalinity should be corrected by firstly making a 10% water change. Re check the alkalinity and if still low, add Reef Success Buff (Which it came with) until a normal level can be reached. It is Permissable to add Red seas Marine Success Buff.

Now My question is, Has anyone had a problem with using the buffer that came in it? Or should I buy a different Kind.


Now I also use the B Ionic Part 1 & 2. I would think that would be better than the tiny bottle of buffer that came with the test kits. I use 10mm of each part 1 & 2 in my tank. Is that enough? I do it like once every week and a half. Idk if thats too often or not enough. I just wanna get my alkalinity to where it should be What do you guys got to say?


I have a 75g, with a 30g refugium.
its been set up for about 3 months.

 

Sorry this should have been posted in Chemistry.

 

I dose both of a two part for my tank. If my alk runs low I will add the alk and not the calc. Depending on how low I will add buffer. if your alk is low usually your ph will be also. how is your ph?

 

Katie, are you sure your using the test correctly? Is there any chance that the test has expired? Are you getting a consistent reading every time? What are all the other parameters? Also, what type of salt are you using? Sorry for asking so many questions, but it may help find out what is going on.

Here is a great read by Anthony Calfo on Alk and pH -

Alkalinity for Marine Systems

WetWebMedia is a fantastic resource with a lot of information, just thought i would pass it your way and for others to read.

 

I know it's a bit of a read but this article helped me out tremendously (before I took organic chem and inorganic). If you want to know the nitty gritty that is. (boring)

Alkalinity is essentially the waters ability to buffer. This allows for a more stable pH and in turn other params being stable. I use the bulk reef supply's two part kit. It's cheaper and it lasts a long time. The alk part is just sodium carbonate.

What I would do is test...see how much it takes to raise it up to a normal level...say 10dKH using whatever supplement you have (in your case B-Ionic). Wait a week, see how low it went. and then see how much it would take to bring it back up to normal, and dose that much evenly throughout the week. It works for me and I have a stable dKH of 10. My pH has been around 8.4 but it's stable and I haven't seen any ill affects of it being a tad high.

Good luck!!

 

You never did mention what your alk is at....9-10-11???? what are you calling low??

 

Im Using it correctly, I dont believe it has expired, The last time I checked my params was 3 days ago.

Temp- 81
Ph- 8.2
Ammonia- 0.25
Nitrate- 0
Nitrite- 0

For the alk, the test either reads low, normal, or high.
and It was in the low category.

And the salt I use is Instant Ocean.

 

It doesnt tell me what low is, its a color scale from reallly light green (low) to green blue (normal) to dark blue (high), and when I compared the water to it, it looked most like the low

 

Thanks for the info! Ill deff read up on that site.

 

What is your magnesium at?
Salinity?
Calcium?

They all affect alk it seems. Especially calcium and mag in my experience.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/alkalinity-question-75890.html
http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/low-alk-70712-2.html