pH for dummies (like me!)

I would! It is a good practice to buy a test kit for any chemical/trace that you add to your tank fro optimal success!

 

One thing I forgot to mention is that alkalinity doesn't refer to pH, but the ability for water to resist change in pH. If water has a low alkalinity level, then the water is very susceptible to changes in pH.

 

Hi

HI,
I use alot of that R/O water it may be because I have a sump or I don't use a glass cover on the tank, My spec grav will drift up rather quickly, So I start around 22 and try to keep it there , if I lose a gallon to evap it may be 24 ,
If you reach a spec grav only add R/O water never salt or you will over saturate your tank with salts, salts don't evap only the water.
Have you cycled the tank. Remember to that coral may like a higher spec grav fish don't really need it it makes it harder for them . So most fish keeper stay at the lower range of 1.021-1.023.
Most coral guys are at the 1.024-1.025 or little higher.
Doug

 

yeah, i know about the difference about top-off water and a water change... at the moment, i'm trying to get the S.G. right at 1.023 at the water level that i like... and i'm doing the 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water, and it always seems to stay at 1.022... i don't think .001 will make that much of a difference, but i'm just seeing if its possible... oh, and i know not to add salt directly to the aquarium too... i'm using distilled water, so is what i do, is even out each gallon of water into 2 perfect halves, and add a quarter of a cup to each one, shake the snot out of it, and slowly pour it in the aquarium, directly above my powerheads (to disperse it as quickly as possible)... i know this isn't the best practice, and i'm planning on getting a big trash can so i can drop a powerhead and heater, and a lot of salt and water at the same time, and let it be aerating until i get ready to put some in the tank... but how should i go about doing this? waiting until the day before i plan on a water change? and prepare the saltwater then? if i do that, then i won't need a big can, maybe just a 5 gallon bucket or something... that's about how much i change at a time anyway...

 

well, good news! i finally got my pH to 8.2! all i did was a water change and added salt...my SG is 1.022-1.023, so i'm pretty much happy... now if i can just tackle the nitrates.... (sigh) more water, more salt, more time.... oh well