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alkalinity question
- Thread starter josepy1
- Start date
I'd say 8-10... But more importantly IMO is having a constant alk... I'd rather have a 6 all day than it swing from 8-10 daily... That being said mine is usually at 9ish...
SharkLover
T5 LPS
+1 to this. stability is much more important than the actual value you decide to settle with. Keep in mind that the higher alkalinity you go the harder it will be to maintain that value without the support of "Magnesium". My alks constant at 6.5-8.0 and fighting within that range because I don't keep my magnesium up. I'm waiting on some larger jars of MAG to hit the LFS so I can resolve this problem myself and raise my alk.
yea i never have a problem with the mag. Its just that ive probablly dumped about $200 worth of inverts, cleaner shrimp, snails, hermits, and they just dont live. brendan at skiptons said to check alk, which another "professional" told me not to worry about so i did and i guess it has been running around 4.5 which leads me to believe that said professional is an idiot. got it down pretty good now. Just another thing to test and buff at this point i guess. Thanks for the posts guys
Joel A
Started over.
stability is important... but it needs to be stability within the range as well...
if it's stable but low= not good long term
stable but high= same thing, no good long term
i agree with the others, but would add stable within the acceptable range... now that range varies depending upon where you look, but personally 6.5-7ish to 11-12ish . I keep mine slightly elevated, at around 7.5
if it's stable but low= not good long term
stable but high= same thing, no good long term
i agree with the others, but would add stable within the acceptable range... now that range varies depending upon where you look, but personally 6.5-7ish to 11-12ish . I keep mine slightly elevated, at around 7.5
MikeG
Non-member
4.5 DHK, meq/L, or ppm? Makes a difference and you need to know what your kits units of measure are. 4.5 DKH is real low, 4.5meq/L is on the high side.
^^^
+1
+1
deynon09
Mid-life Reefer
Is Epsom Salt not a good idea? That's what I've been using and it seems to work pretty well...
Epsom salt is ok but if you're not religious with water changes you can increase the sulfate in the tank which isn't good... If you do weekly water changes you "should" be good using epsom salt...
SharkLover
T5 LPS
So,is anything still alive?
Anyways,there's lots of things that can cause inverts to die.
Alk swings is one thing.
Acclimation procedure is important.Shrimp, crabs,snails..ect...need at least an hour if not longer to get acclimated to new water conditions.
Temperature swings can kill them off as well.
Do you dose calcium also?They need calcium to build shell and exoskeleton.
It would help to know what size tank you have as well.If this is a nano I wouldn't recommend dosing anything,just water changes should be sufficient.
Btw,it's great to take advice from fellow reefer's that have experience in the hobby.But,it's also your job to read up on maintenance of water quality.
Perhaps said "professional" got a little too advanced with recommending something to try or look for.
Anyways,I hope you find the problem.Personally,I would have gave up at $100 worth of inverts.
deynon09
Mid-life Reefer
What is a good mag supplement?
UncleJT
BOHICA
7-1/4 cups magnesium chloride + 3/4 cup Epsom salts in one gallon of RO/DI water makes a pretty good supplement. To be sure that the two materials have fully dissolved, dissolve each separately in some freshwater before combining them. Some local LFS's apparently sell magnesium chloride or you can get it from Bulk Reef Supply. Some folks use MAG Flake, a deicer found in hardware stores, for the magnesium chloride.
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Reeferer
Non-member
Per RedSea Alk Test:
In a fish-only aquarium, the aquarium should be maintained between 2.2 to 2.5 meq/l and pH between 7.9 and 8.5. In a reef aquarium, the alkalinity should be maintained between 3 to 4.8 meq/l and pH between 8.2 and 8.4.
In order to convert meq/l to dKH, multiply by 2.8 (e.g., 3 meq/l = 8.4 dkH [3 x 2.8 = 8.4]).
From what I have been reading 4.8meq/l = 13.4dKH is way too high? It sounds like the acceptable range is 3.2 - 3.9meg/l or 9 - 11dKH. Please let me know b/c I have been trying to obtain 4.8meq/l.
In a fish-only aquarium, the aquarium should be maintained between 2.2 to 2.5 meq/l and pH between 7.9 and 8.5. In a reef aquarium, the alkalinity should be maintained between 3 to 4.8 meq/l and pH between 8.2 and 8.4.
In order to convert meq/l to dKH, multiply by 2.8 (e.g., 3 meq/l = 8.4 dkH [3 x 2.8 = 8.4]).
From what I have been reading 4.8meq/l = 13.4dKH is way too high? It sounds like the acceptable range is 3.2 - 3.9meg/l or 9 - 11dKH. Please let me know b/c I have been trying to obtain 4.8meq/l.
