test results..... help!

[am3gross]

here are my test results. what do you think? everything looks good i think except the ph. i just changed my lights from 3x250 watt halides to 3x400 watt halides. i think that is the reason why the change. last week it was 8.2. is there something i should do about it? i do not dose anything. not yet anyways. someone please help me out. this is the area where i am the weakest at!




SALINITY-------------1.021
TEMPATURE------------80.0
PH-------------------8.5
NITRATE--------------0
CALCIUM--------------410
ALK------------------2.0
MG-------------------.63----1270

thanks mike

[IndyReefMan]

pH is on the higher end of the desirable range, but I don't think that will be problematic at all. After my lights have been on for a few hours, I frequently see mine that high and I've never had any problems. Salinity is too low if your keeping invertebrates. I would SLOWLY raise it to the 1.025-1.026 range. If that Alk reading is meq/l, that is too low also. Most reefers keep it around 3-3.5meq/l.

[am3gross]

how do i get my alk up? it is meq/l...

[am3gross]

i think i might have found out the answer...... let me know if this is right. what i would want to do is to start dripping some kalk(limewater) right?

[IndyReefMan]

Here is a great website that will help you out. It details what you can use and how much to use.

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

[bertoni]

I would raise the alkalinity using baking soda dissolved in water. The lime drip can be used to maintain alkalinity, but it will raise pH. You might want to try a 2-part, like B-Ionic, or a DIY equivalent.

The SG is very low. I target about 1.0264, which is the canonical average sea water. This article covers all the water parameters, and their acceptable ranges:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

[am3gross]

using the calculator i need 41 tsp or 6.5 oz... now this seems like alot... would i dose all at once and would i do it like i do the limewater drip?

[IndyReefMan]

Raise it slowly... over the course of a week to be on the safe side. You'll be going from a dkh of 5.6 to over 8.0. That is a very large increase.

[Billybeau1]

Mike, what salt mix do you use ? And how often do you do water changes ?

[bertoni]

I get about 10 tsp, assuming 150g of actual water in the tank, to raise the alkalinity to 3 meq/L. I'd try half of that, and see how it goes.

[am3gross]

i do a 90 gallon water change once a month... as far as the salt goes i use the oceanic. i have had very goood results with it to date. i will do it slowly threw the week. thanks for all the help so far also. like i said this is definately my weak subject... i knew i should of paid attention in class, but i got on the "we will never use this stuff out in the real world" bandwagon

[Billybeau1]

Oceanic is a very unbalanced salt mix. Your numbers make sense at 1.021 but if you raise to say 1.025, your calcium is going to be very high as well as your magnesium.

I would switch salt brands and slowly move towards 1.026

Many of the more balanced salt mixes, like Reef Crystals, has higher alk and is more balanced.

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10778292#post10778292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IndyReefMan
Here is a great website that will help you out. It details what you can use and how much to use.

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html
This version of the calculator will give you a lot more support information regarding making adjustments and provide advice depending on were your parameters are.
http://reef.diesyst.com