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chitownclown
12/23/2008, 08:07 PM
I have done everything I can think of to lower my dKH and nothing seems to work. My reading seem to be about what there were when the dKH was at 9 but now its at 17-19. Anyone have any ideas on something to do about this?

Done Several water changes

Calcium at 420
Mag at 1260
PH 7.8- 8.2
I don't dose anything so I can't figure this out.

HighlandReefer
12/23/2008, 08:12 PM
If you are not dosing anything, than it would be most likely testing error.
What kit are you using for alk. and how old is it?
What is your salinity and how do you test it?
What salt mix are you using?

ethank77
12/23/2008, 08:15 PM
wow that is high seem that you would have snowed some of that out if it were that high

chitownclown
12/23/2008, 08:32 PM
test kit is a sailfet ---expires 2011
1.026 with a refactometer
salt mix is reef crystals.

MrRyanT
12/23/2008, 08:39 PM
I'm with HR. Looks like a test error. Do you have another to verify?

chitownclown
12/23/2008, 08:50 PM
Both the API and sailfet read between 16-19 So its high either way i look at it.

HighlandReefer
12/23/2008, 08:55 PM
Try mixing a small batch with the reef crystals to a salinity of 1.0264. Test this solution. You should get a reading around 12 dKH. Perhaps you have a bad batch of salt mix? I have heard of a few cases of this.

crashrat
12/23/2008, 10:19 PM
Wow, you are the second person with that high of alk I read tonight.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1535191
So what do you do to suplement CA and Alk?

bertoni
12/23/2008, 10:56 PM
If there's any concrete-based live rock in the system, that can contribute to high alkalinity.

chitownclown
12/24/2008, 12:18 AM
Well the jurys in and my salt mix, Reef crystals has a dKH of 16, so time to switch to a new brand seeing there are so many problems with this one.

Any suggestions?

Adamc1303
12/24/2008, 12:29 AM
Try Seachem reef salt. It dissolves well, price is pretty good and it has perfect params. Some batches have a DKH level of 9 so if you want you can always raise that with baking soda when preparing water. There is a thread somewhere here about salts. I think the test of from aquariumwatertesting.com, they did about a trillion very detailed test for various things found in salt batches on about 20 different brands. You will enjoy it if you find it.

Billybeau1
12/24/2008, 01:10 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14006995#post14006995 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chitownclown
Well the jurys in and my salt mix, Reef crystals has a dKH of 16, so time to switch to a new brand seeing there are so many problems with this one.

Any suggestions?

I don't believe it Chitown.

I personally think you are mixing the salt mix too rich, meaning your method of measuring specific gravity may be off.

Let me ask you this, from one Chitown to another. :D

What does that batch of RC measure for calcium ?

Also how do you measure specific gravity ?

chitownclown
12/24/2008, 01:25 AM
Calcium is about 420 i just checked a new batch that i have mixing, and the dkh was 16+ with both test kits.

I use a refractometer to check the salinity, the batch that is mixing now has a dKH of 1.0261 which is right on, and the tank is at 1.0269 but I need to top off so its just a tad bit hit by maybe 6 ten thousands

Billybeau1
12/24/2008, 01:27 AM
Wow, I'd sure like to test a batch of that salt.

You are not in the South Suburbs are you ?

chitownclown
12/24/2008, 01:43 AM
not to far right by midway,

Billybeau1
12/24/2008, 01:50 AM
The reason I bring this up is I do a lot of salt testing, with many brand test kits.

I get RC between 12-13 dkh. Now 16 is a little higher and there is not that much test noise in alkalinity test kits.

Your 420 calcium is right on from my testing which is why I would love for you to get a second opinion on the alkalinity.

Some series of Saliferts recently ran a little high but not by much.

What is the date on the bottle of your API alk kit ? They get old quick.

chitownclown
12/24/2008, 01:53 AM
well me and my buddy at aquatica test both ways and used his kit also and both got the same readings on 6 differnet tests done with 3 different kits.

Billybeau1
12/24/2008, 02:05 AM
I'll ask again, what is the date on the bottle of your API alk kit ?

And your buddy's ?

chitownclown
12/24/2008, 02:19 AM
date on sailfert is 2011
date on red sea 2010
date on api 4-10


We test the kits againist there reef tank in the store that has a bunch of different pinpoint meters and all read real close.

Billybeau1
12/24/2008, 02:25 AM
OK I'm convinced your kits are within date.

If you can, save me a cup or two of that salt mix. I would love to test it.

We are not that far away from each other. :)

BTW, there are no Pinpoint meters for alkalinity. :)

chitownclown
12/24/2008, 02:47 AM
thats us true there is no alk one but we tested the ph calcium and nitrate nd all way spot on, so we figure the complete kit is okay.

I have about a half of a bucket left so i will save you some.

Tbduval
12/24/2008, 08:54 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14007382#post14007382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
OK I'm convinced your kits are within date.

If you can, save me a cup or two of that salt mix. I would love to test it.

We are not that far away from each other. :)

BTW, there are no Pinpoint meters for alkalinity. :)

Billy,
I am getting more convinced that RC salt is having high ALK going on in the mix. I had the same issue on my new bucket of salt. I was also getting high levels of mag (1600), cal (500), & ALK (16). Who know, but I made 2 WC's with the salt and see no problem with any live stock!

Billybeau1
12/24/2008, 04:29 PM
tb, what is the alkalinity of your tank currently ?

Chitown actually has normal calcium but is reporting high alk.

You are reporting high everything. Are you sure you are at 1.0264 or 35 ppt ?

cybrsufr
12/25/2008, 03:13 AM
My last two buckets of RC have mixed up to 1.026 with DKh of 9, Ca 400, PH 8.2. Just got two more buckets from Drs. F&S, will have to make sure I keep an eye on this.

Tbduval
12/25/2008, 05:44 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14010571#post14010571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
tb, what is the alkalinity of your tank currently ?

Chitown actually has normal calcium but is reporting high alk.

You are reporting high everything. Are you sure you are at 1.0264 or 35 ppt ?

Merry Christmas,
Billy my tank ALK is 10-11 DKH, but when I test my last bucket of RC, ALK was 16 DHK. I use a refractormeter calibrated by pinpoint solution and it is at 1.026. I talked to Dr. F&S and I am sending them some salt from bucket for testing. It looks like there may have been some buckets that had high ALK. I saw a thread in the Dr. F&S forum on it. The last test bucket I ran of RC was as follows..... 1.026, ALK 16, Calcium 500, Mag 1580. I only do a 15% WC so it does not effect my tank too much.

Billybeau1
12/26/2008, 12:36 AM
Wow, first low then high within 2 years.

I hope that's not what happens when you become the most popular salt in America and you have to produce twice as much to sell when you are not prepared to keep it consistent. :(

I'll be watching this as well. :)

greggnyce
12/26/2008, 03:09 PM
I use RC and had this problem recently, I thought it was my Reactor. I am goint to test the salt when I get home. I do small water changes a couple times a week. I am going to change brands anyway, that is to risky.

Billybeau1
12/27/2008, 12:39 AM
hmmm. lets us know what you get. :)

chitownclown
12/27/2008, 08:04 AM
The only real reason I found out is , all of my frogspawns about 18 heads in all, just stop expanding one day and then started to look alittle bleached, so i checked my test and found it. I have now tested my girlfriends dads salt which is RC and his has a calcium of 500 and a dKH of 19 or so.