Alkalinity for Inverts

[Shrimplady]

Hey Ya'll.I have alkalinity around 80-88 ppm. I think it should be in the mid 100's especially for inverts. Is that correct? I'll be having shrimp in my tank and need advice on how to stabilize my alkalinity.

Cheers

[shadowmonster]

The link below should help.

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

[GimpyFin]

Is your alkalinity really testing out at 80 ppm? What is your pH reading? As the link posted above will show, anything between roughly 125 ppm and 195 ppm (7-11 dKH) is considered acceptable.

[mcgyvr]

In addition to PH..
Please post calcium and magnesium results too..
And salinity results..

What brand of salt do you use?
Size of tank?
How often do you do water changes and how much do you change out?

Are you sure its that low? Have you taken a water sample to your local fish store for verification?

As is nothing should go into that tank..

[Ztous]

your salinity is likely low if it's a new tank. Most salt mixes want the salinity to be around 1.025 or 1.026 to hit what is considered proper reef alk and calcium levels.

[Shrimplady]

size of tank 60 gallon drum filled 30 gallons
salt: crystal sea marine mix
I've done 3 large water changes in 60 days

DO: 6.36
temp: 28.8
pH: 8.2
salinity:30
specific gravity: 1.020
alk: 80

we don't have a test for calcium and magnesium. we might have to get one.

[shadowmonster]

Check this out.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/subject/chemistry.php

HTH.

[mcgyvr]

Your salinity is too low.. Should be 35 (1.026)

Get it to the proper level and then test alk again..

Also get an alk reading on freshly mixed 35ppt saltwater (before you add it to the tank). I'm not sure what that brand should be freshly mixed..