reef crystal Kh=5 dkh !

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 04:03 PM

Hi ,,,

I mix one bag from reef crystal salt in tank with RO water and i store it for one week , after that i test the water and i found kh 5 dkh at sg = 1.024 !
any one can explain to me why ?

mdntrdr · 11/28/2009, 04:06 PM

Sounds like test kit issue to me.

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdntrdr

Sounds like test kit issue to me.

no , the test its OK , i have check solution and i found it accurate (Salifert test) !

mdntrdr · 11/28/2009, 04:10 PM

Bad salt?

Have you tested right after mixing?

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdntrdr

Bad salt?

Have you tested right after mixing?

yes , did you think reef crystal bad salt !

mdntrdr · 11/28/2009, 04:14 PM

If it tests good after mixing then I have no idea where it went.

Are you using a foodsafe container to store?

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 04:15 PM

Im thinking in storing fresh salt water mix maybe its cause drop KH !

phuzzykins · 11/28/2009, 04:16 PM

I agree that this sounds like a testing issue.

My freshly mixed RC @ 1.026 is roughly 13 dKH. After a week, I tested it at over 12, as a result of some calcium carbonate precipitation on the heater and pump in my mixing vessel.

13 dKH is about 4.6 meq/L... Are you sure you weren't reading the meq/L column instead of the dKH column?

mdntrdr · 11/28/2009, 04:18 PM

I personally dont store but I believe I have heard you can for quite some time.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this will chime in.

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuzzykins

I agree that this sounds like a testing issue.

My freshly mixed RC @ 1.026 is roughly 13 dKH. After a week, I tested it at over 12, as a result of some calcium carbonate precipitation on the heater and pump in my mixing vessel.

13 dKH is about 4.6 meq/L... Are you sure you weren't reading the meq/L column instead of the dKH column?

Yes , I'm sure its 5 dkh !

phuzzykins · 11/28/2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faisal1976us

Yes , I'm sure its 5 dkh !

Do you have any precipitate (dust, tan colored buildup on the vessel / mixing pump / heater / etc) ?

Have you retested to confirm your measurement of 5 dKH?

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuzzykins

Do you have any precipitate (dust, tan colored buildup on the vessel / mixing pump / heater / etc) ?

Have you retested to confirm your measurement of 5 dKH?

No , i don't have any precipitate (dust, tan colored buildup on the vessel / mixing pump / heater / etc)

yes , i test it twice .

phuzzykins · 11/28/2009, 04:44 PM

What value do you get for freshly mixed Reef Crystals salt water at the same specific gravity?

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuzzykins

What value do you get for freshly mixed Reef Crystals salt water at the same specific gravity?

sg = 1.024 ca=480 Kh=5 dkh mg= 1380

scoots · 11/28/2009, 10:34 PM

I would have someone else confirm with a different kit and if they get the same results then bad batch and toss it. I have had 2 bad boxes of IO over the years both were purchased at the same time and were just cloudy when mixed and would not clear even after a week or so of mixing. I ended up tossing 400 gallons worth of salt. Never had an issue since.

lordofthereef · 11/28/2009, 10:42 PM

Just curious, how are you sure the kit is giving you an accurate reading. Are you using more than one kit to confirm?

luther1200 · 11/28/2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faisal1976us

sg = 1.024 ca=480 Kh=5 dkh mg= 1380

I would almost gaurantee its a bad test kit with numbers like that. Try to get a second test kit, from a freind or a LFS maybe to test it for you.

phuzzykins · 11/28/2009, 10:58 PM

Your Ca and Mg measurements are right in line with expected values (possibly a little high for 1.024, but not by much)

You either have a bad alk test kit, or you're misreading it. You definitely need to get a second opinion from a friend, LFS, or a different test kit.

One thing that I note - the Salifert chart doesn't have any value that's exactly 5 dKH at either the low or normal resolution. The Ca and Mg numbers you give *do* correspond to values on the Salifert Ca and Mg charts, so I'm a bit confused as to which test kit you're actually using for KH.

Billybeau1 · 11/28/2009, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faisal1976us

Hi ,,,

I mix one bag from reef crystal salt in tank with RO water and i store it for one week , after that i test the water and i found kh 5 dkh at sg = 1.024 !
any one can explain to me why ?

Did you check the s.g of the mix after mixing ? And with what instrument ?

Faisal1976us · 11/28/2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billybeau1

Did you check the s.g of the mix after mixing ? And with what instrument ?

No , i test it after one week from mixing !

Billybeau1 · 11/28/2009, 11:59 PM

And what was the s.g and how did you test it ?

Faisal1976us · 11/29/2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billybeau1

And what was the s.g and how did you test it ?

sg= 1.024 using Hydrometer

Billybeau1 · 11/30/2009, 07:09 AM

Floating or swing arm hydo. Swing arms can be notoriously off and could explain the problems you are having.

11/28/2009, 04:03 PM	#1
Faisal1976us Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,076	reef crystal Kh=5 dkh ! Hi ,,, I mix one bag from reef crystal salt in tank with RO water and i store it for one week , after that i test the water and i found kh 5 dkh at sg = 1.024 ! any one can explain to me why ?

11/28/2009, 04:06 PM	#2
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	Sounds like test kit issue to me. __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!

11/28/2009, 04:10 PM	#4
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	Bad salt? Have you tested right after mixing? __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!

11/28/2009, 04:14 PM	#6
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	If it tests good after mixing then I have no idea where it went. Are you using a foodsafe container to store? __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!

11/28/2009, 04:18 PM	#9
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	I personally dont store but I believe I have heard you can for quite some time. Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this will chime in. __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!

11/28/2009, 04:15 PM	#7
Faisal1976us Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,076	Im thinking in storing fresh salt water mix maybe its cause drop KH !

11/28/2009, 04:16 PM	#8
phuzzykins Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Waltham, MA Posts: 685	I agree that this sounds like a testing issue. My freshly mixed RC @ 1.026 is roughly 13 dKH. After a week, I tested it at over 12, as a result of some calcium carbonate precipitation on the heater and pump in my mixing vessel. 13 dKH is about 4.6 meq/L... Are you sure you weren't reading the meq/L column instead of the dKH column?

11/28/2009, 04:44 PM	#13
phuzzykins Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Waltham, MA Posts: 685	What value do you get for freshly mixed Reef Crystals salt water at the same specific gravity?

11/28/2009, 10:34 PM	#15
scoots Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ma Posts: 113	I would have someone else confirm with a different kit and if they get the same results then bad batch and toss it. I have had 2 bad boxes of IO over the years both were purchased at the same time and were just cloudy when mixed and would not clear even after a week or so of mixing. I ended up tossing 400 gallons worth of salt. Never had an issue since.

11/28/2009, 10:42 PM	#16
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Just curious, how are you sure the kit is giving you an accurate reading. Are you using more than one kit to confirm? __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

11/28/2009, 10:58 PM	#18
phuzzykins Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Waltham, MA Posts: 685	Your Ca and Mg measurements are right in line with expected values (possibly a little high for 1.024, but not by much) You either have a bad alk test kit, or you're misreading it. You definitely need to get a second opinion from a friend, LFS, or a different test kit. One thing that I note - the Salifert chart doesn't have any value that's exactly 5 dKH at either the low or normal resolution. The Ca and Mg numbers you give do correspond to values on the Salifert Ca and Mg charts, so I'm a bit confused as to which test kit you're actually using for KH.

11/28/2009, 11:59 PM	#21
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	And what was the s.g and how did you test it ? __________________ I do not worry about things I can't do anything about Current Tank Info: Picasso Trigger, Racoon Butterfly, Yellow Tail Damsel, Half-Black Angel

11/30/2009, 07:09 AM	#23
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	Floating or swing arm hydo. Swing arms can be notoriously off and could explain the problems you are having. __________________ I do not worry about things I can't do anything about Current Tank Info: Picasso Trigger, Racoon Butterfly, Yellow Tail Damsel, Half-Black Angel