Alkalinity situation.

Mis

I answer more to your post when I get home. In sort then, +600 mg / l Ca = a bad batch
of salt form Coral Life

--
Boomer

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

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"miskairal" wrote in message
u...
:I retested today. Everything. Ca is still at 600 and Alk still 5, pH
: 8.3, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and Phosphates are 0, SG 1.024. (Ca
: tests are ppm and KH is dKH) Wouldn't you think that if the tank water
: measures the same as the made up coralife mix (before it goes into the
: tank) then they are the same? I sent a sample to a petshop back in
: January (nearest is 2 1/2 hours drive away and a friend was heading in
: that direction) and they got the same reading but I don't know what sort
: of test kit was used. I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.
:
: Since then I have bought a complete 4 foot setup which has always run on
: NSW and brought NSW home with it. That tank tests at 440 (KH 4) and the
: NSW tests at 420 (KH 6). R/O water still tests at 0 for Ca and 1 for
: KH. I don't add anything to the tank, Zilch, nothing. I've bought two
: other types of salt and they test better for Ca (400-450 from memory)
: BUT both have phosphates and I don't need that. The coralife tests 0 for
: phosphates.
:
: I do however have some product sold to me by a petshop that is supposed
: to increase alk without affecting Ca. Can't remember the name of it
: offhand but I think it is a Seachem product. I will start adding it
: tomorrow with the top up water but I'm nervous about that too.
:
: ok, I just went and got the bottle. It's called Reef Builder, Raises
: Carbonate Alkalinity. It says on the bottle
: "used as directed Reef Builder will not deplete Calcium, magnesium or
: strontium which usually tend to precipitate with increasing alkalinity"
: What does this statement mean? Will I end up with snow?
:
: Thanks for the link but I've been there before and was put off by the
: mention of Canada having washing soda containing surfactants. Not sure
: what we have in Oz but decided to wait and get something that should be
: reef safe, hence the reef builder.
:
: Boomer wrote:
: He would not have a color change in FW which has very little alk and what appears to
be 0
: alk in seawater, which has a much higher Alk. Something is WRONG. It may be his
reading
: the instructions incorrect or he is beyond the capability of the kit to bring it to
end
: point. This kit has two ranges on it, one for high and one for low Alk.
:
: 600 mg / l Ca++ and an Ak of 5 meq / l is like asking for trouble. All one needs is
the
: right pH shift or temp change and you may end up with a snow storm. Your Ca++ and Alk
are
: also not balanced. Are you sure you are measuring right and have a good kit. I have
never
: heard of Coralife being anywhere near + 600 mg / l.but just over 500 mg / l Ca++. It
: usually runs in the 400's. Whose kits are you using ?
:
: Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
: