Alk confusion Help

[24storm]

I am looking for help with some test readings i am getting.
I am using Elos test kits

Alk 15dkh Elos test kit 15 drops tried 2 different test kits
Cause i think this is to high.
Calcium 450 Elos test kit
I have turned down my reactor just a little to get it down
PH 8.1- 8.2

Should the Alk be that high?

How do i get down?

The tank seems happy and the DKH has been this high for a while now

Using Reef Crystals

Thanks Keith

[mark]

A Ca reactor can also be called a alk reactor.

Found with my reactor if driving it hard (was trying to bring up the Ca with the reactor alone) really easy to spike the alk.

Time will bring the alk value down but water changes could also speed it up but I wouldn't worry, just turn down your reactor.

[24storm]

Would the Alk really be that High?
When my Calcium was 375 the alk was still 15

Keith

[mark]

Could be.

I've had Ca 400 and alk 15 (testing with Salifert) a couple of times.

Looking through my notes, on a 200g lightly stocked reef, after turning off the CO2, the alk would drop from 15 to 11/12 after 3-4 days without a water change.

[24storm]

Is anyone here using the Elos KH test kit? Am i doing something wrong?
Should i get a different brand test kit to compare readings?

Keith

[mark]

Not sure why you doubting your test kits (15 KH is easy to do with a reactor) but there's a ELOS forum (http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=399) on RC, might get help there.

[24storm]

I just want to make sure Mark in case i am missing something. I have had my reactor off completely now for almost 24 hours. Will test in a bit and see what i have. I think i will do a water change as well just not tonight Hockey game.

Keith

[24storm]

Okay i just went and tested. With reactor off for 24 hours readings are now
11 DKH
425 Calcium

So how low do i let the calcium go?
Should i leave the reactor off till the dkh is at 7? 8? 9?

Thanks again for the help Mark I really appreciate it.

Keith

[PzReefer]

I would not really want to drop that much alk in 48 hours you should have just reduced the drip rate by 25-50 % and adjust over time slowly.

Only bad things happen fast in reefing.

Depending on water volume, and effluent output I am surprised your alk fell 4 dKH in 24 hours.

My tank is 125 gallon system with effluent drip rate of 55-60ml/min with effluent pH of 6.55. My outlet to the sump from the Ca Reactor has a tap to control the effluent drip rate and becomes plugged from time to time . Once i forgot to check it and only lost 1 dKH in 7 days.

[mark]

7-11 dKH is a range to go for with NSW (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php) being 7dKH.

See this article (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php) for tuning and here (http://reef.diesyst.com/reactor/reactor.html) (might be helplful). What I basically do for tuning is from the first article (step 3), if my Alk goes too high, note the bubble count then turn off the CO2, once back down to ~10 dKH, turn the gas back on at a lower bubble rate whole time leaving the effluent rate unchanged (trying to reduce the variables). If Alk drops, increase the bubble count.

My biggest problem when first trying to figure the Ca reactor out was I was pushing the reactor to much trying to get my Ca initially up. Once figured my fresh SW mix was low out of the pail and started fixing that in the mixing barrel, after a little tuning by recording some numbers it's been sit back and forget.

[24storm]

So over the past few days my alk has dropped to 11 - 12 DKH
I mixed no water up 2 days ago with RO water and reef crystals and the new waters alk is 11 - 12 DKH ????

Is this normal?
How do i get it down?

Thanks Keith

[Snappy]

How do i get it down?
:razz:Easiest way is to come over and buy more corals to use it up.:wink:

[hecks220]

don't fret. between 8-12 is acceptable. ph is affected, so as long as these parameters are met you should be okay. i've heard of people using small amounts of an acid to neutralize kh should it ever get too high