Low pH & Carbonate Hardness

[kien]

Originally Posted by chromakey

was wondering if there is anything you would recommend.
Elos
Mg: 1200

If everything looks happy, which it does to me, I would recommend not doing anything to correct your pH or alk. Both values look perfectly fine to me. My ph and alk are sitting at those values now.

Your mag is a tad low though.

[WarDog]

Do you have A/C and have all the windows closed? Fresh air circulating through the house will raise your pH a bit.

[chromakey]

Thanks for all the replies.

I do have the windows closed and running the heat pump for A/C in the summer. This was the first time I actually used the Elos Mg test kit. I will give it another try tomorrow.

Michael

[Myka]

Drop checker test kits for pH are terrible, I wouldn't trust that reading anyway. In fact, if I were you I wold quit testing it and then you can quit stressing about it.

The calcium/alkalinity balance is way off though. The calcium is quite high - I know this was a problem with RB salt a few years ago, but I don't know if they changed it or not. Maybe you could get your calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium checked with another brand of test kits to double check? LFS usually offer this service for a small fee.

[hillegom]

Our LFS here does the checks for free

[Myka]

Also, your specific gravity is low. 1.024 is suitable for fish tanks, but reef tanks should be 1.026 which helps keep all elements at reef values. However, since your calcium is already so high from the RB salt, I would be hesitant to increase SG right now.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

since your calcium is already so high from the RB salt

I would question testing kit/method. My RBS never mixed that high. Usually around 430ppm