Kessil

Kh problems

SoulFish

SoulFish

Guest
BARcard
Ok added freshwater top off to my tank, yesterday I used buffer and it measured 6 degrees, well tonight after adding 1.5 gallons my Kh tested back down to 3.5 degrees! So I thought lets test my tap water to see what it measures. I tested the Kh on it and I could not get the water to change color... meaning I have less than 1 degree of hardness, cannot even be measured coming out of my tap. So I guess this is the source of my problem my tap water that use is way too soft. So now what do I do? Do I need to also have a 50 gallon bucket of freshwater and do I need to buffer that up to 8-10 degrees? Or will that make it worse? Or do I need to remain buffering everytime I add any water either salt or fresh to my reef?

Help me out guys, I gotta get some solution thats not too much work
 
You shouldn't add anything to your top-off water. (except maybe lime) You should (really, you must) use a balanced calcium/alk supplementation scheme.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php
 
What alk test are you using?

I got the vague impression from another post that you are doing a pH test and somehow interpolating alk?

I'd recommend that you use an API or Elos kit to measure your alk if you're not already.

Also, to bring up your alk, it's better to use baking soda or washing soda - sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate.

Kent Buffer and similar use borate as part of the alkalinity component which is not useful for building coral skeletons. It really is more for buffering as in a FOWLR than for alk supplementation.
 
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/reef-calculator

Baking soda is Sodium Bicarbonate. There are important instructional notes on the left side that appear AFTER you input your numbers.
 
Or read this
An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement ...I n a previous article I showed how to make your own inexpensive two-part calcium and alkalinity supplement system.

reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php ·

You need to read up and understand two part additives. And get good test kits, as suggested above.
Where do you live?
 
SoulFish said:
Can I use ESV B-Ionic Calcium two part buffer system, but just use the "Componant No1 Alkalinity"

Or is baking soda better?
Click to expand...
Baking soda is way cheaper. If you aren't measuring Ca, you may be really low there too. Strongly consider dosing 2 part or something else so that you can maintain a ballanced Ca/Alk/(Mg)
 
before you dose a lot of Alk, you may want to confirm your Alk test kit is good. Do one of the following: Test vs an Alk standard, bring in a water sample to your LFS, or get a new alk test (API is a cheap, easy and functional)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top