alkalinity

[scottdwh]

My alk is high around 5.0 How can you lower and what level do you want it at. My ph is at 8.2, calcium at 465, 0 nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia, salinty at 1.025 and water temp at 81. I have could water movement, about 15x/hour and alot of movement at the top. Its a 75 with cc and about 80lbs of live rock. There is only a yellow tang, 2 clowns, and a damsel in there now and I am using a skimmer.

[gcvt]

Are you mixing your own saltwater? If so, what kind of water are you using to make your saltwater? Tap water, bottled water, RO/DI water, etc.?

[scottdwh]

I use RO water that I fill up at the grocery store and use Instant Ocean salt.

[gcvt]

That's odd. Have you tested the grocery stores RO water before you mix in the salt? It should have an alkalinity near 0.

[scottdwh]

No I havent, I will try that and see what comes up.

[slipknottin]

What is your alk measured in?

meq/Liter?

[scottdwh]

yeah, its a fast test kit and its measured in meq/L

[Boogiechillin]

Buy a commercial alkalinity buffer at the LFS, or use baking soda (NOT BAKING POWDER!!!) to raise the alkalinity. Your salt mix contains some buffers, which is why you see a minor boost in alkalinity after mixing in the IO. A reading of 5.0 meq/L is just fine, though, so you shouldn't have to tinker with it at this point. You should check once or twice a week as it will drop if you don't perform frequent water changes. Adding a little buffer to your topoff water when this occurs will help restore alk to proper levels.

[scottdwh]

Thanks. Whats a good range to keep your alkalinity in?

[Boogiechillin]

Between 2.5-5.0 meq/L is a pretty acceptable range, although I try not to let mine slip below 3.0