Rich, I'm sure your tank is fine at 1.023, it's just you can't compare the levels properly to other levels at 1.026. Remember also, that when you dilute your salt, you dilute all the other things in it also. This will mean lower alk, Ca, I2, Mg, etc.... But you do save some money I guess :razz:

Just tested another batch of water made from my new bag of IO:

SG=1.026
pH=8.0
alk=10.4

Alk seems to have jumped quite a bit for the small change in SG, though I've done the test twice to be sure.


Ed

Im having problems with my new setup, and It points to a salt problem

Temp 79
SG 1.24
Ph7.9
KH 16
Alk8.6
Calcium 390 ppm
Sounds like a salt issue to me. Any Ideas.

MINIATUS

You meant 1.024 right?

What sounds like a salt problem? You haven't given units. What test kit(s) did you use? How new is this setup?

Sorry let me digress here a bit

90 gal tank, 25 gal sump 4.5 inchs of south down in tank. Tank was set up about 10 days ago, and using the Squid method of cycling the tank.

Anyway all reading done withSALIFERT test kits show out of whack readings. I purchased a new bag of salt this morning mixed it to the same SG and temp as my setup. All reading from this are right on. Calcium is 420ppm, DH is 12 PH is 8.2, big difference in prevoius salt reading.

Does this help.

MINIATUS

Not sure that the salt has the same problem as the "bad batch". That salt tested very high dKH, around 97 I believe. In your first batch you gave a # of 16 for dKH. I had this also with my salt, but 24 hours later it had gone down to 11 dKH.
Are you using RO water? 420 ppm Ca seems high for IO at 1.024.
I guess to digress a bit further, we should find out what problem your setup is having.

The reading has not dropped from the original reading a week ago. RO/DI water. Any more Ideas would be helpful, as I dont want to add the rock at the end of the month and drive everthing out of Whack. Tempted to redo setup and let the rock cycle it instead of the Squid method.

MINIATUS

I would certainly use the rock to cycle the tank. I'm sure if you did a good size water change with your good salt, you'll be fine.

Contacted the Makers of Instant Ocean and explained the problem. They gave no argument and because I had used all my salt up they ask for the receipts and will replace salt as soon as they recieve them. Funny they ask when i purchased it, told them when and not a word said.

MINIATUS