ALK

[StirCrazy]

Test your Mg, sounds like a classic low Mg problem to me.

once you fix the Mg level you can raise you Ca again and it will depress the Alk which is artificialy high because there is not enuf Ca to limit it. but like I said test the Mg first. My guess is you will find it down around 800 PPM

Steve

[Corey]

Thanks for the links Bev, Ive read them a thousand times before, thats why Im stumped, I am only dosing with Kalk and my ALK is still going through the roof. I was going to try using epsom salts for Mg and see if that will fix it, can you OD with MG?

[reeferaddict]

I would do a little reading before raising Mg levels with Epsom salts alone... I think it's an issue with free chloride ions... a Mg additive is supposed to be 1 part epsom salts to 10 parts Magnesium Sulfate Hexahydrate... which I think helps precipitate those nasty chlorides, but I'm not the chemist... check Littlesilvermax's posts to get more info..

[IslandReefer]

Sorry Jim....Ya got it backwards dude
You can use Epson salts (MgSo4) about once for Mg suppliment because the sulfate levels will be raised too much.
To keep your ionic balance, a mix of 1 in ten MgSO4 to MgCL2.6H2O is used.
........BTW dropping kalk is the typical way of this happening....Ca and alk but no Mg....which must be supplimented...a lot more than I ever thought too...PS Both Bev and I had similar events...culprit low Mg

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Corey

Thanks for the links Bev, Ive read them a thousand times before, thats why Im stumped, I am only dosing with Kalk and my ALK is still going through the roof. I was going to try using epsom salts for Mg and see if that will fix it, can you OD with MG?

Yes, you can overdose as with anything to fast of a change is bad. do not dose Mg unless you have a test kit to tell you where you are starting and when you are done. add no more than 100ppm/day (has worked for me with no problems a few times )

Steve

[Beverly]

Corey,

We had low pH in our tanks the first winter we lived in our new condo that has in-floor heating. Turned out the condo is pretty airtight and we were all suffering from too much CO2, hence the low pH. With the in-floor heating, there was no air coming into the place to give a proper balance of O2 and CO2.

With that in mind, you might also be suffering from high CO2 in your tankroom, and perhaps your whole living quarters. Is your tank in the basement or in a room that gets little fresh air?

Along with the high CO2, we also had high humidity. To counteract both of these, we kept our two bedroom windows open a crack and strategically placed a floor fan to push the fresh air into the tank area. pH soon began to rise somewhat. When humidity got too high (it was like a sauna in here at times), we'd open the balcony door for several minutes to exchange the air. pH rose even more after that.

To find out if you have high CO2 in your house/tank room, do the following test both inside the house and outside in the fresh air:

1. Pour a new glass of cool tapwater for each test. Measure with a pH probe and record the results.
2. Aerate the glass of water with an air pump for 10 minutes, then measure pH and record results.
3. Compare inside and outside end pHs. The outside pH will give you an accurate account of what the proper balance of O2 and CO2 should be. If you inside pH is lower than the outside pH, you need more fresh air in your tankroom.

BTW, we did the outside pH test in January when it was really freaking cold. Can't remember the exact numbers, but I believe inside pH was about 7.9 and outside pH was 8.2 or 8.4 or something like that.

[Corey]

Never ending good tips, thanks guys. I tried taking the air pump outside, not a co2 problem.

[StirCrazy]

Oh, and as for the PH, a level of 7.9 doesn't concern me as a normal range would be from 7.8 to 8.2. for what it is worth my set up always runs at 7.9. also depending on the time of day your PH will be either lower or higher.

Steve

[reeferaddict]

Originally Posted by IslandReefer

Sorry Jim....Ya got it backwards dude
You can use Epson salts (MgSo4) about once for Mg suppliment because the sulfate levels will be raised too much.
To keep your ionic balance, a mix of 1 in ten MgSO4 to MgCL2.6H2O is used.
........BTW dropping kalk is the typical way of this happening....Ca and alk but no Mg....which must be supplimented...a lot more than I ever thought too...PS Both Bev and I had similar events...culprit low Mg

Thanks John... I KNEW a chemist would show up and part the clouds!

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by IslandReefer

Sorry Jim....Ya got it backwards dude
You can use Epson salts (MgSo4) about once for Mg suppliment because the sulfate levels will be raised too much.
To keep your ionic balance, a mix of 1 in ten MgSO4 to MgCL2.6H2O is used.
........BTW dropping kalk is the typical way of this happening....Ca and alk but no Mg....which must be supplimented...a lot more than I ever thought too...PS Both Bev and I had similar events...culprit low Mg

John where can we get MgCL2.6H2O here? it would be a lot cheeper to make it than buy it

Steve