Alk very low..

[burblecut]

All my other readings are dead on, but my alk always seems to be extremely low. I'm just wondering what could cause this. My tank is mostly softies so I'm not sure what is gobbling it up.

I heard baking soda will raise my alk, however I do not want to raise my PH any ideas?.

Ph good
Calc good
Nitrate good
Nitrite good
P04 good
ammonia good
alk - around 1.5??

[whatcaneyedo]

There are way too many questions for us to ask based on what little you've given us. We need more information on your tank, methods and tests before we can give you an informed answer. Actual numbers, what you currently keep and what you currently add would be a good start. These articles will also answer your question if you have a little free time.

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.htm

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[KennyKen]

I had the same problem, only the answer was a bad test kit.
How many times have you tested and gotten the same reading.

[George]

Try testing it with a different brand of test kit, or a new test kit, or getting your LFS/your fellow reefers to test it for you.
I suspect your test kit is bad or your testing method is wrong.

[imcosmokramer]

+1
________
Huge Tits Cams

[fishytime]

baking soda will only raise your PH if you bake it......add un-baked BS to water and heat the water a little to help the BS dissolve completely.....what brand of salt are you using?.....have you tried testing a new batch of saltwater to see if its your salt that is low?

[burblecut]

Thanks for the replies.

I use h2O salt. All of the properties while testing seem perfect, even somewhat higher than the norm.

My tank is a 72g, 20g sump, skimmer, np reactor and I do 20% bi-weekly water changes. No dosing at the moment, except for the odd capful of purple-up when my calc is getting lower.

My salt is at 1.023...I'm starting to question the accuracy of my refract meter though, it's one of those cheapo see-through ones with the blue gauge. I've had it for a couple of years.

I switched test kits and have the same result.

So let me get this straight... BAKED baking soda raises PH, not Alk. NON BAKED baking soda only raises ALK?

I'm going to take a sample to my LFS just to confirm everything this weekend. It just doesn't make much sense to have good readings except with alk. Then again, I've been in this hobby for almost 2 years and nothing makes sense at first.

Thanks again for the replies and links.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by burblecut

So let me get this straight... BAKED baking soda raises PH, not Alk. NON BAKED baking soda only raises ALK?

Baked BS will raise Alk and PH......non-baked BS will only raise Alk....

[68shelby]

are you using ro water?

[burblecut]

Yes, forgot to mention I have an RO/DI system that does an ato of the sump.