Water change

[carlB9]

Was going to do a water change. Tested new RO water w/salt everything looks good but my KH looks low (about 40 w/ jungle 5-n-1 test strip) how should I bring it up? Or should I?
Thanks in advance

 

[00youknowit00]

Your kH is 40? 40 what? pp? Normally you want to shoot for about 9dkh

Also strip test are notoriously inaccurate, I would highly recommend a liquid reagent test kit.

 

[carlB9]

Yes it's ppm. And I'd say the color is between 40 and 80 on the test strip. Should I try to bring it up? ( ie baking soda)

 

[00youknowit00]

Yes it's ppm. And I'd say the color is between 40 and 80 on the test strip. Should I try to bring it up? ( ie baking soda)

Well the conversion for ppm to dkH is .056, so you're at 2.24dkH-4.48dkH according to the strips. What kind of salt is it? This is new saltwater right?

I wouldn't do anything until I tested with a liquid reagent kit, personally I wouldn't trust strips to save my life..

 

[carlB9]

It's Red Sea but it's old from when I had a tank back in 07/08. Whorls that affect things?

 

[00youknowit00]

It's Red Sea but it's old from when I had a tank back in 07/08. Whorls that affect things?

I did a quick google, seems like others have experienced low alk with old salt, especially if it has clumped up. If it has clumped up, it's bad. Personally I would definitely get new salt, yours is seriously old haha

 

[carlB9]

Haha I am. Thanks for all the help.

 

[carlB9]

Haha I am. Thanks for all the help.

 

[00youknowit00]

Haha I am. Thanks for all the help.

Anytime