alkalinity question

[ohio reefer]

my alk is > 5.71 according to my salifert test kit. how do i lower it ? what effect will this have on my reef tank?

ca = 430
ph 8.36
ammonia =0
nitrite = 0
nitrate = 0

thanks

mark

 

[tjara03]

do you add alk to your tank?? The only way i can think of is pwc's... HTH

 

[malkore]

is that 5.7 meq/L or 5.7dKh?

assuming its 5.7meq/l which is a bit high, are you dosing alk? using tap water or R/O water for water changes?

if you use tap water, its probably too hard to begin with, so you'll need to start using some R/O water in your water changes, especially for top-offs due to evaporation.
If you tap water is hard and you use it to top off for evaporation...hardness doesn't evaporate...so you end up increasing hardness/alkalinity via the top-offs.

 

[ohio reefer]

i use r/o water but it might be time to change the membrane. my tds meter only reads 13 ppm. i don't know. will this have any effect on my live stock?