jeffaquarius
Aquarium Advice Addict
Check your magnesium and make sure it is within 1300 then you can raise your Alkalinity to at least 7 dKH before your scheduled pwc.
Check your magnesium and make sure it is within 1300 then you can raise your Alkalinity to at least 7 dKH before your scheduled pwc.
I think Greg noted a drop in Alk when using GFO. Can you try and go without the GFO after a week post water change?
I mix it by hand until all the salt is dissolved, then usually let it sit for at least 24 hours, sometimes up to a week. Before the WC I usually mix it again with a powerhead for about half an hour while I'm cleaning the tank and doing other things.
After mixing your salt water the power head should be left running over night before your pwc. A 1/2 hour with power head is not enough to thoroughly mix your saltwater. You are getting a false parameter readings of new saltwater if you do it that way.
When you leave the saltwater standing overnight without aerating it gradually drops the pH level. We know that Alkalinity and pH interact with each other. You may have accurate parameter readings but your salt is not evenly mixed so they are false readings. I would get a big bucket or trash can from home depot. I use an 18 gal rectangular plastic container to prepare my 15 gal saltwater with a heater and circulating pump.
Those readings are great. I would stop dosing while monitoring daily. If Alk drops to below 7 dKH, I would have to dose with baking soda on ato with a ratio of 1 teaspoon per gal of ro/di. Take another readings the following day and adjust the ratio as necessary.