High ALK level!!!

[reefknight]

So yesterday I did a waterchange(approx 22gal) and switched from RC to Salinity. I tested my tank water before the w/c and just a few minutes ago and am extremely concerned.

Before: Alk - 9, Ca - 400, Mg - 1100 (Elos kits), pH - 8, SG% - 1.025 refractometer.

Today: Alk - 18, Ca - 475, Mg - 1300 (Elos), pH - 8, SG - 1.026

I ran out of the Elos kit that I was using between yesterday and todays readings. I know that the "new" Elos kit is about 6 months out of date, but it should not effect the results this badly.

I have an "in date" Salifert Alk and it is reading 11.2.

Which do I believe? And how badly am I shocking my corals at this point?

I do have a Profilux 3ch doser, dosing a total of 36ml of each Alk/Ca/Mg per day. I have since taken it offline until this is figured out. I know that the doser didn't dump a ton due to where the levels are in each of the jugs, they're all even across.

Thoughts or ideas are appreciated folks, I've got a nice shipment of fresh corals arriving tomorrow morning from Worldwide Corals. WHat a lovely time to have this issue!:shout:

 

[smallblock]

dunno bill but I have about a 1/4 bucket of reef crystals you can get if you want to go back to the old settings untill you can figure it out

Edit: I think I also have an in date elos alk test we could compare, I'de have to check it may be slightly out of date. I'll check in the morn if you want, lemme know

 

[reefknight]

Thanks Blake. I've got a little bit of RC left here, but went ahead and made the switch. Never thought it was going to do this.

 

[reefknight]

The left over Salinity that I have made up has the following levels;

Alk - 6.7/11 (Salifert/Elos), Ca - 330/375 (Same) @ 1.026 SG%

 

[raz0945]

I'm going thru the same thing with one of my tanks, the dKH was 16. I have been fighting low PH and was dosing the 2 part. It helped to bring my SG down(do this slowly over a couple of days) with RODI water from 1.025 to 1.024 and I upped my Mag and Cal. I have did 4 water changes about 4-5 days apart. I checked my Ca, Mag and Alk in my new saltwater and added Ca & Mag the night before the water change. My dKH dropped to 10 my other tanks stay at about 9, they are usually at 8. For me it could have been a combo of my salt not mixed well in the bucket and the dosing. My new bucked of salt was low on the dKH(7.4) so I think that was just luck! From now on I will test my made up salt water before I use it! I lost 3 of my favorite corals. This is the first time in almost 4+ years this has happened. I got slack in my testing:sad:
Randy Holmes has some good info on ALK on Reef Central, I can't find it in my favorites right now but someone here may know how to get to it. Good Luck!!

 

[grouper therapy]

Do you stir/mix the dry salt mix before adding it to your rodi water?

 

[reefknight]

I agree Randy is an extremely knowledgeable chemist.

I failed to stir this bucket. I was in a hurry one night coming home from work and decided that it was a necessity to make some water. It was about 1:30am after a long day. Didn't even think about it at that point.

 

[ralph atl]

The older Elos test kits are 1 drop per dkh, while the "newer" ones are 0.5....please look at the laminated instruction card, not the directions.

 

[reefknight]

mysterybox;665921 wrote: The older Elos test kits are 1 drop per dkh, while the "newer" ones are 0.5....please look at the laminated instruction card, not the directions.

Ralph, you are a genius!!!!!

You are correct sir, directions do not match up to the laminated card. My previous kit was the one drop method!

(Huge sigh of relief)

 

[dawgface]

Retest with another kit.

There is no way your alk would spike like that with a 22g water change.

Edit: Or Nvmd... Seems you found the problem.

 

[reefknight]

Thats what I get for assuming that all test kits by the same manufacturer are to be conducted the same way. :doh:

Thanks to MrFlameAngel for the use of his test kit! :thumbs: