Kent salt users
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What I am amazed at is that the numbers can actually be that high at the same time. I have always been told about the inverse relationship of Alk and CA, and I had assumed that if both of them were that high at the same time then you would have them precipitate out of the solution until they got to a lower stable reading.
I have a box of that sale laying around, and now I am a bit scared to use it.
I have a box of that sale laying around, and now I am a bit scared to use it.
Does that swing stabilize soon after the water change. I personally don't think I swing from a water change would make that much affect. I would be interested if there was something else in that salt. Like ironin higher amounts or phosphate source that hasn't yet been broken down into detectable phosphate. Ie fish food at scources of the plant or another organic material that isn't broken down and is preserved by that salt.
Mike! I text you a while back about that ;-)
My previous batch of Kent tested at an Alk of about 7.5, but the batch from the aquamart group buy tested higher.
79 degrees
1.026
Alk -11.2
Ca - 580
Mg -1570
The Alk swing really gave me problems in my 20...but my cube was suffering from low Alk at the time and the higher levels actual helped turn things around since I wasn't dosing at the time.
I just got a new box of Kent from Cris this weekend and will post results when I mix a new batch...I usually make 35 gallons at a time.
My previous batch of Kent tested at an Alk of about 7.5, but the batch from the aquamart group buy tested higher.
79 degrees
1.026
Alk -11.2
Ca - 580
Mg -1570
The Alk swing really gave me problems in my 20...but my cube was suffering from low Alk at the time and the higher levels actual helped turn things around since I wasn't dosing at the time.
I just got a new box of Kent from Cris this weekend and will post results when I mix a new batch...I usually make 35 gallons at a time.
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Oops, forgot to update. My latest box of Kent, which I picked up from Aquatic art, is testing at 10.6 dkh. Parameters pretty much match what I measured from the box I picked up through the group buy.
Hopefully future boxes stay in this range...I'm liking the higher Alk levels
I've bumped the Alk in my tank up to 9.5 - 10 over the past month and my nems seem happy...I'm going to probably keep it here since the nems don't react at all to my water changes with the matching Alk levels. When I kept the tank at 8dkh and did a water change with 10.5 dkh water they looked a bit annoyed.
Hopefully future boxes stay in this range...I'm liking the higher Alk levels
I've bumped the Alk in my tank up to 9.5 - 10 over the past month and my nems seem happy...I'm going to probably keep it here since the nems don't react at all to my water changes with the matching Alk levels. When I kept the tank at 8dkh and did a water change with 10.5 dkh water they looked a bit annoyed.
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So bringing this thread back as I have been having some odd swings from my kent salt.
So with the first few bags I used of the salt I was getting numbers like this
8.1 ph
9.7 dkh
550 ca
1450 mag
Mostly decent numbers, alk a bit high for me but do-able.
But this last bag of it I mixed the numbers changed a bit and a bit concerned about it
ph 7.8
alk 7.7
ca 600+
Mag 1600+
Alk more in line with what I would like but both mag and ca are off the charts, plus the ph on it dropped a bit. Not sure how concerned I should be with it, most everything in the tank looking fine, cept a lobo and an acan have been fairly deflated as of late. Anyone else have any similar issue?
So with the first few bags I used of the salt I was getting numbers like this
8.1 ph
9.7 dkh
550 ca
1450 mag
Mostly decent numbers, alk a bit high for me but do-able.
But this last bag of it I mixed the numbers changed a bit and a bit concerned about it
ph 7.8
alk 7.7
ca 600+
Mag 1600+
Alk more in line with what I would like but both mag and ca are off the charts, plus the ph on it dropped a bit. Not sure how concerned I should be with it, most everything in the tank looking fine, cept a lobo and an acan have been fairly deflated as of late. Anyone else have any similar issue?
I did, and ended up switching salts. The inconsistency between boxes was annoying, and my tank didn't do well with the unbalanced Ca and Alk levels. I have few sps in my cube, but everything eventually lost color and stopped growing. Switched salts while maintaining the same water change schedule, and everything bounced back after 2 water changes...nothing else changed as far as dosing, lighting, or husbandry and parameters...just the salt.
YMMV...but either the inconsistency between boxes or the mix itself gave my tank issues. The salt I switched to has a better balance of parameters, and once my Ca levels fell my Alk stabilized and the tank started thriving again. IMO calcium levels that high can't be healthy; the precipitation collects on warm surfaces like heaters and pumps...aside from the extra cleanup, the calcium carbonate precipitation can also cause Alk to fluctuate...mine just kept dropping and became difficult to maintain above 7.5
YMMV...but either the inconsistency between boxes or the mix itself gave my tank issues. The salt I switched to has a better balance of parameters, and once my Ca levels fell my Alk stabilized and the tank started thriving again. IMO calcium levels that high can't be healthy; the precipitation collects on warm surfaces like heaters and pumps...aside from the extra cleanup, the calcium carbonate precipitation can also cause Alk to fluctuate...mine just kept dropping and became difficult to maintain above 7.5