For the life of me!!!

[partobe]

Hi Everyone! I just received my Salifert alk test kit today. For the life of me I can't understand the instructions. I do fine until I get to the part where you put the drops in the vile until it turns green. Then I'm spouse to turn the sering upside down and read it then
KH in dKH =(1- reading in step 5) x 16
Alk in meq/l =(1 - reading in step 5) x 5.71
I must really be stupid because that make NO sense to me what so ever.
Can someone tell me what I'm suppose to do on a child's level maybe I could get that. My sering stops between 0.6 and 0.5 if that helps any.
Thanks

[partobe]

update one of the many great trt members(thanks pelagicMagic) just broke down the instructions for me . I guess my alk is a little low but that's prob because Ive been doing several water changes over the past cpl of weeks to lower my nitrates. I'm using Oceanic salt. I don't plan on doing anymore water changes for a cpl of weeks I'm hoping that corrects the alk level. My calcium is 500
Thanks for reading this thread.
Patrick

[hng]

Patrick,

a calcium of 500 is not bad, it's alittle high but OK and should go down on it's own as the coralline and other corals bind it. You can raise the alk slowly by using the super buffer that you have. Remember that it is really strong stuff. I would add a tablespoon every day for a week and then retest the alk and calcium.

[partobe]

Thanks Hoang
after reading some of the threads on alk I relize I was wrong. My alk is high not low. My alk is .16 13.4KH

[jenajet]

Is a Gh test for freshwater the same as a alk test for saltwater? I thought I remember reading that somewhere. Can someone tell me if I am way off base?

[partobe]

sorry I don't have a clue Jena

[hng]

OK, Patrick, your alk is alittle high as well as the calcium, but don't worry. Both are not really that out of whack. This is what I would do - nothing! The corals and coralline algae will bind the calcium and alk as they grow, and with water changes, both levels should decrease at about the same rate. So don't add any superbuffer, don't add any calcium or other supplements for a couple of weeks. Check your calcium and alk weekly though, to get an idea of how fast your system uses up those things and that's also how you will know when it's time to start replacing and how much. How is your specific gravity and nitrate? BTW, the next time you buy salt, get Instant Ocean.

[partobe]

Thanks Hoang I'm going to try to exchange the new bucket I bought last week. I lost my receipt but they know me so they prob will do it for me. The only other salt they have is Tropic Marine. It's expensive but prob worth it. My Nitrates are now less than 20 from 80 my gravity is at 1.024
It will prob be at lest a cpl of weeks before I change the water again so calcium should drop. I will check it every few days.
Once again thanks for the help.
Patrick

[hng]

YW, it sounds like things are just about perfect in your tank again. When is that coral shopping trip of yours? Last weekend or this one coming up?

[partobe]

This coming weekend if everything stays as is. I just found a baby ric(sp) mushroom in my tank. It's too small to take a pic but I'm very excited. I wonder where I could find cigars to pass out!
Once again thanks!

[hng]

Congrats on your baby ricordia! Very cool.

[partobe]

I'm so proud!!! LOL can you imagine if I really had a kid lol Well I do if you count the 2 dogs.

[partobe]

Hi Everyone
I just wanted to take a min and thank all of you who have helped me over the past month or so. My tank was a disaster everything was out of whack! Thanks to all of you things have turned around and my tank is beautiful! You all are the best!!