So when everyone mixes Make-up water, do you test and match tank alk or is the water change not large enough to make a difference?
Usually I've tested the tank prior to a water change (10-20%) and use the addition of new water to adjust parameters-- slowly of course. My salt mix on its own isn't going to make much difference in my tank. But if i decide to use baking soda (raises ph and alk), i find mixing it in with the new water is a good way to not shock anything.So when everyone mixes Make-up water, do you test and match tank alk or is the water change not large enough to make a difference?
The big coral growers in the US are running closer to 8...at least they were there last time I checked. I have been really happy with 8-8.5.I match temp and SG but Red Sea mixes to 8.0 (supposedly) and RS Coral Pro to 12 I don’t know anyone that keeps their alk that low or that high. A 5g bucket is like a 35% or more WC for me so either I will have to lower the amount or adjust closer to tank parameters. I was just curious if I was just being ocd and how everyone else is addressing that, if at all.
I use RC right now only because its the cheapest that I can get on Amazon and the current batch I have is mixing right around 8.
Exactly what I use. I always match Alk within .5 dKH.A lot of SPS tanks are kept in the 7-8 range. The coloring is usually much better when at that level.
I shoot for 8. I use auto water change (AWS). I use Reef Crystals which mixes way too high for my use ($45/bucket vs. some of the lower Alk which come in at nearly twice the price).
So I use SeaChem Acid Buffer to reduce Alkalinity.
My process when I mix a new vat (70g) of salt.
mix salt - let it run for 1 hour
add seachem acid buffer let it run over night to blow off CO2.
pump from mixing vat into storage vat for AWS to use.
I let my salt mix for minimum 24hrs before adjusting salinity and alk, also raise the temp ...
Yep! I always test before hand just to make sure.That is crazy. Their target # is 11dkh. I guess I should start checking after I mix the salt prior to adding acid buffer rather than assuming its close to that.