cyberdeth
Well-known member
Can you elaborate on this please?
KH question
- Thread starter ac7av
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Can you elaborate on this please?
Boomer
Well-known member
Because when you pour water on something like a dry sea salt mix it will become very supersaturated and many ions like Ca++ad Mg ++ will leave solution, will not redissolve and the finished sea water mix will not be what it is suppose to be. This is qutie common when some people complain about salt x or y and say the Ca++, Mg++ and Alk are not what they think they should be and are way to low. When I ask did you add water to the dry salt in the bucket the answer is usually yes. If they now make up a fresh batch and add salt to the water slowly they are surprised that the mix is what it is suppose to be. Even if dumping the dry salt into water, to much, to fast, can cause issues of supersaturation, pulling things out of solution. When these things are done this way this happens
Ca++ + CO3-- ===> CaCO3 solid, like limestone, which will not redissolve. So, when you test your Alk and calcium they will be low and at times very low, especially when you dump water onto a dry salt mix.
Ca++ + CO3-- ===> CaCO3 solid, like limestone, which will not redissolve. So, when you test your Alk and calcium they will be low and at times very low, especially when you dump water onto a dry salt mix.
ac7av
Bring on the FISH!
That’s good to know about mixing the salt with the water. I have always mixed the salt into the water by sprinkling and mixing it in as I’m going. I have it measured out exactly how much salt into my bucked I need to get to the specific gravity I want. So I guess I was doing it the correct way and didn’t even know it. It just seemed to be the best way to mix in the salt.
I guess I don’t really understand what your talking about on the levels of mixing the tap water with high TDS. Its just a little over my head so maybe you already answered my question and I just didn’t catch it.
I was wondering about the dkh level of the newly mixed up salt mix using the RO-DI water that started out at 0ppm on the TDS meter. For some reason I thought the readings would be lower then what I got on the test. I think someone said that I should shoot for a 8 dkh? If I’m now using RO-DI water is this number now dictated by what ever salt mix I use or is it affected by something else. Does the specific gravity have a lot to do with the dkh level? I usually run my tank at 1.020-1.021. I do this because the supplier I get most of my fish from runs at this level with a PH of 8.2. I figure its less stress on the fish. I have basically a fish only tank.
I guess I don’t really understand what your talking about on the levels of mixing the tap water with high TDS. Its just a little over my head so maybe you already answered my question and I just didn’t catch it.
I was wondering about the dkh level of the newly mixed up salt mix using the RO-DI water that started out at 0ppm on the TDS meter. For some reason I thought the readings would be lower then what I got on the test. I think someone said that I should shoot for a 8 dkh? If I’m now using RO-DI water is this number now dictated by what ever salt mix I use or is it affected by something else. Does the specific gravity have a lot to do with the dkh level? I usually run my tank at 1.020-1.021. I do this because the supplier I get most of my fish from runs at this level with a PH of 8.2. I figure its less stress on the fish. I have basically a fish only tank.
Boomer
Well-known member
I guess I don’t really understand what your talking about on the levels of mixing the tap water with high TDS. Its just a little over my head so maybe you already answered my question and I just didn’t catch it.
Ok, lets pretend them
You have a salt that has 450 ppm calcium and a dkH of 8 and a pH of 8.1 You then mix it with tap water with a TDS of 365. If we measure that tap water Calcium and Alk let say the calcium is 100 ppm and the dkh is 3. When mixed we would have a calcium 550 ( 450 + 100) and a dkH of 11 (8+3). That is way to high. However, what happens upon mixing with that high calcium and that high dkH the calcium does not stay dissolved. A white to brownish "chalk" will form on the bottom and sides of the container. I'm sure you have heard of "Hard Water Despite" in fresh water. Well, this is the same thing. So, now when you measured the calcium it is only 380 when it should be 550. That is because it has left solution as a hard water deposit, which will not dissolve giving back you calcium,you should have had. But now when you make the salt mix with RO/DI you do not get those hardwater deposits, as the calcium and dkH which was in the tap water is no longer there as the RO/DI took it out. So, it "seems" that things are kinda the same in the Calcium and dkH readings of tap water vs RO/DI when comparing the two mixer
I’m now using RO-DI water is this number now dictated by what ever salt mix I use or is it affected by something else.
Yes
Does the specific gravity have a lot to do with the dkh level?
Yes or and all other components the mix will be lower. Your salt at 1.0264 @ 35 ppt should be
Kent
Calcium= 540
dKH = 11
So, 540 / 35 = 15.45 ppm calcium / 1 ppt.
So at 1.020-1.021 = ~ 26.5 - 28.0 ppt
and 26.5 - 29 x 15.45 = 410 ppm - 430 ppm Calcium. Is what you * should get when tested
and
11 / 35 = .314 / 1 ppt
26.5 - 28 x .314 = 8.3 - 8.8 dkH Is what you * should get when tested
I usually run my tank at 1.020-1.021. I do this because the supplier I get most of my fish from runs at this level with a PH of 8.2.
That is fine for a FOT. For a FOWLR I would go up to 1.023 and for a reef ~ 1.025 - 1.027
I figure its less stress on the fish. I have basically a fish only tank.
Yes, that is the theory of it any way. It is believed that lowering the osmotic pressure on the fish make it less stressful.
Ok, lets pretend them
You have a salt that has 450 ppm calcium and a dkH of 8 and a pH of 8.1 You then mix it with tap water with a TDS of 365. If we measure that tap water Calcium and Alk let say the calcium is 100 ppm and the dkh is 3. When mixed we would have a calcium 550 ( 450 + 100) and a dkH of 11 (8+3). That is way to high. However, what happens upon mixing with that high calcium and that high dkH the calcium does not stay dissolved. A white to brownish "chalk" will form on the bottom and sides of the container. I'm sure you have heard of "Hard Water Despite" in fresh water. Well, this is the same thing. So, now when you measured the calcium it is only 380 when it should be 550. That is because it has left solution as a hard water deposit, which will not dissolve giving back you calcium,you should have had. But now when you make the salt mix with RO/DI you do not get those hardwater deposits, as the calcium and dkH which was in the tap water is no longer there as the RO/DI took it out. So, it "seems" that things are kinda the same in the Calcium and dkH readings of tap water vs RO/DI when comparing the two mixerI’m now using RO-DI water is this number now dictated by what ever salt mix I use or is it affected by something else.
Yes
Does the specific gravity have a lot to do with the dkh level?
Yes or and all other components the mix will be lower. Your salt at 1.0264 @ 35 ppt should be
Kent
Calcium= 540
dKH = 11
So, 540 / 35 = 15.45 ppm calcium / 1 ppt.
So at 1.020-1.021 = ~ 26.5 - 28.0 ppt
and 26.5 - 29 x 15.45 = 410 ppm - 430 ppm Calcium. Is what you * should get when tested
and
11 / 35 = .314 / 1 ppt
26.5 - 28 x .314 = 8.3 - 8.8 dkH Is what you * should get when tested
I usually run my tank at 1.020-1.021. I do this because the supplier I get most of my fish from runs at this level with a PH of 8.2.
That is fine for a FOT. For a FOWLR I would go up to 1.023 and for a reef ~ 1.025 - 1.027
I figure its less stress on the fish. I have basically a fish only tank.
Yes, that is the theory of it any way. It is believed that lowering the osmotic pressure on the fish make it less stressful.
