Reefers Cafe Forums - View Single Post - Seachem Reef Salt

mynd · 03-03-2008, 10:38 AM

Hello there,

I was interested in the borate compound of this product and thus posed a question to seachem on it. I was actually impressed with the answer. Tell me what you guys think, or what concerns you would have if you got the same reading.

QUESTION:

I was hoping you could help me with a problem I am having with this
salt. Every time I mix a new batch of water for my water change I get
the SG to 1.023 and the PH is 8.4ish, great.. However, if I do a DKH
test kit on the new water the DKH is 6. This is bad. Now, based on
reviews this salt was suppose to have an out of the bag 10 for DKH. I
use distilled water when I do my new batch. The only thing that I
don't do is heat the water until 2 hours prior to the change to bring
it up to temperature. Is there any possibility that since the water
temperature is a constant 69 degrees for the 22 hours I have it
circulating in the bucket that this could be the reason for the low
DKH? I need help cause right now I have to use seachem marine buffer
to keep my dkh above 8 on my 12 gallon nano about 3 times a week.

My calcium is usually 420, Magnesium is usually 1400ish All other
parameters are perfect. Just can't keep the DKH up and starting with a
6 for new water is just killing me.

Let me know what you think.

ANSWER:

Hello,
Depending on what test kit you are using, you are probably getting a false low reading. See, the difference between our salt and others on the market is that we add borate as a buffer. Most test kits on the market test only for carbonates as a KH value. Our test kit measures total alkalinity which accounts for all buffers, including borate. Borate is one of the main buffers found in natural seawater. Borate is the buffer that has allowed us to produce a salt that mixes up at such an optimal pH. This range of alkalinty that we claim for this salt includes the borate in it. So, although you only have a carbonate alkalinity of 6 or so, your actual buffering capacity is higher than this. Here is a link to our test kit that allows you to test for total alkalinty and allows you to distiguish between carbonate alkalinity (KH) and borate
alkalinity:

http://www.seachem.com/products/prod...Magnesium.html

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.
Tech Support
10201
Tech Support
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seachem Laboratories, Inc.
1000 Seachem Drive, Madison, GA 30650
888-SEACHEM Fax 706-343-6070
seachem.com - jurassipet.com - watergardenoasis.com - avipet.com

MY REPLY:

Hello again,

Now that was a good answer.. really.. I do have one question. Currently at a 6 what is the potential that it is really a 10 and if I am buffering with seachem marine buffer a 1/4 tsp to a cup of water for a 12 gallon tank that usually increases the DKH to 8.5 for 3 days, what are the chances that I really have a DKH of 14? The tank looks great, but in 10 weeks when the water volume is completely changed to seachem reef salt. I might have a very high alkalinity in the tank. What do you suggest. I already ordered your test kit from the local pet store.. 44.00! whew!

Let me know.. Thanks!

Stay tuned!!

03-03-2008, 10:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
mynd Nano Architect iTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey, 07092 Posts: 671	Seachem Reef Salt - Interesting Fact Hello there, I was interested in the borate compound of this product and thus posed a question to seachem on it. I was actually impressed with the answer. Tell me what you guys think, or what concerns you would have if you got the same reading. QUESTION: I was hoping you could help me with a problem I am having with this salt. Every time I mix a new batch of water for my water change I get the SG to 1.023 and the PH is 8.4ish, great.. However, if I do a DKH test kit on the new water the DKH is 6. This is bad. Now, based on reviews this salt was suppose to have an out of the bag 10 for DKH. I use distilled water when I do my new batch. The only thing that I don't do is heat the water until 2 hours prior to the change to bring it up to temperature. Is there any possibility that since the water temperature is a constant 69 degrees for the 22 hours I have it circulating in the bucket that this could be the reason for the low DKH? I need help cause right now I have to use seachem marine buffer to keep my dkh above 8 on my 12 gallon nano about 3 times a week. My calcium is usually 420, Magnesium is usually 1400ish All other parameters are perfect. Just can't keep the DKH up and starting with a 6 for new water is just killing me. Let me know what you think. ANSWER: Hello, Depending on what test kit you are using, you are probably getting a false low reading. See, the difference between our salt and others on the market is that we add borate as a buffer. Most test kits on the market test only for carbonates as a KH value. Our test kit measures total alkalinity which accounts for all buffers, including borate. Borate is one of the main buffers found in natural seawater. Borate is the buffer that has allowed us to produce a salt that mixes up at such an optimal pH. This range of alkalinty that we claim for this salt includes the borate in it. So, although you only have a carbonate alkalinity of 6 or so, your actual buffering capacity is higher than this. Here is a link to our test kit that allows you to test for total alkalinty and allows you to distiguish between carbonate alkalinity (KH) and borate alkalinity: http://www.seachem.com/products/prod...Magnesium.html Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance. Tech Support 10201 Tech Support ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seachem Laboratories, Inc. 1000 Seachem Drive, Madison, GA 30650 888-SEACHEM Fax 706-343-6070 seachem.com - jurassipet.com - watergardenoasis.com - avipet.com MY REPLY: Hello again, Now that was a good answer.. really.. I do have one question. Currently at a 6 what is the potential that it is really a 10 and if I am buffering with seachem marine buffer a 1/4 tsp to a cup of water for a 12 gallon tank that usually increases the DKH to 8.5 for 3 days, what are the chances that I really have a DKH of 14? The tank looks great, but in 10 weeks when the water volume is completely changed to seachem reef salt. I might have a very high alkalinity in the tank. What do you suggest. I already ordered your test kit from the local pet store.. 44.00! whew! Let me know.. Thanks! Stay tuned!! Last edited by mynd; 03-03-2008 at 10:52 AM..