Seachem Reef Salt - Interesting Fact

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!!

mynd · 03-03-2008, 02:12 PM

THEIR REPLY:

Hello,
I can give you some rough estimates of how much borate alkalinity you are adding. Understand though that these numbers are dependent upon quite a few factors. Typicallly, with Reef Salt you will come out with about 4-5 dKH units worth of borate after mixing the salt. So, you can add this # to your KH value of 6 and you will be sitting right around 10-11 total alkalinity. Now, with Marine Buffer for every unit of KH you add, you are adding about 1/5 the amount of Borate alkalinity. So, if adding this amount of Marine Buffer is raising your KH by 2.5, it is raising your borate alkalinity by about 0.5. So, it is safe to estimate that after using the Reef Salt and adding the Marine Buffer, your total alkalinity is right around 13-14 dKH. This is an excellent alkalinity and many people would love to have these parameters. If your calcium levels are staying as good as 420 ppm and you are able to maintain that good of an alkalinity, you should be very proud. Many people have a very difficult time acheiving these numbers. I am glad to hear that you decided to go with our test kit. I think you will be very pleased. 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

CONSTANTNE · 03-03-2008, 06:07 PM

Interesting read. Now I wonder if Oceanic uses borate as a buffer since mine is also on the low side.

bschuerman · 03-03-2008, 06:48 PM

Maybe see with these?
http://www.lamotte.com/pages/pool/3017-g12.html