Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Tain't fresh, and tain't marine! Talk about brackish setups.
Post Reply
Gongol
Puffer Fry
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:03 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Squishy & Squirt.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kansas,USA

Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Post by Gongol »

i started a new tank....& tested the water....total alkalinity comes up to undesirable...its at 40KH....

any suggestions on how to improve it. everything else is GOOD.
User avatar
LilGreenPuffer
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5301
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)

RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kentucky

Re: Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

Are you using dip strips? And is that number ppm (parts per million) or degrees of hardness?

Whether your alkalinity is good or not really depends on what kind of fish you're keeping, and even then it often doesn't matter, as long as it's stable.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi


Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Post by Pufferpunk »

What's your tap water? What's the SG?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Post by Pufferpunk »

What's your tap water? What's the SG? pH?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Gongol
Puffer Fry
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:03 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Squishy & Squirt.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kansas,USA

Re: Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Post by Gongol »

yeah its ppm. i have GSP's & Figure 8's.

i used Tetra: Easy Strips-so yes testing strips.

1.008 SG...

i use filtered water....o.O
wagner7123
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 184
Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:28 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Usa, north pole alaska

Re: Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Post by wagner7123 »

ditch the strips go for liquid. also, what kind of filtered water? RO/DI or just a brita? are you testing for marine or FW? I think @ 1.008 you should be using FW tests.
I'm pretty sure I have a blue thumb.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Total Alkalinity comes up UNDESIRABLE???

Post by Pufferpunk »

Unless there is something terribly wrong with your tap water, that's what I suggest you use for BW. Get yourself a good liquid test kit, like API.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Post Reply