Alkalinity???

LPCHPC · 02/26/2007, 11:36 PM

Maybe some can lend some suggestions. I am having a problem keeping my Alk, Ca and Mg up. I am dosing almost 60 ml of B-Ionic every other day to even keep the 8dkh 400ppm Ca and the Mg can't seem to get over 1300(usually falls around 1200). I only have one 4 headed frogspawn, 2 yellow leathers and a decent sized toadstool. I do have an aggressive coraline algae problem(pain in the butt) though. I don't see how the coraline can be so taxing on the system. It is 100g tank approx 75-80 lbs very porous live rock and a deep sand bed. Any ideas why I can't keep these params stable? Also, I am changing between 10-15 gallons per week using Tropic Marin Pro Reef. Any help would be surely appreciated!! Thanks all!!

DrBegalke · 02/26/2007, 11:41 PM

Check out Randy's articles on Ca2+/alk:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=102605

aquarius77 · 02/26/2007, 11:42 PM

Calcium and Alkalinity and mag are used up on a daily basis. You have to supplement for this, so, what you are seeing sounds normal to me.

LPCHPC · 02/26/2007, 11:49 PM

I understand the daily usage, but other than the coraline there isn't a high calcium demand. And with the weekly changes I am baffled. At this rate I will be going through complete bottles of supplement every 2 weeks, that seems a little askew......doesn't it??

drummereef · 02/26/2007, 11:56 PM

What testkits are you using? What saltmix? Are you using RO/DI water? You might find it appropriate to switch to Randy's Recipe instead of the B-Ionic. If you have to dose a large amount it will save you big time $.

LPCHPC · 02/27/2007, 12:08 AM

Test kits are Salifert, salt is Tropic Marin and I use a 5 stage RO/DI filter for all water. Also, the tank is almost 3 years old now. Never had this issue before.....very strange as I have not added anything that would tax these parameters.

drummereef · 02/27/2007, 12:09 AM

How long have you been using the Tropic Marin?

LPCHPC · 02/27/2007, 12:15 AM

been using the tropic marin pro reef from the start. never changed

jamesnmandy · 02/27/2007, 12:21 AM

i read Randy's article on calcium and alkalinity and it was very hellpful

i found a very small amount of baking soda brought the alkalinity right on up and with it the calcium also rose proportionately (dosing with Purple UP) for calcium

drummereef · 02/27/2007, 12:22 AM

So, you are dosing about 4 Tablespoons (60ml) every other day. Or that would amount to about 2 tablespoons daily in a 100 gallon tank, correct? If it makes you feel any better, I dose 2.5 Tablespoons of Randy's 2-part daily in my 40 gallon. I have a slightly higher demand with the monti caps and such. Honestly I think the amount you are dosing sounds just about right. I would dose daily to keep things really in check though.

I would look into Randy's 2-part. It is seriously saving me mega bucks over the course of a year.

LPCHPC · 02/27/2007, 12:32 AM

thanks everyone. I appreciate it!! I will certainly look into it, as this could be very expensive dosing the supps from the shop

LPCHPC · 02/27/2007, 12:32 AM

thanks everyone. I appreciate it!! I will certainly look into it, as this could be very expensive dosing the supps from the shop

drummereef · 02/27/2007, 12:33 AM

mcurl98 · 02/27/2007, 02:21 AM

Sounds normal to me too. Consider a CA reactor. I also use TM Pro. The one problem is the dkh is about 6 at 1.25. Add your buffer to the water before adding it to your tank. Don't know how big your tank is but 10-15 gallons may be diluting your dkh.

02/26/2007, 11:36 PM	#1
LPCHPC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 129	Alkalinity??? Maybe some can lend some suggestions. I am having a problem keeping my Alk, Ca and Mg up. I am dosing almost 60 ml of B-Ionic every other day to even keep the 8dkh 400ppm Ca and the Mg can't seem to get over 1300(usually falls around 1200). I only have one 4 headed frogspawn, 2 yellow leathers and a decent sized toadstool. I do have an aggressive coraline algae problem(pain in the butt) though. I don't see how the coraline can be so taxing on the system. It is 100g tank approx 75-80 lbs very porous live rock and a deep sand bed. Any ideas why I can't keep these params stable? Also, I am changing between 10-15 gallons per week using Tropic Marin Pro Reef. Any help would be surely appreciated!! Thanks all!!

02/26/2007, 11:41 PM	#2
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	Check out Randy's articles on Ca2+/alk: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=102605 __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

02/26/2007, 11:56 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	What testkits are you using? What saltmix? Are you using RO/DI water? You might find it appropriate to switch to Randy's Recipe instead of the B-Ionic. If you have to dose a large amount it will save you big time $. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

02/27/2007, 12:09 AM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	How long have you been using the Tropic Marin? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

02/27/2007, 12:22 AM	#10
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	So, you are dosing about 4 Tablespoons (60ml) every other day. Or that would amount to about 2 tablespoons daily in a 100 gallon tank, correct? If it makes you feel any better, I dose 2.5 Tablespoons of Randy's 2-part daily in my 40 gallon. I have a slightly higher demand with the monti caps and such. Honestly I think the amount you are dosing sounds just about right. I would dose daily to keep things really in check though. I would look into Randy's 2-part. It is seriously saving me mega bucks over the course of a year. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

02/26/2007, 11:42 PM	#3
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	Calcium and Alkalinity and mag are used up on a daily basis. You have to supplement for this, so, what you are seeing sounds normal to me.

02/26/2007, 11:49 PM	#4
LPCHPC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 129	I understand the daily usage, but other than the coraline there isn't a high calcium demand. And with the weekly changes I am baffled. At this rate I will be going through complete bottles of supplement every 2 weeks, that seems a little askew......doesn't it??

02/27/2007, 12:08 AM	#6
LPCHPC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 129	Test kits are Salifert, salt is Tropic Marin and I use a 5 stage RO/DI filter for all water. Also, the tank is almost 3 years old now. Never had this issue before.....very strange as I have not added anything that would tax these parameters.

02/27/2007, 12:15 AM	#8
LPCHPC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 129	been using the tropic marin pro reef from the start. never changed

02/27/2007, 12:21 AM	#9
jamesnmandy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 140	i read Randy's article on calcium and alkalinity and it was very hellpful i found a very small amount of baking soda brought the alkalinity right on up and with it the calcium also rose proportionately (dosing with Purple UP) for calcium

02/27/2007, 12:32 AM	#11
LPCHPC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 129	thanks everyone. I appreciate it!! I will certainly look into it, as this could be very expensive dosing the supps from the shop

02/27/2007, 12:33 AM	#13
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	__________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

02/27/2007, 02:21 AM	#14
mcurl98 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 615	Sounds normal to me too. Consider a CA reactor. I also use TM Pro. The one problem is the dkh is about 6 at 1.25. Add your buffer to the water before adding it to your tank. Don't know how big your tank is but 10-15 gallons may be diluting your dkh. __________________ -Matt Current Tank Info: tankless