My KH is dropping how to raise it back

[frederickk]

I have notice lately that my KH was dropping a lot since I did introduce new SPS corals in the tank. But now it is around 6 and don't know what's going on.

PH:8.1 to 8.2
KH: 6
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0
Phos: 0
MAg: 1280
Ca: 490

I have to say that I had unhook my CA reactor for a while since it was leaking. Didn't have the time to look at it yet.

I'm also dosing the Seachem product to raise alk and I am planning to do a good water change tonight. Usually do one every month.

Anyone knows if I should continue to use the Seachem product to raise it slowly?

Thanks for the advices.
The tank as two years now.

Fred

[Peter Eichler]

Backing soda works well and is cheap, here's a calculator to help decide how much you need. I'd suggest aiming for 10-12 dKH.

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

[Yangtze Reef]

Yeah, baking soda is better. But I prefer getting Alk close to 8 ~ 9 close to nature sea water.

Ying

[Eskie]

You'll never raise your Alk as long as your Ca is high at 490.If you perform w/c's and get your Ca back to the low 40's, your Alk will rise, and you should then be able to keep both within range.

You said your Ca reactor was broken. What, if anything, have you been using for Ca since then, and what were your Ca levels like when your reactor was on line?

[frederickk]

I've been using a CA buffer the Seachem one. and it did went up very fast from 410 to 490. At that time when my Ca reactor was on line my KH was very stable at around 9.

Hope the big water change will help today and also the fact that I will probably have some time to work on the reactor by the end of the week.

[glassbox-design]

you'll get your alk up with just baking soda. just hold off on cal additions.

you can keep the ca reactor offline, for a few days...only add baking soda to get your alk back up. then use the ca reactor as it will add equal parts ca and alk. if you run the ca reactor now the imbalance will take longer to correct via large water changes...

make sure you mag is between 1300-1400

[Peter Eichler]

Originally posted by Yangtze Reef
Yeah, baking soda is better. But I prefer getting Alk close to 8 ~ 9 close to nature sea water.

Ying

Why? In an aquarium I've experienced as much as 2 dKH swings in the course of a day. That could result in dangerously low KH levels for someone dosing daily and exspecially as little as once a week. Low enough to inhibit calcification and cause greater swings in PH levels. Calcium and alkalinity levels are best maintained at levels elevated levels simple because we do not have the luxury of doing 200-300% daily waterchanges, which is similar to what a coral reef would experience.

[glassbox-design]

if you're having 2dkh level swings in a day...you may want to fix that. an alk swing over .5 is not good ime. i understand what you are saying, but having a high alk shouldnt be the plan to cover for swings. A steady 8 dkh will be much more productive...

having increased dkh or cal has nothing to do with 200-300% waterchanges and it does not increase growth by itself...there are many limiting factors such as nutrients.

all it really will do is increase coraline growth

[Peter Eichler]

Originally posted by Flint&Eric
if you're having 2dkh level swings in a day...you may want to fix that. an alk swing over .5 is not good ime. i understand what you are saying, but having a high alk shouldnt be the plan to cover for swings. A steady 8 dkh will be much more productive...

having increased dkh or cal has nothing to do with 200-300% waterchanges and it does not increase growth by itself...there are many limiting factors such as nutrients.

all it really will do is increase coraline growth

I think the only way I could fix it would be to remove my coraline, 5 clams, multiple SPS and LPS corals, and Halimeda algae... Yes, a steady and constant dKH of 8 or 9 would be great, it's just unrealistic for some people that don't use a calcium reactor or drip some form of buffer constantly. Perhaps 2 dKH over a 24 hour period is a little bit of an exageration on my part. However, when you consider that I know of no negatives from maintaining elevated KH and Calcium levels. However, a small drop from natural levels could inhibit calcification and cause PH wings. To me it seem like a no brainer to maintain calcium and KH levels higher than those of natural seawater.

Just out of curiosity what do you maintain your calcium at and or what do you feel is the ideal level?

[glassbox-design]

why, you ask...?


-i dont like scraping my glass everyday

-there is no benefit in elevated levels unless dealing with rapid growth from nutrient spikes like pappone...even then it's theoritical.

-i find NSW params easier to maintain than elevated due to salt mixes and water changes...

-i see beter colors at NSW params in my sps.



some questions to throw out...

during large swings are corals able to calcify or does that inhibit growth like other swings...?

at what dkh or cal level can corals no longer calcify?

[Peter Eichler]

Originally posted by Flint&Eric
why, you ask...?


-i dont like scraping my glass everyday

-there is no benefit in elevated levels unless dealing with rapid growth from nutrient spikes like pappone...even then it's theoritical.

-i find NSW params easier to maintain than elevated due to salt mixes and water changes...

-i see beter colors at NSW params in my sps.



some questions to throw out...

during large swings are corals able to calcify or does that inhibit growth like other swings...?

at what dkh or cal level can corals no longer calcify?

Well, I think you'd have to try real hard to get calcium and alkalinity levels low enough for them to inhibit calcification on their own. The calcification, in this instance at least, I think is more directly related to PH levels. I believe there are studies that show elevated calcium and alkalinity levels will also increase rates of calcification, though I can't recall where to find them.

Maintaining stable PH and buildup of organics in aquaria is the #1 reason to maintain levels higher than natural seawater levels. Organics and acids are higher in aquaria therefore I feel we should give ourselves extra capacity to to keep our PH levels stable. The recent inaccuracy of a popular alkalinity test also makes me feel we should err on the side of caution. People with those faulty tests that maintain elevated alkalinity levels probably had no negative effects. Those that try to maintain natural levels however could certainly see negative effects and unstable PH.

What do you define as a large swing? Relative to fluctuations in PH I bet that KH dropping a degree or two over the course of a couple days is far less stressul than PH dropping .2 after lights out. This is pure speculation on my part...

How are NSW levels easier to maintain due to saltmixes and water changes, it's my understanding that most salts out there have elevated calcium and lakalinity levels.

How do you know the colors are a result of your KH levels? There are so many factors involved I just don't know how you'd be able to make that observation.

[frederickk]

Thanks guys for the good info

[frederickk]

It seems that my salt was the culprit as I've lost my two atlantic blue tang last weekend.

I had decided to switch for a new brand and realise not to soon enough that my alk was going down pretty fast. I had a strong 9 before and now I'm stuck with a 6 even after a large water change. Went back to my LFS and bought the salt I use to work with and will do another water change tomorrow.

I have notice it because the zoas never opened back since I used this brand of salt (coralife)

Hopefully things will get back to normal. What do you guys think?

[frederickk]

Well I decided to switch back to IO and will do another water change tonight as I hope my alk will get a little more normal.

Does somebody knows what's the regular alk numbers in IO salt?

[frederickk]

Anyone know's???

[frederickk]

bump