Alkalinity question

jcmjoe · 05/13/2021, 05:12 PM

Whats the best way to keep a steady alkalinity level. I am currently using the Seachem reef fusion 2 part calcium alkalinity dosing, but if I miss a day it will drop from like 9kh to low 8's or 7 in a day. I have a refugium with cheato and I have my skimmer air plumbed outside so I keep a stable 8.2 -8.3 ph but the alkalinity seems to be all over the place sometimes? My substrate is oolitic aragonite so I would think that would help buffer some and I use RODI water and Fritz RPM salt mix. Thanks for any input!

Oldreeferman · 05/13/2021, 05:40 PM

Pretty normal issue, been there done that and with my tank it was coral growth & coralline growth that put it at the point that had to now be addressed ea. day with additional dosing at a ratio of 2X the ALK verses the part 1 to sit stable. Best way to avoid missing dosing is just set up an auto doser and test at least every 2 weeks until its stable then once a month should be ok to stay ahead of growth needs long as nothing changes like adding or removing large corals. Since its a fish only tank my guess is the coralline sucking down the ALK.

jcmjoe · 05/13/2021, 07:09 PM

This is actually on my reef tank, its all soft corals and some LPS and mushrooms. I guess Ill have to dish out the moey for a doser! Thanks for the input!

Sk8r · 05/13/2021, 09:48 PM

Alk is closely tied to magnesium. Keep mg around 1350 and your cal right around 420, alk at 8.3 dkh, and nothing will budge until your mg (which changes slowly) drops below 1200. Test alk weekly (it;s the easiest test to run) and when it drops, check and correct your mg and if you have stony coral, also keep kalk (calcium) in your topoff water and everything will stay in fixed relationship. I've grown quite a bit of lps all on that system.

jcmjoe · 05/14/2021, 05:02 PM

Thank you Sk8R, currently my Magnesium is right around 1400, My calcium is a bit high I presume at 460. I will do like you recommend and go from there!

Thanks again

jcmjoe · 05/14/2021, 05:31 PM

Just out of curiosity, what kit do you recommend? The salifert KH/ Alkalinity a decent one?

Dan. · 05/17/2021, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcmjoe

Just out of curiosity, what kit do you recommend? The salifert KH/ Alkalinity a decent one?

The Hanna one is great. Salifert is my 2nd choice.

jcmjoe · 05/17/2021, 07:35 PM

Thanks Dan!

jcmjoe · 05/19/2021, 05:12 PM

Well I bought a Salifert kit and I probably saved my tank. I had been using an API kits and was adding reef fusion part 2 almost daily because it would read 9 one day then 7 the next. after 3 tests just to make sure I wasnt messing up with the Salifert test. My water read 13.0!!!!! I threw the API kit out and so far after 3 days its dropped to 11.5. I just lost a BTA and wondering if I was burning it not realising it. Mu candy cane is also plumping up again after it seemed like it had shrunk the last couple weeks. Is it fine to just monitor and let it settle down to the 8.3 sweet spot?

Vinny Kreyling · 05/20/2021, 08:25 AM

Yes it is.

jcmjoe · 05/20/2021, 04:47 PM

Thanks!, im wondering if thats what killed the bubble tip, I have a Rock Flower anemone that seemed unaffected but I guess its hard to say. Needless to say I got rid of all the API kits and replacing with the Salifert.

05/13/2021, 05:12 PM	#1
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	Alkalinity question Whats the best way to keep a steady alkalinity level. I am currently using the Seachem reef fusion 2 part calcium alkalinity dosing, but if I miss a day it will drop from like 9kh to low 8's or 7 in a day. I have a refugium with cheato and I have my skimmer air plumbed outside so I keep a stable 8.2 -8.3 ph but the alkalinity seems to be all over the place sometimes? My substrate is oolitic aragonite so I would think that would help buffer some and I use RODI water and Fritz RPM salt mix. Thanks for any input! __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

05/13/2021, 05:40 PM	#2
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	Pretty normal issue, been there done that and with my tank it was coral growth & coralline growth that put it at the point that had to now be addressed ea. day with additional dosing at a ratio of 2X the ALK verses the part 1 to sit stable. Best way to avoid missing dosing is just set up an auto doser and test at least every 2 weeks until its stable then once a month should be ok to stay ahead of growth needs long as nothing changes like adding or removing large corals. Since its a fish only tank my guess is the coralline sucking down the ALK. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank

05/13/2021, 07:09 PM	#3
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	This is actually on my reef tank, its all soft corals and some LPS and mushrooms. I guess Ill have to dish out the moey for a doser! Thanks for the input! __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

05/13/2021, 09:48 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Alk is closely tied to magnesium. Keep mg around 1350 and your cal right around 420, alk at 8.3 dkh, and nothing will budge until your mg (which changes slowly) drops below 1200. Test alk weekly (it;s the easiest test to run) and when it drops, check and correct your mg and if you have stony coral, also keep kalk (calcium) in your topoff water and everything will stay in fixed relationship. I've grown quite a bit of lps all on that system. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/14/2021, 05:02 PM	#5
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	Thank you Sk8R, currently my Magnesium is right around 1400, My calcium is a bit high I presume at 460. I will do like you recommend and go from there! Thanks again __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

05/14/2021, 05:31 PM	#6
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	Just out of curiosity, what kit do you recommend? The salifert KH/ Alkalinity a decent one? __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

05/17/2021, 07:35 PM	#8
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	Thanks Dan! __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

05/19/2021, 05:12 PM	#9
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	Well I bought a Salifert kit and I probably saved my tank. I had been using an API kits and was adding reef fusion part 2 almost daily because it would read 9 one day then 7 the next. after 3 tests just to make sure I wasnt messing up with the Salifert test. My water read 13.0!!!!! I threw the API kit out and so far after 3 days its dropped to 11.5. I just lost a BTA and wondering if I was burning it not realising it. Mu candy cane is also plumping up again after it seemed like it had shrunk the last couple weeks. Is it fine to just monitor and let it settle down to the 8.3 sweet spot? __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

05/20/2021, 08:25 AM	#10
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Yes it is. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

05/20/2021, 04:47 PM	#11
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	Thanks!, im wondering if thats what killed the bubble tip, I have a Rock Flower anemone that seemed unaffected but I guess its hard to say. Needless to say I got rid of all the API kits and replacing with the Salifert. __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR