Normal?

Quis · 09/05/2007, 05:39 AM

Is it normal for my alkalinity to drop from 10dkh to7dkh everyday. My tank is about 70% sps with the other 30% being lps, and zoo's. My calcium only drop about 10-15ppm in the same time frame. I have to dose about 120mil of backing soda a day over a 5 hr period to bring it back up to 10 dkh. I'm using Tropic marin salt if that helps. Thanks for your help.

Cal - 420
Alk - 10dkh -7dkh
Nitrate - 0
Pos - 0
Sg - 1.026
Temp - 78-80

Quis · 09/05/2007, 07:36 AM

Bump

TomRep · 09/05/2007, 08:08 AM

I don't think it is normal to drop that far even with the coral load on the tank. What do you run your calcium at? Also, do you ever measure Magnesium? Magnesium, at the proper level, will help to hold the alk and CA stable.
tom

szwab · 09/05/2007, 08:37 AM

what is your magnesium level testing at? that may be effecting your ability to maintain balanced levels.

Quis · 09/06/2007, 11:42 AM

I have never check for Mg before so I'm not sure what level it's at.

Snowboarda42 · 09/06/2007, 01:57 PM

Yup it can. I forget the ratio but some tanks just have a bigger alk than ca demand. My tank used to drop from 10 to 6-7 each day, and wouldn't go farther down than that for a few days, even with a 432Ca. I think after things have matured a bit, it will even out. It now drops to about 8 each day with about a 10-20Ca drop.

Check your test kit too, sometimes those can be inaccurate.

Quis · 09/07/2007, 06:24 AM

Snowboarda42 my tank is a little over a year old, so I'm pretty sure that it's mature. The strange thing is that about a mounth or two ago it wasn't droping that fast, maybe 1.5-2 dkh day. Lately I have seen it drop 2dkh in about 8 hrs.

szwab · 09/07/2007, 06:30 AM

what do you have in the tank coral wise?

PrivateJoker64 · 09/07/2007, 06:45 AM

As was said before, definitely check your magnesium level.

RichConley · 09/07/2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Quis
Is it normal for my alkalinity to drop from 10dkh to7dkh everyday. My tank is about 70% sps with the other 30% being lps, and zoo's. My calcium only drop about 10-15ppm in the same time frame. I have to dose about 120mil of backing soda a day over a 5 hr period to bring it back up to 10 dkh. I'm using Tropic marin salt if that helps. Thanks for your help.

Cal - 420
Alk - 10dkh -7dkh
Nitrate - 0
Pos - 0
Sg - 1.026
Temp - 78-80

Your alk should drop 2.3dkh for every 20 ppm of calcium that drops. 3dkh drop with only 15 ppm drop tells me that you're having some Alk precipitate. Check your magnesium.

3dkh a day is high, but it isnt unheard of.

Quis · 09/07/2007, 10:14 AM

I will. Thank you.

ljosh · 09/07/2007, 11:41 AM

Do you run phophate removal media? If you are using a large amount it can drop your alk faster then normal.

moumda · 09/07/2007, 01:01 PM

If you check in the chemistry forum Randy had some supplements he recommended using. Once you calculated what your tank was using you added a balanced additive of cal and alk. Do check and read the articles, they are very informative.

Quis · 09/08/2007, 08:46 PM

I think i found the problem. My Mg was 1200, I brought it up to 1280 and my alk is not droping like it ues to.

09/05/2007, 05:39 AM	#1
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	Normal? Is it normal for my alkalinity to drop from 10dkh to7dkh everyday. My tank is about 70% sps with the other 30% being lps, and zoo's. My calcium only drop about 10-15ppm in the same time frame. I have to dose about 120mil of backing soda a day over a 5 hr period to bring it back up to 10 dkh. I'm using Tropic marin salt if that helps. Thanks for your help. Cal - 420 Alk - 10dkh -7dkh Nitrate - 0 Pos - 0 Sg - 1.026 Temp - 78-80

09/05/2007, 08:08 AM	#3
TomRep Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fleetwood, PA 19522 Posts: 1,219	I don't think it is normal to drop that far even with the coral load on the tank. What do you run your calcium at? Also, do you ever measure Magnesium? Magnesium, at the proper level, will help to hold the alk and CA stable. tom __________________ "I got me a big wave, ride me a big wave, got me a big..WAVE!" Ed Vedder It's a reef thing, you wouldn't understand! Current Tank Info: 50 breeder w/o sump mixed reef, sps dominant. NEP T5 fixture with no stock bulbs, Bermuda Rogue HOB skimmer, canister filter, DIY hang on fuge, 2x modded MJ400's, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Randy's 2 part dosed with and Aquamedic twin

09/05/2007, 08:37 AM	#4
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	what is your magnesium level testing at? that may be effecting your ability to maintain balanced levels. __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

09/06/2007, 01:57 PM	#6
Snowboarda42 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Warshington Posts: 1,094	Yup it can. I forget the ratio but some tanks just have a bigger alk than ca demand. My tank used to drop from 10 to 6-7 each day, and wouldn't go farther down than that for a few days, even with a 432Ca. I think after things have matured a bit, it will even out. It now drops to about 8 each day with about a 10-20Ca drop. Check your test kit too, sometimes those can be inaccurate. __________________ 40B Mixed Reef 100% Captive Grown Corals See, that's the trouble with the world today. Not enough danger to kill off stupid people before they get old enough to breed. Bring back lawn darts! -PrivateJoker64 Current Tank Info: 40B, 20L Sump/Fuge, Mag 9.5 Return, 2x Hydor Koralia #2's, 150W 14K HQI, 139W T-5, Euro-Reef RS-80P Mesh Modded, 40LB LR, 80LB LS, 54x Turnover, Mostly SPS, Some Softys Too.

09/07/2007, 06:30 AM	#8
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	what do you have in the tank coral wise? __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

09/05/2007, 07:36 AM	#2
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	Bump

09/06/2007, 11:42 AM	#5
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	I have never check for Mg before so I'm not sure what level it's at.

09/07/2007, 06:24 AM	#7
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	Snowboarda42 my tank is a little over a year old, so I'm pretty sure that it's mature. The strange thing is that about a mounth or two ago it wasn't droping that fast, maybe 1.5-2 dkh day. Lately I have seen it drop 2dkh in about 8 hrs.

09/07/2007, 06:45 AM	#9
PrivateJoker64 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 1,145	As was said before, definitely check your magnesium level.

09/07/2007, 10:14 AM	#11
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	I will. Thank you.

09/07/2007, 11:41 AM	#12
ljosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 354	Do you run phophate removal media? If you are using a large amount it can drop your alk faster then normal.

09/07/2007, 01:01 PM	#13
moumda Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 991	If you check in the chemistry forum Randy had some supplements he recommended using. Once you calculated what your tank was using you added a balanced additive of cal and alk. Do check and read the articles, they are very informative.

09/08/2007, 08:46 PM	#14
Quis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 348	I think i found the problem. My Mg was 1200, I brought it up to 1280 and my alk is not droping like it ues to.