Alkalinity drops while Calcium stay the same?

kware · 05/30/2009, 06:47 PM

My Alkalinity keeps dropping while my Calcium stays relatively stable. I have 3 SPS corals. 2 Staghorm montiporas and 1 Encrusting Plate Montipora that are growing like crazy. What few LPS corals I have , have either died or just maintain themselves. The only LPS Coral I have that does well and is growing is a Trumpet Coral. My Zoas just maintain while all my Mushrooms keep growing and dividing. My question is what is causing my alkalinity to drop while Ca stays the same, and could this be why my SPS thrive while my LPS die off.
Ca 440
Alk 6~7
I have to add alk almost weekly to keep these levels but not Ca.

kware · 05/31/2009, 02:10 AM

I forgot to mention I run phosban and carbon in a canister filter and nitrates read 0 on an API test.

Capt_Cully · 05/31/2009, 06:21 AM

I'd check your Magnesium. If mag is low, it will throw off your readings. Your Alk is likely too low as well, giving you a false sense of security. If you correct your Alk, and Mg, I'd be willing to bet your Ca isn't really stable, and isn't really 440. I'd bet it's lower. The low Alk and Mg, could also be hurting your LPS. LPS is, by nature, fleshier and shows stress a little more dramatically than SPS. SPS may hold in polyps a little, or slime out, but generally when it's unhappy it just goes kaflooey.....gone! One minute looks good, the next it's a white stick.

Bring a sample to your LFS (ABC I'd guess) and have an outside source test your water to be sure your test kits are accurate.

OneReef · 05/31/2009, 08:11 AM

One thing that helped me was to quit dosing for alk weekly, and I started dosing daily. When I dosed once a week, I had huge alk swings. It would spike up when I dosed to raise it, and then drop all week till I dosed again. Slowly dose the alk till you get it where you want it, then add daily to keep it there. Dosing more frequently is helping my tank. I know that doesn't answer your question, but I thought I would throw that in here.

CeeGee · 05/31/2009, 10:04 AM

You should read this thread lots of good info there.

kware · 05/31/2009, 12:01 PM

I just tested MG. Ca. and Alk. right before the halides came on (1:30).
Ca-420
Mg-1312
Alk-6
I just dosed 25 ml each of B-Ionic 2 part solution.
I would think those numbers are pretty good though. Alk being a little low. What do you guys think?

05/30/2009, 06:47 PM	#1
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	Alkalinity drops while Calcium stay the same? My Alkalinity keeps dropping while my Calcium stays relatively stable. I have 3 SPS corals. 2 Staghorm montiporas and 1 Encrusting Plate Montipora that are growing like crazy. What few LPS corals I have , have either died or just maintain themselves. The only LPS Coral I have that does well and is growing is a Trumpet Coral. My Zoas just maintain while all my Mushrooms keep growing and dividing. My question is what is causing my alkalinity to drop while Ca stays the same, and could this be why my SPS thrive while my LPS die off. Ca 440 Alk 6~7 I have to add alk almost weekly to keep these levels but not Ca.

05/31/2009, 06:21 AM	#3
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	I'd check your Magnesium. If mag is low, it will throw off your readings. Your Alk is likely too low as well, giving you a false sense of security. If you correct your Alk, and Mg, I'd be willing to bet your Ca isn't really stable, and isn't really 440. I'd bet it's lower. The low Alk and Mg, could also be hurting your LPS. LPS is, by nature, fleshier and shows stress a little more dramatically than SPS. SPS may hold in polyps a little, or slime out, but generally when it's unhappy it just goes kaflooey.....gone! One minute looks good, the next it's a white stick. Bring a sample to your LFS (ABC I'd guess) and have an outside source test your water to be sure your test kits are accurate. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

05/31/2009, 10:04 AM	#5
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	You should read this thread lots of good info there. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

05/31/2009, 02:10 AM	#2
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	I forgot to mention I run phosban and carbon in a canister filter and nitrates read 0 on an API test.

05/31/2009, 08:11 AM	#4
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	One thing that helped me was to quit dosing for alk weekly, and I started dosing daily. When I dosed once a week, I had huge alk swings. It would spike up when I dosed to raise it, and then drop all week till I dosed again. Slowly dose the alk till you get it where you want it, then add daily to keep it there. Dosing more frequently is helping my tank. I know that doesn't answer your question, but I thought I would throw that in here.

05/31/2009, 12:01 PM	#6
kware Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 645	I just tested MG. Ca. and Alk. right before the halides came on (1:30). Ca-420 Mg-1312 Alk-6 I just dosed 25 ml each of B-Ionic 2 part solution. I would think those numbers are pretty good though. Alk being a little low. What do you guys think?