alkalinity is low

f3honda4me · 01/20/2012, 11:16 PM

My new tank has now had a CUC for 2 days. I have snails, hermits, and peppermint shrimp. No fish, but a couple sponges and a mushroom or two that came on my LR. I also appear to have a green polyp leather (small).

I have been watching my numbers closely since I'm new at this and here is where I'm at.

Magnesium 1440
Calcium 430
Alkalinity 8.1

3 days ago the numbers were 40 higher of magnesium, same calc, and 9.1 Alk.

I haven't done a water change yet (it's been about 5 days since my "cycle" ended, hardly had much of one because of the fantastic LR I got locally).

I'm trying to read up on stuff, and not sure what to do at this point. Should I get BRS kalkwasser and start using it in my ATO? What do I do about the alk at this point?

divewsharks · 01/21/2012, 01:34 AM

What do you plan to keep in the tank?

phillyfishguy · 01/21/2012, 04:27 AM

How's your PH?

Habib · 01/21/2012, 04:44 AM

Since it is a new tank I would up the alkalinity to 9 dKH.
You can use baking soda or a commercial reef buffer to accomplish this.

Magnesium difference is only a tad higher than 2% and close to testing noise. I would not bother about the difference yet.

Once you have the calcium and alkalinity value where you want them, kalkwasser could be a way to maintain those values.

Kalkwasser is not a way to correct values (with a few exceptions) but is more a way to maintain calcium and alkalinity values.

Best dosed by dripping to avoid large pH swings.

f3honda4me · 01/21/2012, 07:43 AM

PH is about 8.2

f3honda4me · 01/21/2012, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divewsharks

What do you plan to keep in the tank?

Fish and softies and my CUC for now.

f3honda4me · 01/21/2012, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habib

Since it is a new tank I would up the alkalinity to 9 dKH.
You can use baking soda or a commercial reef buffer to accomplish this.

Magnesium difference is only a tad higher than 2% and close to testing noise. I would not bother about the difference yet.

Once you have the calcium and alkalinity value where you want them, kalkwasser could be a way to maintain those values.

Kalkwasser is not a way to correct values (with a few exceptions) but is more a way to maintain calcium and alkalinity values.

Best dosed by dripping to avoid large pH swings.

I think I'll pick up the brs starter 4 pack that comes with dosing for the big 3 and comes with their kalkwasser product which I can use in my ATO.

seapug · 01/21/2012, 08:48 AM

I don't see any issues with the params listed. They really are right about where you want them. Since its a new tank I'd personally just leave it alone for a couple weeks then test to see where things have settled. If you need to adjust params at that point, a good 2 part Cal - alk supplement will provide calcium, magnesium and buffer in the correct proportions so you don't see - saw your parameters.

Habib · 01/21/2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seapug

I don't see any issues with the params listed. They really are right about where you want them. Since its a new tank I'd personally just leave it alone for a couple weeks then test to see where things have settled. If you need to adjust params at that point, a good 2 part Cal - alk supplement will provide calcium, magnesium and buffer in the correct proportions so you don't see - saw your parameters.

Especially since it is a new tank, cycling or completed the cycle recently, I would prefer a tad higher alkalinity. Hence my advice to increase that.

The reasoning is that in new tanks a lot of organics can be present in the water.
Many of them will show up as alkalinity in testing but in fact are not bicarbonate/carnonate alkalinity.

gatojebv · 01/21/2012, 09:20 AM

I do not see any issues with those params at all. Alk will be consumed over time and could be replenish with water changes.

Dosing will come after you increase you livestock. For now water regular changes will keep it in check.

Don't go crazy trying to start dosing at this stage yet. Get a feel of how your ALk. CA. Mg are consumed over time.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 01/21/2012, 09:36 AM

The 40 ppm magnesium change is just testing error.

I agree that keeping an eye on alkalinity is a good plan, but I wouldn't even bother testing the other two in this tank as they will not become depleted as long as you are not needing to add large amounts of buffer to maintain alkalinity. Unless coralline algae starts growing, there is little demand and alkalinity dropping is the bellweather for demand for calcium and magnesium.

Habib is certainly correct that the true carbonate alkalinity may be lower than reported by the kit, but whether to do anything or not at this point is hard to say in a tank containing what you report. Adding some buffer won't hurt and is very easy to do, but watching it over the next week or two is also a fine plan. If it dropped below a reported 8 dKH I'd at least boost it back to 8 dKH.

Sport507 · 01/21/2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f3honda4me

I think I'll pick up the brs starter 4 pack that comes with dosing for the big 3 and comes with their kalkwasser product which I can use in my ATO.

Being that you only have only have a few softies in your tank I would not recommend using Kalk in your system. It could easily cause the Calcium and Alkalinity to start rising above the desired range.

If you are intent on using the Kalkwasser/Lime water use it very sparingly in your solution. I suggest you do much research on this in the chemistry forum before starting kalk. It works miracles in a heavily stocked reef tank, but can cause unwanted issues when Cal. and Alk. demands are low. JMO

01/20/2012, 11:16 PM	#1
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,218	alkalinity is low My new tank has now had a CUC for 2 days. I have snails, hermits, and peppermint shrimp. No fish, but a couple sponges and a mushroom or two that came on my LR. I also appear to have a green polyp leather (small). I have been watching my numbers closely since I'm new at this and here is where I'm at. Magnesium 1440 Calcium 430 Alkalinity 8.1 3 days ago the numbers were 40 higher of magnesium, same calc, and 9.1 Alk. I haven't done a water change yet (it's been about 5 days since my "cycle" ended, hardly had much of one because of the fantastic LR I got locally). I'm trying to read up on stuff, and not sure what to do at this point. Should I get BRS kalkwasser and start using it in my ATO? What do I do about the alk at this point?

01/21/2012, 04:44 AM	#4
Habib CEO of Salifert Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Holland (Europe) Posts: 19,447	Since it is a new tank I would up the alkalinity to 9 dKH. You can use baking soda or a commercial reef buffer to accomplish this. Magnesium difference is only a tad higher than 2% and close to testing noise. I would not bother about the difference yet. Once you have the calcium and alkalinity value where you want them, kalkwasser could be a way to maintain those values. Kalkwasser is not a way to correct values (with a few exceptions) but is more a way to maintain calcium and alkalinity values. Best dosed by dripping to avoid large pH swings. __________________ Proud owner of the very rare YET (Yellow Elephantis Tang) from the Lord Bibah Islands. "Ice cream, steaks, and Bailey's Irish Cream all help promote healthy immune systems. Why else would I love to naturally eat them packed with fat as they are?" - R. Holmes-Farley, 2012

01/21/2012, 08:48 AM	#8
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	I don't see any issues with the params listed. They really are right about where you want them. Since its a new tank I'd personally just leave it alone for a couple weeks then test to see where things have settled. If you need to adjust params at that point, a good 2 part Cal - alk supplement will provide calcium, magnesium and buffer in the correct proportions so you don't see - saw your parameters. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

01/21/2012, 09:36 AM	#11
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	The 40 ppm magnesium change is just testing error. I agree that keeping an eye on alkalinity is a good plan, but I wouldn't even bother testing the other two in this tank as they will not become depleted as long as you are not needing to add large amounts of buffer to maintain alkalinity. Unless coralline algae starts growing, there is little demand and alkalinity dropping is the bellweather for demand for calcium and magnesium. Habib is certainly correct that the true carbonate alkalinity may be lower than reported by the kit, but whether to do anything or not at this point is hard to say in a tank containing what you report. Adding some buffer won't hurt and is very easy to do, but watching it over the next week or two is also a fine plan. If it dropped below a reported 8 dKH I'd at least boost it back to 8 dKH. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

01/21/2012, 01:34 AM	#2
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	What do you plan to keep in the tank?

01/21/2012, 04:27 AM	#3
phillyfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: philadelphia pa Posts: 233	How's your PH?

01/21/2012, 07:43 AM	#5
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,218	PH is about 8.2

01/21/2012, 09:20 AM	#10
gatojebv Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Garfield, New Jersey Posts: 23	I do not see any issues with those params at all. Alk will be consumed over time and could be replenish with water changes. Dosing will come after you increase you livestock. For now water regular changes will keep it in check. Don't go crazy trying to start dosing at this stage yet. Get a feel of how your ALk. CA. Mg are consumed over time.