Problems with Alkalinity

JessFinsUp · 10/11/2015, 07:31 AM

Morning, Reefers!

So, I've been having an issue with zoas in my tank. One day they were awesome, then a week later they had disappeared. I sat down and tested everything last night, and my Alkalinity had bottomed out. As in it was reading the lowest possible value on my test chart at 1.9MeqL/5.3dKH. WHAT?!

Here are the rest of the specs on my water (75 gal with a sump):

pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate .25ppm
Magnesium 1280ppm
Calcium 380ppm

I've always had a problem with low Alkalinity, but never this low. I bought a tub of Red Sea Reef Foundation B (powder). I made up a batch of water change water (10 gallons), and it's agitating now for me to do a water change this morning.

So after all that info, I guess my question is how in the heck do I use this buffer? Should I add it to the new water going in during the water change? Should I add some to top off water? Both? How much should I be using? The instructions in the box for this stuff are awful, and I cannot figure it out no matter how much time I spend Googling it.

Also, would the super low Alkalinity explain the disappearing zoas? Everything else in the tank is doing seemingly fine. I have inverts like shrimp and starfish, lots of other corals (Frogspawn, Duncanops, Montipora, mushrooms, etc.), and fish. None of the other stuff in the tank is having a problem as far as I can tell.

JessFinsUp · 10/11/2015, 08:01 AM

I just tested my new water going in, and it's reading at 4.8MeqL/13.4dKH. Now I'm very confused as to why I have such low readings...

I love this hobby, but sometimes it's so stressful!

Coralreefer1 · 10/11/2015, 08:24 AM

Are you dosing calcium only? What happens is calcium and alkalinity work in opposite directions of each other. Your calcium level isn't very high though. Baking soda will help raise alkalinity. Best to get in the habit of adding a two part regimen of calcium and alkalinity together.

JessFinsUp · 10/11/2015, 08:39 AM

Right now, I just dose calcium and magnesium. I didn't realize one would effect the other so directly. Now all I have to do is get the level up to where it's supposed to be, and maintaining it should be easy.

I just need to figure out how to get it to that optimal level the right way - not too slow to where everything else starts having problems, and not too fast that I create a whole new set of issues.

shifty51008 · 10/11/2015, 03:35 PM

Just raise the alk 1dkh a day and youll be fine. I would work on getting the phosphate levels down, they are very high, you want to be around .03 or lower.

Molly1414 · 10/11/2015, 06:28 PM

What test kit are you using? I would take your water to a LFS and get a second opinion on your dkh before doing anything. Possible you have a bad test kit.

JessFinsUp · 10/13/2015, 06:16 AM

Shifty - It's completely possible the phosphates aren't quite that high. The test kit I have (API) goes from 0 to .25, there is no in between reading. Looks like I need to get a new kit that's a little more precise! Any recommendations?

Molly - I'm using a Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro kit. It's not that old, maybe 6 months if that. Could it go bad that fast? I don't really have an LFS around here. The closest one is about 1 1/2 hours away

I live in a fish desert! I'll have to try to plan a trip to the "big city" soon.

JammyBirch · 10/13/2015, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molly1414

What test kit are you using? I would take your water to a LFS and get a second opinion on your dkh before doing anything. Possible you have a bad test kit.

+1

I think your measurement is off. I can't believe that you're ALK can be that low and still have a ph of 8.0...

Alk and Calcium work together, Magnesium helps permit the ALK and CAL levels, you want mag to be 1200-1350.

I use a Hanna Checker for ALK and Calcium, way better than the other test kits but that just my opinion. You need to get stable readings, i would suggest the Hanna's.

I also use B-Ionic 2 part, you add the same amount of each and its balanced for you already. Get a 2 part and start dosing until you have your levels where they should be, then you can move to cheaper methods of dosing if you want.

toothybugs · 10/13/2015, 10:57 AM

Salifert PO4 is good for your needs. Mine only ran me 20 bucks vs 50ish for a Hanna Checker.

And I like the Red Sea Pro kits. Titrations are generally kind of hard to screw up too badly - you really only need to be able to read, and add titrating reagents slowly - and the measurement is obvious.

JammyBirch · 10/13/2015, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toothybugs

Salifert PO4 is good for your needs. Mine only ran me 20 bucks vs 50ish for a Hanna Checker.

Hanna phosphate checker is a waste, the UL Phosporus is better. In the long run you could argue that the Hanna's are cheaper, but in the beginning they are expensive, the upfront cost of buying it is high.

10/11/2015, 07:31 AM	#1
JessFinsUp Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4	Problems with Alkalinity Morning, Reefers! So, I've been having an issue with zoas in my tank. One day they were awesome, then a week later they had disappeared. I sat down and tested everything last night, and my Alkalinity had bottomed out. As in it was reading the lowest possible value on my test chart at 1.9MeqL/5.3dKH. WHAT?! Here are the rest of the specs on my water (75 gal with a sump): pH 8.0 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 Phosphate .25ppm Magnesium 1280ppm Calcium 380ppm I've always had a problem with low Alkalinity, but never this low. I bought a tub of Red Sea Reef Foundation B (powder). I made up a batch of water change water (10 gallons), and it's agitating now for me to do a water change this morning. So after all that info, I guess my question is how in the heck do I use this buffer? Should I add it to the new water going in during the water change? Should I add some to top off water? Both? How much should I be using? The instructions in the box for this stuff are awful, and I cannot figure it out no matter how much time I spend Googling it. Also, would the super low Alkalinity explain the disappearing zoas? Everything else in the tank is doing seemingly fine. I have inverts like shrimp and starfish, lots of other corals (Frogspawn, Duncanops, Montipora, mushrooms, etc.), and fish. None of the other stuff in the tank is having a problem as far as I can tell.

10/11/2015, 08:01 AM	#2
JessFinsUp Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4	I just tested my new water going in, and it's reading at 4.8MeqL/13.4dKH. Now I'm very confused as to why I have such low readings... I love this hobby, but sometimes it's so stressful! __________________ Because I have to pay for this awesome hobby somehow... https://jessfinsup.scentsy.us/ Current Tank Info: 75gal with hopefully a few more in my future!

10/11/2015, 08:24 AM	#3
Coralreefer1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Lake Mary, Florida Posts: 155	Are you dosing calcium only? What happens is calcium and alkalinity work in opposite directions of each other. Your calcium level isn't very high though. Baking soda will help raise alkalinity. Best to get in the habit of adding a two part regimen of calcium and alkalinity together. __________________ 14 Gallon Biocube with a Jebao Wavemaker and AI Prime LED light fixture. ---------------------------------------------------- Save a Reef...Create Your Own! Current Tank Info: Various LPS, SPS, Zoanthids andToadstools

10/11/2015, 08:39 AM	#4
JessFinsUp Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4	Right now, I just dose calcium and magnesium. I didn't realize one would effect the other so directly. Now all I have to do is get the level up to where it's supposed to be, and maintaining it should be easy. I just need to figure out how to get it to that optimal level the right way - not too slow to where everything else starts having problems, and not too fast that I create a whole new set of issues. __________________ Because I have to pay for this awesome hobby somehow... https://jessfinsup.scentsy.us/ Current Tank Info: 75gal with hopefully a few more in my future!

10/11/2015, 03:35 PM	#5
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Just raise the alk 1dkh a day and youll be fine. I would work on getting the phosphate levels down, they are very high, you want to be around .03 or lower. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

10/11/2015, 06:28 PM	#6
Molly1414 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 130	What test kit are you using? I would take your water to a LFS and get a second opinion on your dkh before doing anything. Possible you have a bad test kit.

10/13/2015, 06:16 AM	#7
JessFinsUp Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4	Shifty - It's completely possible the phosphates aren't quite that high. The test kit I have (API) goes from 0 to .25, there is no in between reading. Looks like I need to get a new kit that's a little more precise! Any recommendations? Molly - I'm using a Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro kit. It's not that old, maybe 6 months if that. Could it go bad that fast? I don't really have an LFS around here. The closest one is about 1 1/2 hours away I live in a fish desert! I'll have to try to plan a trip to the "big city" soon. __________________ Because I have to pay for this awesome hobby somehow... https://jessfinsup.scentsy.us/ Current Tank Info: 75gal with hopefully a few more in my future!

10/13/2015, 10:57 AM	#9
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	Salifert PO4 is good for your needs. Mine only ran me 20 bucks vs 50ish for a Hanna Checker. And I like the Red Sea Pro kits. Titrations are generally kind of hard to screw up too badly - you really only need to be able to read, and add titrating reagents slowly - and the measurement is obvious.