10 Gallon Nano Alkalinity Issues

[BlakeP]

So I am reluctantly requesting help. I’ve read many threads on alkalinity and dosing and watch many of the BRS videos on the subject.

I have a 10 gallon nano with a sump. 20 gallons total water volume. I purchase a GHL doser about 2 months ago and have not had any luck getting it dialed in. I have used the BRS calculator for Soda ash and dosed the amount recommended over a 24hr period only to have the alk drop over the 24hr period. I have increased and decrease dosing with no results.

I recently halted dosing and manually tested and dosed Sodium bicarbonate and confirmed that the dose raised the alk after dosing. I determined that the tank is using .7 dkh per 24hrs. I did this for four days. Then I restarted the doser with the proper dosage per the calculator on BRS for soda ash. But today when I came home alk had dropped by .7 dkh even with dosing.

I am dosing calcium at the same rate as the alk and magnesium in 1400. I have a couple of zoanthid and three lps frags. Tank has been running for 8 months.

Alk 7.0
Ca 390
Mg 1400
No3 4ppm
Po4 0ppm

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jacked Reefer]

Whats your PH at?

What I would do
1: Check Dosing Head, if i even saw the slightest bit of buildup I would do a vinegar soak
2: check freshly mixed salt to determine if all elements are in desired range.
3: Try manually dosing

 

[BlakeP]

I assume when you are referring to the dosing head you are referring to the output tubing. No issues there.
Ph is 8.2
I did use the doser to manually dose .7 dkh total in 2 doses over about an hour and confirmed it increased properly

 

[BlakeP]

Salt is Red Sea black bucket which is lab tested per lot so it is most likely mixing properly.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

What are you using to test Alk?
.7dkh seems like alot for 3 lps frags, are they large?

 

[BlakeP]

Salifert test. The frags aren’t big. One frog spawn, acan and duncan.