Added Carbon and GFO reactors, Alkalinity has dropped

[Leyth]

I added a carbon and GFO reactor to my 90 gallon system and I noticed my alkalinity has dropped pretty quickly. I added these because I've got a lot of algae. I've been dosing ATI essentials and am currently dosing:

Essentials #1: 46ml
Essentials #2: 10ml (My calcium was very high so I lowered this to get it back into good levels.)
Essentials #3: 44ml

I'm not sure what to do or what has caused this. The past few days, I've never noticed the SPS, LPS, and anemone so happy. Great polyp extension and the corals look great. I don't want to make any changes without some feedback this time as I am worried that I may have already done something wrong to begin with.

As far as a mis-test, I did it many times and got 6.8. I rinse all my containers with RO and use hospital grade syringes to draw the right amounts when testing. I think my tests are as accurate as the test kits allow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

GFO can induce precipitation of calcium carbonate on the media and downstream of it. Usually the effect is smaller. I'd keep watching and see if it continues.

 

[Leyth]

GFO can induce precipitation of calcium carbonate on the media and downstream of it. Usually the effect is smaller. I'd keep watching and see if it continues.

Ok great, thank you. If it continues, what would be the correct action to take? Cut back the GFO or increase alk dosing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok great, thank you. If it continues, what would be the correct action to take? Cut back the GFO or increase alk dosing?

It doesn't seem to , so let's worry about that later, but dosing more might be the easiest answer.

 

[Leyth]

It doesn't seem to , so let's worry about that later, but dosing more might be the easiest answer.

Cool thanks. It’s still at 6.8 today as of 6:30pm

 

[Leyth]

Sigh, the dosing line for alk was clogged.... Lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well, that's easy to fix!

Happy Reefing.

 

[Leyth]

Well, that's easy to fix!

Happy Reefing.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re welcome. [emoji3]

 

[mcarroll]

Old thread, but I bumped into another post that led me here.

Am I missing something or are you not testing for PO4 while using GFO?

An algae bloom doesn't necessarily mean that levels are too high....there are multiple important contributing factors, inlcuding what algae you have.

Can you post an updated set of current test results for everything you can?