Alk and Calcium drop

Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Looking for thoughts and opinions on alk and calcium dropping. Newly cycled tank, Red Sea Reefer 525 XL using BioS. 90% water change after cycle, with Aquaforest Reef Salt. Started at 8 dkh, 420 Ca and 1320 mag. In three day it dropped to 6.7 dkh, 360 Ca and 1320 mag. Only thing in the tank is a bangaii cardinal, 4 zoa heads and a dime sized Hollywood stunner chalice. I manually dosed back to original numbers and in 3 days I'm down again. Any ideas?????

Anirban · May 23, 2017

Actually nope....no idea. Can you post a tank picture.

Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Here is a full tank shot.

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Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Dime sized Hollywood Stunner Chalice.

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Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Zoa's

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Sabellafella · May 23, 2017

Scubabum said:
Looking for thoughts and opinions on alk and calcium dropping. Newly cycled tank, Red Sea Reefer 525 XL using BioS. 90% water change after cycle, with Aquaforest Reef Salt. Started at 8 dkh, 420 Ca and 1320 mag. In three day it dropped to 6.7 dkh, 360 Ca and 1320 mag. Only thing in the tank is a bangaii cardinal, 4 zoa heads and a dime sized Hollywood stunner chalice. I manually dosed back to original numbers and in 3 days I'm down again. Any ideas?????

Theres someone that reported almost identical parameters with fresh mixed aquaforest. Let me see if i can pull it up

Sabellafella · May 23, 2017

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hybridazns-180-gallon-build.189795/page-48

Tested low for calc, and alk around 7.0
Think he bought the mix from brs? Try contacting aquaforest customer service. Im sure theyll take care of it. May be a bad batch thats going around

Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Sabellafella said:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hybridazns-180-gallon-build.189795/page-48

Tested low for calc, and alk around 7.0
Think he bought the mix from brs? Try contacting aquaforest customer service. Im sure theyll take care of it. May be a bad batch thats going around

Thanks Sabella. I'm gonna mix up a fresh batch and test. What I don't understand is I dosed to bring numbers up to 8 alk and 420 Calcium and in 3 days it dropped down again.

Anirban · May 23, 2017

Your problem is different than George. He was doing water change and the salt is low in Ca. But your is fine and just like mine. Something is eating down Ca and Alk. We need to find that.

Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Anirban said:
Your problem is different than George. He was doing water change and the salt is low in Ca. But your is fine and just like mine. Something is eating down Ca and Alk. We need to find that.

I don't know if this is even possible, just a total guess. I bleached and acid washed my Pukani which removed some of the calcification on the rock. Could the rock be absorbing the calcium and alk?? First time I've ever experienced anything like this.

Griff · May 23, 2017

Following along

Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Heating and mixing a fresh batch right now. I'll test the fresh batch and I'll report back.

Anirban · May 23, 2017

How long the system is up? How you cycled it?

jsker · May 23, 2017

When my system what new, my number were bouncing around for the first 6 months. It drove me nuts chasing numbers. Have you thought about going on line with 1+2+3+?

Scubabum · May 23, 2017

Anirban said:
How long the system is up? How you cycled it?

Yes the system cycled in 15 days and it has been up for almost 4 weeks.

Scubabum · May 23, 2017

jsker said:
When my system what new, my number were bouncing around for the first 6 months. It drove me nuts chasing numbers. Have you thought about going on line with 1+2+3+?

I was planning on using comp 1 2 3 but never thought I'd have to use this soon. I'm getting a drop with nothing in the tank.

Anirban · May 23, 2017

One explanation for Alk dropping is when a tank cycle and converts ammonia to nitrate the Alk decreases. There is a correlation ..

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/alk-and-calcium-dropping-with-no-corals.293654/