Alk consumption Stalled.

[Scubabum]

Been dosing Comp 1 2 3 for about 6 months. 45 ml per each component per day. Parameters have been stable at Alk 8.0, Cal 400, Mag 1380. This past month my alk has been increasing slowly by .1 per day. Alk raised to 8.4 and I turned off my dosing pump. 5 days later with no dosing and my alk has only dropped .2 so its at 8.2. Anyone experience this or have thoughts on what could be going on? Thanks.

 

[jtietz]

Been dosing Comp 1 2 3 for about 6 months. 45 ml per each component per day. Parameters have been stable at Alk 8.0, Cal 400, Mag 1380. This past month my alk has been increasing slowly by .1 per day. Alk raised to 8.4 and I turned off my dosing pump. 5 days later with no dosing and my alk has only dropped .2 so its at 8.2. Anyone experience this or have thoughts on what could be going on? Thanks.

Its a lot easier for something like alk to drop a lot quickly when there is 8 parts where as for cal that has 400 parts takes a lot longer.

 

[Tariq]

How are the corals responding to this drop?
Test results are just one aspect. Chasing "ideal numbers" has its own troubles.

 

[Scubabum]

How are the corals responding to this drop?
Test results are just one aspect. Chasing "ideal numbers" has its own troubles.

Corals look great! Actually a little more polyp extension. When I noticed the slight rise in Alk I figured I would just skip a dose or two and it would drop back to 8 dkh but as I mentioned above, after 5 days of no dosing its only dropped .2

 

[Tariq]

If you get a chance and if already have not, watch Jason Fox's talk on YouTube, an excellent reference.
He explains corals can adjust to minor Alk swings with absolutely no issues.

 

[rock_lobster]

your coral stopped growing thats simple. They quit using alkalinity which means there is something distressing them or there is not enough other nutrients.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you closed windows recently and pH dropped, that can reduce demand.

 

[Anirban]

Question for you...
where are your Ca and Mg before and after you switch off the dosing pumps?
how you measure your Alk so accurately 0.1 dkh increase?

There are lot more things which can affect the coral growth and Alk consumption so just keep a close at it. Acros can tolerate minor variability over time and can adjust accordingly.

 

[Scubabum]

Question for you...
where are your Ca and Mg before and after you switch off the dosing pumps?
how you measure your Alk so accurately 0.1 dkh increase?

There are lot more things which can affect the coral growth and Alk consumption so just keep a close at it. Acros can tolerate minor variability over time and can adjust accordingly.

My last 3 tests Cal, 420,405,400 Mag 1400,1380,1400. Using Hanna DKH tester. Tested at the exact same time everyday.

 

[Anirban]

My last 3 tests Cal, 420,405,400 Mag 1400,1380,1400. Using Hanna DKH tester. Tested at the exact same time everyday.

Hanna has a precision range of 0.3 dkh or 5% of reading...so 0.1 dkh variation can be due to anything....also your Ca and Mg is not changing during that time that means the uptake stopped due to some reason so try to figure that out. Possibly corals are taking a bit break from growing...

 

[Scubabum]

Hanna has a precision range of 0.3 dkh or 5% of reading...so 0.1 dkh variation can be due to anything....also your Ca and Mg is not changing during that time that means the uptake stopped due to some reason so try to figure that out. Possibly corals are taking a bit break from growing...

Sounds good. Everything is fine, I was just noticing an upward trend on my alk. Nothing to be too alarmed about. Still seem to be noticing slight growth, so I'll just keep my eye on it. Appreciate everyones input.

 

[120reefkeeper]

If you closed windows recently and pH dropped, that can reduce demand.

I have noticed this myself. A PH swing can shut things down quickly. [emoji6]