Alk dropping and calc increasing.

[SBB Corals]

Hi,

My parameters have been stable for 4 solid months. Alk at 9.0 and calc 400 but steadily rising and been 420 for months.

Now I test every week and things have been super stable.

Today the alk was 8.4 and calc 450.. seems alk shot down and calf shot up..

Is this normal and should I increase alk back to 9.0 and if so will calc fall?

Is the drop in alk and increase in calc a normal relationship?

 

[Brew12]

Hi,

My parameters have been stable for 4 solid months. Alk at 9.0 and calc 400 but steadily rising and been 420 for months.

Now I test every week and things have been super stable.

Today the alk was 8.4 and calc 450.. seems alk shot down and calf shot up..

Is this normal and should I increase alk back to 9.0 and if so will calc fall?

Is the drop in alk and increase in calc a normal relationship?

What is your magnesium?

 

[SBB Corals]

What is your magnesium?

1440.. been steady for 6 months. I do 15% water change weekly with tropic marine pro I havent had to dose mag ever

 

[Crabs McJones]

Are you dosing anything? The drop and increase is not normal, all and calcium are generally depleted at virtually the same rate. They should both be falling. What test kit are you using?

 

[SBB Corals]

Are you dosing anything? The drop and increase is not normal, all and calcium are generally depleted at virtually the same rate. They should both be falling. What test kit are you using?

I dose calc and alk.. I have a packed 180 sps tank.. my demands are extreamly high. I have been using salifert test kits and test weekly. I am at the end of the test kits as bascilly all liquids are depleted I'm on my last few tests so maybe just getting that low on liquid is throwing off the test. I ordered new test kits and will retest before I add to the dose

 

[Brew12]

I dose calc and alk.. I have a packed 180 sps tank.. my demands are extreamly high. I have been using salifert test kits and test weekly. I am at the end of the test kits as bascilly all liquids are depleted I'm on my last few tests so maybe just getting that low on liquid is throwing off the test. I ordered new test kits and will retest before I add to the dose

I agree. With magnesium at a good level as yours are, they should trend in the same direction. I would suspect either a measurement error or a dosing error.

 

[SBB Corals]

I agree. With magnesium at a good level as yours are, they should trend in the same direction. I would suspect either a measurement error or a dosing error.

Very strange I checked doser and seems to be normal. I hope when the new test kits come in the readings will be normal. Also i dose like 90ml alk per day and calc is only 65ml per day my alk consumption has been way more then calc.. over the last year

 

[Brew12]

Very strange I checked doser and seems to be normal. I hope when the new test kits come in the readings will be normal. Also i dose like 90ml alk per day and calc is only 65ml per day my alk consumption has been way more then calc.. over the last year

Which 2-part are you using? Not all of them are designed to be balanced.

 

[SBB Corals]

Which 2-part are you using? Not all of them are designed to be balanced.

Esv ionic calc and alk..

I mean my corals are looking excellent just noticed the change in parameters so was wondering if something bad was about to happen lol

 

[Brew12]

Esv ionic calc and alk..

I mean my corals are looking excellent just noticed the change in parameters so was wondering if something bad was about to happen lol

I'm not familiar with that 2-part system so I'm not sure if it is balanced.

Hopefully someone experienced with this stuff can weigh in and see if this is normal.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Test kits being near the end could account for the skewed results

 

[Tmmste]

Hi,

My parameters have been stable for 4 solid months. Alk at 9.0 and calc 400 but steadily rising and been 420 for months.

Now I test every week and things have been super stable.

Today the alk was 8.4 and calc 450.. seems alk shot down and calf shot up..

Is this normal and should I increase alk back to 9.0 and if so will calc fall?

Is the drop in alk and increase in calc a normal relationship?

Mg is also incorporated/used. As far as I know for each 12.15 ppm Mg, 2.8 kH is used.. If I remember this correctly. The 20ppm (0.5 mole) for each 2.8kH (1 mole) is the "ideal" ratio but is more likely between 18 and 20ppm. I used to use kalkwasser (which is doses kH/Ca in the ideal ratio) and also noticed kH decline. Apart from that phosphate binders / Fe dosing for reducing Po4 reacts with kH. Good luck! [emoji4]

 

[Super Fly]

Yes, Alk & Calc interact with each other, if Alk goes up then Calc goes down and vice versa. ESV 2part are balanced and designed to be dosed in equal parts. I believe ur tank is becoming unbalanced due the uneven Alk dosing while trying to feed the corals. U should refer to this article discussing proper way to use ESV and also how to restore balanced levels.
https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/the-right-way-to-use-2-part-additives/