ALK dropping?

NanaReefer · Jul 19, 2015

Hi Randy. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

Over the past several weeks my ALK has been steadily dropping. While the Ca/Mag/Ph stay pretty much the same.
I'm auto dosing equal amounts of BRS 2part, 25ml each. Split into 2. 15ml each a.m. and 10ml each p.m.

Need I increase the ALK dosage or is something else amiss? On July 7th is was 8.7 and today it's at 7.8
Ca-430, mag-1400, ph-8.3 Done at 1pm.

Side note: Dominant SPS/LPS getting great growth [emoji2] No prescription showing anywhere.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 19, 2015

I'd up the dose of everything.

How much are you adding now?

NanaReefer · Jul 19, 2015

25ml each a day. 15ml in the a.m. And 10ml in the p.m.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 19, 2015

So maybe try 15 and 15.

NanaReefer · Jul 19, 2015

Exactly what I did. Thanks Randy.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 20, 2015

Let us know what happens!

NanaReefer · Jul 20, 2015

Will do. I double checked my doser, it's putting out just fine. So I'm guessing coral growth may be the culprit [emoji2]

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 20, 2015

That's usually a good sign.

NanaReefer · Jul 22, 2015

Well tested ALK today at 3pm and it's just 8.1 from 7.8. Not much of a jump after upping it by 5ml. Should I wait, be ok with 8.1 or up it another 5ml?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 22, 2015

I'd stick with that dose and monitor it for a week or two. Alkalinity at 8.1 dKH is about perfect in most people's book.

NanaReefer · Jul 22, 2015

Will do. Thank you Randy [emoji2]

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2015

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

NanaReefer · Aug 1, 2015

Tested today at 1pm. This is 4hrs after ALK 15ml dosage. 7.8 3hrs after CA 15ml dosage 420 and Mag is 1320.
Now my salinity a bit low at 30ppm SG 1.025 Would this have an effect?
Am I testing at the wrong times? I would think 30ml of each daily would give slightly higher numbers, no?
Would running PhosGaurd and Carbon (Seachem's SeaGel) in a reactor effect parameters?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 1, 2015

The media won't impact the values except as they impact nutrients which in turn may impact coral calcification rates.

Lowering salinity will lower everything in it (except things like pH). Going from 35 pt (sg = 1.0264) to sg = 1.025 will drop everything by 5%, or 8 dKH to 7.6 dKH.

An alk of 7.8 dKH is fine.