Alk won't come down

[Duffer]

I'm at a lost here, so hopefully i can get some insight..

My Alk is at 8.6 and i want it around 8-8.2. I have a doser and it was making my alk stay around 8.6 to 8.7, so for the last 2 days i took the doser off line. Today i tested and again it's 8.6/

Why has it not dropped?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just waiting should allow it to drop more. If not, water changes with a low alk mix can work.

That said, do you think you or your tank will see a difference between alk of 8.2 and 8.6 dKH? I'm skeptical.

 

[Duffer]

Just waiting should allow it to drop more. If not, water changes with a low alk mix can work.

That said, do you think you or your tank will see a difference between alk of 8.2 and 8.6 dKH? I'm skeptical.

Thanks Randy,

Not sure if it will make a difference but what i have read on here, my nitrates are around 5 and my phosphates are .058 which reading with my low nutrients my alk should be around 8. Correct me if i'm wrong

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy,

Not sure if it will make a difference but what i have read on here, my nitrates are around 5 and my phosphates are .058 which reading with my low nutrients my alk should be around 8. Correct me if i'm wrong

IMO, you can have any alk you want with those nutrients.

The concern is when nutrients are very low (much lower than yours) that lower alk is preferred if you have SPS to avoid burnt tips, possibly due to the skeleton growing faster than the tissue can keep up.

 

[Duffer]

IMO, you can have any alk you want with those nutrients.

The concern is when nutrients are very low (much lower than yours) that lower alk is preferred if you have SPS to avoid burnt tips, possibly due to the skeleton growing faster than the tissue can keep up.

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Thanks Randy for the clarification...means a lot to me

On a side note some of my acros seem to have brown tips,what could cause that?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Thanks Randy for the clarification...means a lot to me

On a side note some of my acros seem to have brown tips,what could cause that?

I'm not an expert on coral tips by any means, but for those who are, a picture would help.

 

[W1ngz]

I think 'brown' tips are just 'burnt' tips with a bit of film algae. I currently have one acro doing this, but im also mid-transition to lower N and P and the alk is just now getting moved down from 9-ish to 8 or so.