Alkakinity problems?!?

Mikeand Mel · Mar 28, 2018

During testing recently (last few weeks), alk was very low 80-99ppm=4.48-5.54 dkh.
Other parameters:
Temp 78.2
Salinity 1.026 milwalkee digital
NO3 1ppm
PO4 .27
Cal 450
Mag 1380
Inhabitants:
hippo tang
3 firefish
3 green chromis
clown
CUC
Torch
finger leather
Duncan
Monti cap
hydnophora
hammer
blasto
Pagoda

Use hanna ppm checker for alk coming up with readings on new Reef Crystals salt mixed with RO/DI and get 154ppm=8.56dkh....after reading this forum decided maybe checker or reagents bad.
Ordered hanna checker dkh.......just did test on DT....5.5dkh....this is after a 25% water change.
Not sure what to do.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 28, 2018

If newly made Reef Crystals has an alk of 8.5 dKH, I suspect there is an alk testing problem.

It is easy to raise alkalinity by dosing, but with the RC oddity (might be a bad batch or a testing error or one with excessive precipitation of calcum carbonate in it), I'd want to double check the alk before dosing more.

When raising it, I'd use baking soda and this calculator:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

Mikeand Mel · Apr 20, 2018

Randy, ordered new dkh hanna checker. Same results 5.7!
Used calculator...thank you. Added baking soda every couple of days.
I checked again a couple of days ago.......again 5.1.....added 1 1/2 tsp baking soda to sump.
As of last night:
Ca 360 API
Alk 8.1 Hanna
PO4 .19 lowest since I started tank on 2/1/2017
Ph 8.20

I will continue to monitor....is Ca too low?
After a blackout for possible dinos on 12/2017 and a couple doses of Vibrant (same time frame) all coralline disappeared off glass and has never returned.
Lastly tank inhabitants in 58g:
Torch Fish: 3 green chromis
Trumpet 3 firefish
Hydnophora 1 clown
Finger leather 1 Hippo
Toadstool
Montipora
Duncan
Blastomoussa
Pagoda....not doing well
Hammer

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 20, 2018

I'd boost calcium to 420 ppm, but it is more likely the alk that impacted the coralline.

Potatohead · Apr 20, 2018

With calcium and alkalinity that low I would suspect low salinity.

Edit - Unless this tank has been relying solely on water changes for a long time.

Mikeand Mel · Apr 20, 2018

I have the ESV 2 part. Should I start dosing both parts?
The baking soda is the first thing I’ve have ever had to dose in this tank.
Does this mean I will have to dose from now on?

Mikeand Mel · Apr 20, 2018

I have the ESV 2 part should I dose just the calcium?
The baking soda is the first thing I’ve had to dose in this tank.
Does this mean I will have to start dosing from here on?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 21, 2018

What salt mix are you using and what salinity? Boosting the salinity might be the easy answer on calcium.

Otherwise, I'd use the calcium prrt to boost it to 420 ppm, then monitor alkalinity and dose both parts equally, maintaining alkalinity.

Mikeand Mel · May 3, 2018

Im back! I use Reef Crystals.
I am still fighting Alk.....every week I add 1-1 1/2 tsp of baking soda.
did a water change last weekend.....Alk last night 6.0dkh!
salinity is 1.026 using milwalkee digital.
What could deplete Alk like this?

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 3, 2018

Mikeand Mel said:
Im back! I use Reef Crystals.
I am still fighting Alk.....every week I add 1-1 1/2 tsp of baking soda.
did a water change last weekend.....Alk last night 6.0dkh!
salinity is 1.026 using milwalkee digital.
What could deplete Alk like this?

Lots of things. That's why most reefers dose regularly, some many times per day.

Hard corals, some soft corals, some sponges, coralline algae, nitrification, snails and other molluscs, etc. all consume alkalinity and calcium.

JMetaxas · May 4, 2018

Mikeand Mel said:
Im back! I use Reef Crystals.
I am still fighting Alk.....every week I add 1-1 1/2 tsp of baking soda.
did a water change last weekend.....Alk last night 6.0dkh!
salinity is 1.026 using milwalkee digital.
What could deplete Alk like this?

Hi Mike !! Just happened on your thread. Are you dosing Alk and Calcium every day? I dose 2 part twice per day. (BRS 2 Part). If I miss a day, my Alk will drop quite a bit.

I have a bunch of SPS, small colonies and a bunch of frags, but not a lot of coralline.

Mikeand Mel · May 7, 2018

Funny, after reading here it seems alot of reefers do anything possible not to have to dose.
I just purchased BRS kalkwasser beginners kit.....I have a 4 channel dosing pump...guess Im going to have to start.