Alkalinity keeps Dropping?

Beausoleiljacob · Feb 20, 2016

Happy Saturday!
Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I have a question however like always LOL. Anyways, my tank is aprox 2 months old now with a few beginner corals, 4 fish and a shrimp! Recently I switched salt mixes from Red Sea Coral Pro to HR Reefer Salt carried by Bulk Reef Supply. Anyways, I have heard that the HR salt mixes inconsistently in terms of Alk. I forgot to check my levels after my last water change and just thought today to check. My Alk was at 7.6 so I used my Alk solution to bump it up to about 9. Therefore, do you think I should switch salt mix to a better brand. I do find however that the calcium and mag mix consistently according to the box.
Thanks!

Diesel · Feb 20, 2016

Did you test you new water after you mixed it?
What test kits are you using for ALK, CAL and MAG.
If you new salt water test low to begin with I would switch salt, no brainer.
Do you dose ALK, CAL and MAG in your tank?
You have any reactors running Carbon, GFO, Bio-pellets?
What is the size of your tank and do you use a sump/skimmer?

FlyinBryan · Feb 20, 2016

What test kits? If it was the alk hanna checkers you may have bad reagent. Check website to see if your lot # is on it. They'll send you new ones.

hybridazn · Feb 20, 2016

If it's a known problem that alk is inconsistent with that salt that is where I would put my money is the problem. Are you planning to dose 2 part? If so just stick with a salt mix you like and just dose to make up the deficiencies in alk and cal.

Beausoleiljacob · Feb 20, 2016

Diesel said:
Did you test you new water after you mixed it?
What test kits are you using for ALK, CAL and MAG.
If you new salt water test low to begin with I would switch salt, no brainer.
Do you dose ALK, CAL and MAG in your tank?
You have any reactors running Carbon, GFO, Bio-pellets?
What is the size of your tank and do you use a sump/skimmer?

I am using the Red Sea Test Kit. I was told by BRS that this certain salt mix, mixes low and inconsistently. I have only dosed ALK and only when I noticed it was low. Yes I have a Carbon & GFO reactor running. I have a 60 Gallon Cube with a 10 gallon sump. Aqua MAX C01 In sump Simmer.

Beausoleiljacob · Feb 20, 2016

hybridazn said:
If it's a known problem that alk is inconsistent with that salt that is where I would put my money is the problem. Are you planning to dose 2 part? If so just stick with a salt mix you like and just dose to make up the deficiencies in alk and cal.

What salt would you recommend? I bought the 2 Part! I don't mind dosing just won't want to dose if it is unnecessary.

WVReefJunkie · Feb 20, 2016

Don't raise alk to fast, that is very bad for corals. Also when you mix your water up, check the alk reading of your new water.

hybridazn · Feb 20, 2016

Beausoleiljacob said:
What salt would you recommend? I bought the 2 Part! I don't mind dosing just won't want to dose if it is unnecessary.

I use red sea coral pro because it mixes very well and very quickly. It's a little pricy but I think it's worth it. If cost is a factor and your willing to dose I would use instant ocean or reef crystals

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 21, 2016

An alkalinity of 7.6 dKH is fine and does not "require" any corrections.

However, if your target is higher, it is fine to raise it, and it is normal for alkalinity to drop between dosing events in reef tanks with hard corals or coralline algae.

Dropping alkalinity is always the first sign that the tank requires supplementing of calcium and alkalinity, but calcium just moves far more slowly because there is so much more already in seawater.

Lobotomy99 · Sep 28, 2021

This is a thing for me as well. New tank 2 months-ish. Dropping alk daily. No fish, no lights, no corals. Some snails and an emerald crab. All other parameters seem good. Ph has gone from solid 8.5 to 8.0-7.5 as well. Just a part of balancing a new tank?

TraydersAnonymous · Feb 11, 2023

Lobotomy99 said:
This is a thing for me as well. New tank 2 months-ish. Dropping alk daily. No fish, no lights, no corals. Some snails and an emerald crab. All other parameters seem good. Ph has gone from solid 8.5 to 8.0-7.5 as well. Just a part of balancing a new tank?

It is and also depending on where you live your heating is evaping water more than usual in the winter. All these things happen for me between water changes. It went from 124 to 121 in 5 days. I can only suspect it's that. I use coral pro and blue bucket blend. Just trying it out to get an even alk. Its brought it from 117-118 to 124. After one change and the other parameters are good accept for very low phosphates. But I have no livestock.