Alkalinity question

Vincent100 · Sep 2, 2016

Hi people

Iv got problem with my alkalinity level
I run a Red Sea 350 91 Gallon tank
Iv just over 70 corals in there maybe more , most are frags but some are a good size aswell, most are lps with about 10 sps frags .Anyway I can't seem to keep my alk stable It's aways dropping below 7.0
I dose Red Sea buffer supplment everyday but it seems to not last very long
This morning I was at 7.3 dkh but by 7.00 pm I was under 7.0 agin ... Like 6.8 I think ,
I know it's got to do with the amount of corals I have
Anyway I added more buffer and got it back up to 7.3 dkh at around 7.45 pm uk time
Should I wait till the same time tomorrow
To test and see how much Iv lost than just add that amount every day ?
And also should I have my alkalinity higher than 7.3 to start with
One more thing sorry to be a pain ,should I be doseing into my sump as Iv been putting it straight into my DT by one of the power heads
Any input would be a great help
Thanks

kazikage42 · Sep 2, 2016

Maybe having a doser to dose Cal/alk automatically so you won't have to manually. It will make your alk more stable too and test every few days

GatorGuys · Sep 2, 2016

You may need to add Calcium in addition to the alkalinity buffer. Randy has a great article about this: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

Vincent100 · Sep 2, 2016

kazikage42 said:
Maybe having a doser to dose Cal/alk automatically so you won't have to manually. It will make your alk more stable too and test every few days

im looking at getting one very soon , my lfs has the 4 box thing that you put the supplements in but not the pump to go with it, gotta order it in , i think they said around the £160 mark for the pump dont know how much the box thing is tho

GatorGuys said:
You may need to add Calcium in addition to the alkalinity buffer. Randy has a great article about this: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

my calcium doesnt really go down to much think it was sitting at 420 to 425 today
magnesium doesnt move much aswell , havent dosed for abit and today was sitting between 1260ppm and 1290ppm so i worked it out at 1275 if thats right , i dosed it up to 1280 should it be higher

Waterjockey · Sep 2, 2016

Vincent100 said:
Hi people

Iv got problem with my alkalinity level
I run a Red Sea 350 91 Gallon tank
Iv just over 70 corals in there maybe more , most are frags but some are a good size aswell, most are lps with about 10 sps frags .Anyway I can't seem to keep my alk stable It's aways dropping below 7.0
I dose Red Sea buffer supplment everyday but it seems to not last very long
This morning I was at 7.3 dkh but by 7.00 pm I was under 7.0 agin ... Like 6.8 I think ,
I know it's got to do with the amount of corals I have
Anyway I added more buffer and got it back up to 7.3 dkh at around 7.45 pm uk time
Should I wait till the same time tomorrow
To test and see how much Iv lost than just add that amount every day ?
And also should I have my alkalinity higher than 7.3 to start with
One more thing sorry to be a pain ,should I be doseing into my sump as Iv been putting it straight into my DT by one of the power heads
Any input would be a great help
Thanks

Do you run kalk in your ato?

Vincent100 · Sep 2, 2016

Waterjockey said:
Do you run kalk in your ato?

hi mate
no just into the DT

Waterjockey · Sep 2, 2016

If you have an auto top off unit, quite a few people add kalk to thier top off water to add alk/calcium to help with stability. Up to 2 teaspoons per gallon. When you outstrip that, many move to 2/3 part dosing

Vincent100 · Sep 2, 2016

yes i have one its 2.8 gallons ,im gonna try it thanks .....4 and hafe teaspoons sound ok to you ?
thanks for your help

Waterjockey · Sep 2, 2016

Vincent100 said:
yes i have one its 2.8 gallons ,im gonna try it thanks .....4 and hafe teaspoons sound ok to you ?
thanks for your help

2 teaspoons per gallon is *max* saturation dose. I don't know what your actual usage rate is, Randy could probably give you a good number to start with. I would start slow and ramp up based on results. Like say 2 teaspoons total for a start. And then go up a teaspoon at a time if necessary. Good luck....let us know how you make out

Vincent100 · Sep 2, 2016

will do and thanks agin for your help

Waterjockey · Sep 2, 2016

Vincent100 said:
will do and thanks agin for your help

You are welcome!

ReefingwithO · Sep 3, 2016

I have the same tank. Red Sea Reefer 350 and yours is more stocked with corals than mine. Your consumption sounds about right, alk will always drop faster than calcium.

Another thing to note especially when you'll start dosing and need to calculate water volume. The tank isn't 91 gallons. It's 91 if you full everything to the top including the top off reservoir. The display tank is 73 gallons, sump 18 gallons, top off reservoir 2.8 gallons. With rock/sand and equipment mine only has about 60 gallons of water not including the top off.