Alkalinity questions

[RyansReef]

what would be making my alkalinity continue to rise?
What can I do to bring down my alkalinity?

I have started carbon dosing with NoPox and seen levels go up from 12.5 to 13.5, 14.5, 15, and latest reading was 16. This has been over 2 month period but I didn’t have test kit at the start of dosing so not sure what my actual starting baseline was. PH has stayed constant at 8.2 throughout.

I use instant ocean to make fresh saltwater and read it should be 11 as a fresh batch? I will test tonight both my RODI water and after mixing in IO.

 

[Chuk]

My gues would be that you’re overdosing. What is the calcium level?
Try and shut off dosing for a bit and it will come down. Track it as it drops some and you’ll know your usage rate. From the usage rate you can calculate your required dosing rate.

 

[RyansReef]

Calcium is 510 and has been steady. Started dosing to try to bring down excessively high Nitrates due to long term neglect on maintenance. Just starting to see Nitrates dropping and would like to try to avoid reducing dosing just yet. Fish only with live rock so would this be ok to maintain at higher alk for a bit longer? Had seen some references to people running higher alk even in the 15-18 dkh ranges to encourage coral growth.

Has assumed the dosing was the contributor and read in a Randy paper a mention of this with a calculation somehow equating higher levels from dosing vs what level would be without but not sure I am totally getting the science yet or how I should use that info. My goal is to covert FOWLR to mixed reef and first step Nitrate reduction then maybe second step reduced dosing and reduction of alk? Or is this my chance to start adding some hardier corals as an excuse for a need for alk consumers? ;-)

I did add small green star polyps frag 2 weeks ago as a starter and to test the waters even though No3 is still 40 but much improved from 80+. It seems to be doing fine so far. Can I add Hammers now to start more alk consumption?

 

[Chuk]

I think I misunderstood your first post. I assumed that you were dosing for Ca and Alk as well as nopox. If you have a large reduction of nitrate your alk will rise. Alk is a byproduct of denitrification. Just power through with the nopox until your nitrates are low enough to reduce the dose. Then your alk should come down with some water changes.
I wouldn't recommend adding any new coral until your levels are more stable. I also wouldn't use gsp as a canary coral, that stuff will grow in pretty much any water with salt in it.