Alkalinty

[mike007]

I am having trouble maintaing my alkalinty level. When i do a water change it comes up to 7 dkh and then after a few days it falls to 6 dkh. I dose everyday and cannot get it up. Can you tell me what you are doing to maintain your alk? My ca. is 410 and mag. is 1350. I do have lots of corals in my mixed reef.

 

[Tahoe61]

What are you dosing? I maintain mine around 9 currently. You may have to use a doser at this point if you have a lot of stony coral.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

What are you dosing? I maintain mine around 9 currently. You may have to use a doser at this point if you have a lot of stony coral.

+1.. With all the SPS I have in my tank, I need to have a doser. Everyday my tank uses about 0.7-0.8dkh per day

 

[mike007]

I am using Redsea reef foundation b. I t just seems as though i am adding lots of buffer and level is not coming up.

 

[doylef4i]

I would ditch that red sea line for the big 3.I spoke to a red sea rep once and he hold me it would get very expensive for a tank really larger than 30 gal that is heavily stocked.

 

[mike007]

I have also been in contact with them and i am thinking about going to the baking soda dosing.

 

[NanaReefer]

I'm using Kalkwasser in my 5g ATO. Keeps my alk very stable at 9.8 without fail


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[YVR]

I had issues with my Alk. until about 2 years ago. I did some research and started using Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium to dose my Ca in my tank...it gradually raised the dkH and I havent had an issue since.

 

[mcarroll]

If you are dosing manually, it is very wise to maintain a target alk of 10 dKH or higher purely for the safety margin. If your current salt doesn't have a level close to this, I'd switch to something that does. (Reef Crystals is what I've always used.)

As far as what to dose, after you run a test you should be able to run a calculation (or use The Reef Calculator) on the result and your tank size to know the exact amount to dose to hit your target.

The more your corals grow out, the faster they will use up the alkalinity in the tank.

-Matt

 

[HelenofTroy]

I am also having some issues with alk. I have a 10 gallon, and alk seems to drop 1 dkh per day, which does not seem normal. I started dosing Alkalin8.3, but it still never stays up, and I'm adding quite a bit to keep it up around 7 dkh.

CA is 400. Dont know mag, never tested for it. Would low mag have anything to do with this?

Mag test kits are so pricey..

 

[Zero Nitrates]

What kind of salt are you using?

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Any of you running bio pellets had the same problem found that it takes up alk also i use esv salt mix. I used baking soda got it up and started back manually dosing. Also what test are you using. And how do you dose I use to dose 10-15 min apart so they don't bind and cause problems.


The Lord is good.

 

[FiveAlarmFrags]

There are a few different options and I can share what works for me. I have a 60 gallon mixed reef tank. I was having a problem with my alk dropping as well. First thing I did was switch to a better salt. Instant Ocean was not able to keep my alk stable. I switched to Seachem Reef Salt and have been very happy with it and so are my corals. Using just the salt mix, I was able to keep my alk around 8-9 with weekly 10 gallon H2O changes. I like my alk a little higher. After dosing and doing all that type of stuff, I now just add 1 teaspoon of arm and hammer pure baking soda (not baking powder) to each of my 5 gallon containers that I mix when I do my water change. My alk now stays between 10-11 with no dosing at all. The Seachem reef salt keeps my cal and mag up. Don't know if this will help you, and everybody has an opinion, just letting you know what works for me. Good luck

 

[MattL22]

I was just having the same issue I've been dosing kalk with my rodi and alk was staying 7 I wanted it at 9 so I was adding two part also but I was getting same readings ! So a friend mentioned too me that if I wanna bump my alk I have to stop adding the calcium just add the alk for few days it worked so now I'm hoping that my kalk will maintain the level I bumped it too ill check when I get home!!!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Teaspoon of Baking Soda goes along way.

 

[HelenofTroy]

What kind of salt are you using?

I'm using ESV and have been mixing it at like 11 dkh, changing 20% every week.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I'm using ESV and have been mixing it at like 11 dkh, changing 20% every

How do you get 11 when I mix as to direction I get 8-8.5 at temp 77.


The Lord is good.

 

[beaslbob]

I am having trouble maintaing my alkalinty level. When i do a water change it comes up to 7 dkh and then after a few days it falls to 6 dkh. I dose everyday and cannot get it up. Can you tell me what you are doing to maintain your alk? My ca. is 410 and mag. is 1350. I do have lots of corals in my mixed reef.

I would start dosing using the diy two part system. See stickie at top of this forum

 

[HelenofTroy]

I'm using ESV and have been mixing it at like 11 dkh, changing 20% every

How do you get 11 when I mix as to direction I get 8-8.5 at temp 77.


The Lord is good.

I add more liquid part B, which is the alk

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I add more liquid part B, which is the alk

Oh ok was thinking you where saying with direction mix lol. I do the same for salinity.


The Lord is good.