Alkanlinity Not Stable - Can I add coral?

[zwandz]

Hello!

My tank is about 2.5 months old….

5 gallons
Live rock and substrate
Cycled successfully
Green chromis is thriving
3 snails happy and munching away
1 hermit cruising around
Still experiencing uglies, somewhat frustratingly

Most recent parameters…
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 2.5
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity 7.1, up from 6.7 due to water change

but for 3 weeks of this, the alkalinity drops back down to the mid sixes.

How do I get it stable? Can coral live in this? When do the uglies end?!
Thanks!

 

[Cali Reef Life]

How often are you doing a WC 7.1 -6.7 could be a human error amount. If you do a 1- 2 gallon change once a week you can try a mushroom or some very hardy coral and test it out. Maybe a Zoa. A swing of that little over a couple weeks will only affect the more sensitive corals.

 

[zwandz]

How often are you doing a WC 7.1 -6.7 could be a human error amount. If you do a 1- 2 gallon change once a week you can try a mushroom or some very hardy coral and test it out. Maybe a Zoa. A swing of that little over a couple weeks will only affect the more sensitive corals.

I do a 1-2 gallon change once a week, every week.

Is 7.1 high enough though? I’ve always read 8-12

edit: plus the uglies not being over - still ok to test a hardy?

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Typical ocean levels of natural sea water is 7.0 DKH. The 8 to 12 range is a desired for optimal growth and room for error. I wouldn't jump into SPS but a cheap hardy coral that can be your tester should be fine and if not oh well lost under 20 bucks and you know you have to wait a little longer. What salt are you using ?

 

[zwandz]

Typical ocean levels of natural sea water is 7.0 DKH. The 8 to 12 range is a desired for optimal growth and room for error. I wouldn't jump into SPS but a cheap hardy coral that can be your tester should be fine and if not oh well lost under 20 bucks and you know you have to wait a little longer. What salt are you using ?

Instant ocean

 

[Cali Reef Life]

What are you using to test your alk API? How often are you changing water? If you listen to my advice do a weekly 20%- 30% change your perimeters should be stable after 2- 3 weeks of doing this. Here's what happened to my tank when I had a .4 change in alk over 3 weeks after adding some new frags.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

My bad didn't see that other reply with how often Id say your fine if you want to post a picture of your tank I can see but you should be okay for a hardy coral.

 

[damsels are not mean]

alkalinity does not stay stable like most other parameters. It will be depleted anyways by any stony corals. You have to dose or use a reactor or do bigger water changes to maintain it along with calcium and to a lesser extend magnesium.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

alkalinity does not stay stable like most other parameters. It will be depleted anyways by any stony corals. You have to dose or use a reactor or do bigger water changes to maintain it along with calcium and to a lesser extend magnesium.

He doesn't have any coral in the tank. Down the road this is true but pre Coraline and coral it should stay stable with weekly WC.

 

[damsels are not mean]

He doesn't have any coral in the tank. Down the road this is true but pre Coraline and coral it should stay stable with weekly WC.

Well coralline starts growing as soon as it's in the tank so it could be that, really. But even if it isn't. I don't think they need to worry unless they want to do sps now. It will take time and more testing to determine if this is a trend or just a blip. Either way alkalinity does not stay stable on its own unless the system is not doing anything.

 

[zwandz]

Added a zoa this afternoon, so we’ll find out soon enough!

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Congrats PM me if you ever have any questions. This hobby has many opinions on how to be successful but some are very complex which can be confusing for a new hobbyist. It takes awhile to figure that out . 5 people are talking about the same thing in a different way.

 

[Uncle99]

I run high Alk which results in a higher and stable PH for me.
Other organisms are consumers of Alk/CA, however I would expect that consumption to be low.
Measure Alk day 1, water change day 6, Measure Alk day 7, divide by 7 and that’s your current daily consumption rate.
Put back exactly what’s being consumed on a daily basis, or hourly even better. I dose, but other methods as good.
Always ensure MG, is in the band 1350ppm to 1400ppm, or your Alk test results may fluctuate.

 

[zwandz]

I run high Alk which results in a higher and stable PH for me.
Other organisms are consumers of Alk/CA, however I would expect that consumption to be low.
Measure Alk day 1, water change day 6, Measure Alk day 7, divide by 7 and that’s your current daily consumption rate.
Put back exactly what’s being consumed on a daily basis, or hourly even better.

That makes sense. What’s the most reliable way to add it back in?

 

[zwandz]

Congrats PM me if you ever have any questions. This hobby has many opinions on how to be successful but some are very complex which can be confusing for a new hobbyist. It takes awhile to figure that out . 5 people are talking about the same thing in a different way.

I appreciate it, thank you!