Another Alk question

tpack17 · Nov 5, 2017

I have been testing alk for 2 months. It was going down (7.8-7.3ish)and I decided to purchase an apex doser.
Tank is a SCA150g -Sump 1 is 40g -sump 2 40g 230g total
21 LPS
16SPS
BTA
Nothing is big. Everything sm-med BTA about 8"
Tank 7 months old
Nitrate 0
PO4 .021
PH 7.88
Salt 1.026
Alk 6.8

Calcium approx 500( these two pretty much go to end of salifert test chart)
Mag approx 1500
Salt mix is Fritz

So question. I have been dosing for week and a half. I started at 5ml then 10-20-30-40-50. Dosing form midnight till 8am only alk. I am not seeing the alk level raise. I have 3 salifert test kits so they are ok. Should I keep raising alk? Everything looks fine. It's hard to tell if stuff is growing but my mystic sunset is plating onto 3 1/2" square nicely. Not sure how much is too much to dose at this point. But obviously I need to get my alk up to 8-8.5. Suggestions?

XNavyDiver · Nov 5, 2017

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

Try this calculator.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 5, 2017

Yes, keep dosing.

I presume you are dosing something like the BRS recipe (my DIY #1)?

Assuming so, 50 mL per day is quite a low dose.

PatW · Nov 5, 2017

I wold dose enough alkalinity to maintain a constant ALK level.

Consumption of ALK by growing hard corals should match the consumption of calcium and magnesium. It is my understanding that sea water contains far less ALK than calcium and less calcium than magnesium. So you can notice ALK levels dropping without apparently budging the needle for calcium or magnesium.

There are other processes in reef aquariums that can occur that will consume ALK. But I am not up on that. Randy would know.

Generally, my calcium seems to be consumed in about the same amounts as ALK. I measure and dose ALK daily. I measure and dose calcium weekly.

Flippers4pups · Nov 5, 2017

I’m not sure how your calculating you dosing amounts, but I’ve always used this calculator:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

Now what are using for alkalinity? Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) baked baking soda ( sodium carbonate) or a pre made alkalinity solution?

tpack17 · Nov 5, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes, keep dosing.

I presume you are dosing something like the BRS recipe (my DIY #1)?

Assuming so, 50 mL per day is quite a low dose.

Using BRS soda ash. Thanks for the calculator. I didn't even see that brs has one. I think i am losing it.LOL.
I had no idea where to start. I was trying to start with a little and go up. I did not know what was a lot though. So BRS says I need 279 to get from 6.8 to 8.5. Am I reading that correctly? Or is that the amount I should be dosing daily? Thank you for all your responses. I want to keep having success here with my coral!

tpack17 · Nov 5, 2017

Really confused now.reef calc says 28 grams, approx 6 tsp, or 0.9 oz
brs says
279.2 ml
9.4 fl oz
55.8 tsp

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 5, 2017

It is not a daily dose, it is the amount needed for a particular boost.

You are comparing a liquid solution with some solids in it to solid direct dosing. Those will not give the same amount.

Use the Reef Calculator and elect my DIY #1 to see what the solution does, or use the BRS calculator.

Flippers4pups · Nov 5, 2017

tpack17 said:
Really confused now.reef calc says 28 grams, approx 6 tsp, or 0.9 oz
brs says
279.2 ml
9.4 fl oz
55.8 tsp

I always make up a gallon solution using Randy’s recipe:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

And using the calculator, just add what it says. Works every time perfectly.

Now if you want to dose it over the course of a day, just divide the total amount by how many times you want to dose.

tpack17 · Nov 5, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It is not a daily dose, it is the amount needed for a particular boost.

You are comparing a liquid solution with some solids in it to solid direct dosing. Those will not give the same amount.

Use the Reef Calculator and elect my DIY #1 to see what the solution does, or use the BRS calculator.

Okay that fixes it. Okay so what is your suggestion that I dose over 8 hours a day?I understand that corals do not like big changes. I probably should try to get there over course of a week not day,correct?
Flippers. I have a large container of brs so I will use that up before
I try the recipe. I am new to this so easiest way for me now. THanks for the help so far. Greatly appreciated!