ATO vs KH

[Droberts0724]

I might have missed this but can you describe your ATO setup? What container are you using? Is it sealed? What about the water? Is it RODI? What’s the quality of the freshwater?

Yes RODI in sealed (not completely air tight) container one side is open to a bit of air for tubing to fit in...its a 6 gallon lock top walmart container...and its a nano ATO

 

[Droberts0724]

I've used Seachem Reef Builder sometimes to raise my Alk, but there are many other alternatives. Also, I would stay away from PH Buffers since they tend to raise your Alk and create instability. To raise your PH, you can try other safer long-term methods like CO2 Scrubber (with your Skimmer), chaeto in your sump, etc. Higher PH will increase Alk consumption / calcification in your corals so your Alk could gradually decrease as PH increases, causing you to increase your Alk dosing to maintain stability.

 

[BrandonS]

2 part?? What is that may I ask

2 part is a type of dosing. Uses a part for calcium (calcium chloride) and a part for alk (baking soda or soda ash) and a part for magnesium (epsom salt).

As elements are used up by the corals a dosing method is used to replace them. 2 part is a method.

With non demanding coral and steady water change schedule doing water changes may be enough. The more demanding a coral is usually correlates with it's skeleton type. So SPS (more coral skeleton) is more demanding than LPS (fleshy polyps over skeleton) which is more demanding than soft corals (fleshy polyps with little to no skeleton)

 

[Droberts0724]

2 part is a type of dosing. Uses a part for calcium (calcium chloride) and a part for alk (baking soda or soda ash) and a part for magnesium (epsom salt).

I could definitely look into this...

 

[Isaac Alves]

I'll chime in and suggest a couple things:

1) I personally wouldn't worry to much about a ph of 7.8
2) Seems like your ATO is working properly and salinity is on point, so nothing wrong there
3) I'm leaning toward your test kit being off, if it's not expired. And, in my experience, Salifert is a good test for Kh and has proven to me to be accurate as a Hanna checker; Regardless, I'd get a second test kit, and a second opinion from your LFS. Have them test your water with their own kits.
4) Your using Red Seas Reef Foundation, which is Sodium Carbonate and Potassium Carbonate, similar to most other Alk additives. And one part of Red Sea's 2 part system.
5) I would do the alternate test, then do a few water changes to stabilize your parameters over the next few days. Make sure your new mix is mixing at the alk you expect.

 

[Droberts0724]

I'll chime in and suggest a couple things:

1) I personally wouldn't worry to much about a ph of 7.8
2) Seems like your ATO is working properly and salinity is on point, so nothing wrong there
3) I'm leaning toward your test kit being off, if it's not expired. And, in my experience, Salifert is a good test for Kh and has proven to me to be accurate as a Hanna checker; Regardless, I'd get a second test kit, and a second opinion from your LFS. Have them test your water with their own kits.
4) Your using Red Seas Reef Foundation, which is Sodium Carbonate and Potassium Carbonate, similar to most other Alk additives. And one part of Red Sea's 2 part system.
5) I would do the alternate test, then do a few water changes to stabilize your parameters over the next few days. Make sure your new mix is mixing at the alk you expect.

Never thought to check the alk in my weekly bucket change maybe that's the issue although red sea is supposed to be good with the alk

 

[Isaac Alves]

Never thought to check the alk in my weekly bucket change maybe that's the issue although red sea is supposed to be good with the alk

Could be a wonky bucket. Just another possibility. But testing once and you can be sure the bucket is not going to be really different from that initial test.