Can’t keep Alk up

[Travis Stewart]

Pictures of a couple colonies

 

[homer1475]

I think you just need to dose more. And with a lower PH solution like randys 2 part, part 2.

48ml of b-ionic, is only 1DKH. Judging by your tank, it's not nearly enough, specially with those mature SPS colonies.

FWIW.....

Baking soda, and RO/DI is quite a bit cheaper. I buy the big bags you find in walmart in the pool section.

 

[brmc1985]

That was specifically for the picture. I have very mature colonies and corals. Flow is pretty high in DT.

Again. Not trying to be that guy but you have to give a true representation of how you are dosing. If you just dose it into no flow by a power head then we can’t help.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Again. Not trying to be that guy but you have to give a true representation of how you are dosing. If you just dose it into no flow by a power head then we can’t help.

Lol no man I don’t take it that way. I’m just saying if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. I dose into the sump via doser the same way I have for 4 years. Nothing has changed. It’s just all of a sudden issue.

 

[Travis Stewart]

I think you just need to dose more. And with a lower PH solution like randys 2 part, part 2.

48ml of b-ionic, is only 1DKH. Judging by your tank, it's not nearly enough, specially with those mature SPS colonies.

FWIW.....

Baking soda, and RO/DI is quite a bit cheaper. I buy the big bags you find in walmart in the pool section.

Yes I can agree to that and will give it a try! I agree that I could need to dose more, but im saying I was testing to see if I could make it change and I couldn’t even get it to move when it’s supposed to raise dkh by 1

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Can you provide the link or ingredients to his 2 part please?

Did you get the information? I dont have the link but someone will if not the man himself

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

BRS sells the ingredients, if you cannot otherwise locate suitably pure materials.

 

[Travis Stewart]

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

BRS sells the ingredients, if you cannot otherwise locate suitably pure

would just need to by pharma grade calcium chloride from BRS for calcium part? and obv can find arm and hammer for alk

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

would just need to by pharma grade calcium chloride from BRS for calcium part? and obv can find arm and hammer for alk

Doesn't need to be pharma grade. Good purity is desirable, but food grade or ACS reagent grades are fine, and bulk (ungraded) may also be fine, just not carrying the same purity assurance.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Doesn't need to be pharma grade. Good purity is desirable, but food grade or ACS reagent grades are fine, and bulk (ungraded) may also be fine, just not carrying the same purity assurance.

Thanks I didn’t see the calcium chloride anywhere close locally

 

[Travis Stewart]

Anyone recommend a reef calculator for Randy’s recipe?

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Umm, I think I see the problem. It's all that coral! I suspect that the reason you can't budge it over 6.1 is because that is the point where your colonies slow down their uptake. You have a super mature tank there (kudos!), and I suspect that you have not ramped up dosing as fast as it has grown in.

As others have said, dose more. You will find a point where it starts to rise and stops getting consumed. Yes, this will get expensive in 2 part supplies. If it starts to get cost prohibitive, a CaRx might be in order.

Dennis

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Anyone recommend a reef calculator for Randy’s recipe?

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Anyone recommend a reef calculator for Randy’s recipe?

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

 

[Travis Stewart]

Umm, I think I see the problem. It's all that coral! I suspect that the reason you can't budge it over 6.1 is because that is the point where your colonies slow down their uptake. You have a super mature tank there (kudos!), and I suspect that you have not ramped up dosing as fast as it has grown in.

As others have said, dose more. You will find a point where it starts to rise and stops getting consumed. Yes, this will get expensive in 2 part supplies. If it starts to get cost prohibitive, a CaRx might be in order.

Dennis

But even adding 48mL on top of normal dosing amount this should have moved up 1dkh and it didn’t move

 

[Travis Stewart]

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Thanks as always Randy!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

But even adding 48mL on top of normal dosing amount this should have moved up 1dkh and it didn’t move

Demand rises as the alk rises. It takes more each day to maintain 8 dKH than 6 dKH. It is not a one time correction.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Demand rises as the alk rises. It takes more each day to maintain 8 dKH than 6 dKH. It is not a one time correction.

What would you advise at my current situation to raise this in a safe manner?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There's nothing wrong with 7 dKH.

If 48 ml a day doesn't keep it above 7 dKH, I'd increase it to 60 mL a day and see what happens. Maybe split half morning and half evening. Ih you want it higher, then dose even more.

 

[Travis Stewart]

There's nothing wrong with 7 dKH.

If 48 ml a day doesn't keep it above 7 dKH, I'd increase it to 60 mL a day and see what happens. Maybe split half morning and half evening. Ih you want it higher, then dose even more.

The problem is I can’t get it to 7 lol. I’m already dosing about 48mL daily via doser. Trying to add 48 more to get it above 7 currently