Confused alk

Dexter_SA · Dec 22, 2020

Im having a bit of a issue with my sulphur reactor and alk. I'm not sure what happened but my alk climbed from about 7.8 to 9 and my sps not very happy with me. I am battling to get the alk down to 7.8 again. I run a carx with sulphur reactor. And I dose two part alk seperately to compensate for the alk used by the sulphur reactor. But I'm scratching a bit in the dark. I think what happened is I increased the flow in my sulphur reactor. Would this cause alk to climb? Logically I tried to reduce the two part dosing but it seems if I reduce the two part dosing alk climbs even higher. Please help.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 22, 2020

If you are compensating for a drop in alk in the reactor, and it stopped consuming alk (wrong flow, nitrate is already mostly down, etc.), then you may be overcompensating now.

Dexter_SA · Dec 23, 2020

Is it possible for alk to climb if one increased the effluent drip?
And what I don't understand. Trying to decrease alk. I adjusted the doser to dose less alk. But on the test kit it appeared that alk is increasing. That's the confusing part. Not sure if this make sense

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 23, 2020

Dexter_SA said:
Is it possible for alk to climb if one increased the effluent drip?
And what I don't understand. Trying to decrease alk. I adjusted the doser to dose less alk. But on the test kit it appeared that alk is increasing. That's the confusing part. Not sure if this make sense

You increased the water flow through a CaCO3/CO2 reactor? Certainly, that will increase alkalinity dosed if the CO2 is controlled by pH.

Dexter_SA · Dec 23, 2020

No... I increased the drip rate of the sulphur reactor. Not the calcium reactor

So I think what happened was. Because the flow was quicker through the sulphur reactor less alk was being consumed. So alk in tank climbed. But that's just my theory.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 23, 2020

Dexter_SA said:
No... I increased the drip rate of the sulphur reactor. Not the calcium reactor

So I think what happened was. Because the flow was quicker through the sulphur reactor less alk was being consumed. So alk in tank climbed. But that's just my theory.

That is possible.