Decreasing alkalinity-questions

ahiggins · Sep 1, 2016

Hey all!
Here are my parameters (parenthesis indicates last weeks numbers):
Specific gravity: 1.025 (same)
Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate: 0/0/0 (0/0/20)
Calcium: 460 (480)
Alk: 12.2 (11.4)
Mag: 1480 (same)
Phosphates: 0 (same)

I changed from red sea coral pro to the red sea regular salt because it was making up way too high alk (12-14) and have done 1 wc (with new salt) at 8 gallons between the two readings.

I know calcium and alk are inversely related since they bind to the same particles but I want to know how to lower the alkalinity safely in my 25 gallon tank because I bought a few SPS/LPS and they are bleaching out (I eliminated the lights as a culprit).

You would think that doing water changes would lower the alk/stabilize the calcium and alk ratio.
Can anyone provide more info on this or have experience dealing with high alkalinity? Im losing corals and its making me really sad

Elementalj · Sep 1, 2016

ahiggins said:
Hey all!
Here are my parameters (parenthesis indicates last weeks numbers):
Specific gravity: 1.025 (same)
Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate: 0/0/0 (0/0/20)
Calcium: 460 (480)
Alk: 12.2 (11.4)
Mag: 1480 (same)
Phosphates: 0 (same)

I changed from red sea coral pro to the red sea regular salt because it was making up way too high alk (12-14) and have done 1 wc (with new salt) at 8 gallons between the two readings.

I know calcium and alk are inversely related since they bind to the same particles but I want to know how to lower the alkalinity safely in my 25 gallon tank because I bought a few SPS/LPS and they are bleaching out (I eliminated the lights as a culprit).

You would think that doing water changes would lower the alk/stabilize the calcium and alk ratio.
Can anyone provide more info on this or have experience dealing with high alkalinity? Im losing corals and its making me really sad

I'd do another water change in a few days. The alkalinity should be consumed by the biological processes at work in the tank and go down in time.

ahiggins · Sep 1, 2016

The last WC I did was on Sunday.
Im going to do one tonight or tomorrow and test it again.
Its frustrating to see coral dying.

Elementalj · Sep 1, 2016

Yeah, we've all been there. Keep your fingers crossed!

ahiggins · Sep 1, 2016

I didnt know that red sea coral pro made up so high until I visited cherry corals last week. So I converted to the regular salt of theirs.
Keep yours crossed for me! lol I need all the good vibes I can get

Elementalj · Sep 1, 2016

Sure! I just did a switch from reef crystals to tropic marin a few weeks ago and am just now getting high alkalinity readings under reasonable control. Take your time with adjustments and the little beasties will have a better chance of recovery. [emoji106]

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 1, 2016

ahiggins said:
Hey all!
Here are my parameters (parenthesis indicates last weeks numbers):
Specific gravity: 1.025 (same)
Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate: 0/0/0 (0/0/20)
Calcium: 460 (480)
Alk: 12.2 (11.4)
Mag: 1480 (same)
Phosphates: 0 (same)

I changed from red sea coral pro to the red sea regular salt because it was making up way too high alk (12-14) and have done 1 wc (with new salt) at 8 gallons between the two readings.

I know calcium and alk are inversely related since they bind to the same particles but I want to know how to lower the alkalinity safely in my 25 gallon tank because I bought a few SPS/LPS and they are bleaching out (I eliminated the lights as a culprit).

You would think that doing water changes would lower the alk/stabilize the calcium and alk ratio.
Can anyone provide more info on this or have experience dealing with high alkalinity? Im losing corals and its making me really sad

Are you intentionally maintaining an ultra low nutrient tank?

If not, let the nutrients rise a bit and then alk is then fine.

ahiggins · Sep 1, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Are you intentionally maintaining an ultra low nutrient tank?

If not, let the nutrients rise a bit and then alk is then fine.

Thats what the LFS said.
If the nutrients rise (you mean nitrates-correct?) then the higher alk is ok?
They had said my "optimal" water parameters would be at natural seawater levels. That way a little bit of swing in anything could be handled.
I would rather have no nitrates in my system-in that case I need to lower it slowly. Right?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 1, 2016

I mean both nitrate and phosphate to detectable levels, say 0.01-0.02 ppm phosphate and 0.5 to 5 ppm nitrate.

No nitrate is not optimal, IMO, because you are not supplying the natural organic sources of nitrogen. Many people run into issues with lack of N and find dosing nitrate helps them.

smh254 · Sep 1, 2016

The alk in my freshly mixed saltwater is about 10.4. I like to keep my alk at 7.7-8.2 so this is what I've been adding to bring alk down.Muriatic acid?
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Muriatic-acid?.260059/

ahiggins · Sep 1, 2016

smh254 said:
The alk in my freshly mixed saltwater is about 10.4. I like to keep my alk at 7.7-8.2 so this is what I've been adding to bring alk down.Muriatic acid?
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Muriatic-acid?.260059/

VERY interesting.
I have to find what the red sea regular makes up to. I do 5gal changes 1x per week but Im going to feed heavily and increase to 2x per week for a month to see how that affects the system.

The whole point is to bring my little SPS/LPS frags back from the bleach. so I cant do it too fast-I heard not to exceed 3 dkh per day?

Randy--what would you reccommend for a nano mixed reef-mostly LPS?
7.7-8.2 with little nutrients or a higher alk with more nutrients?
I dont have a choice at the moment but its something I can work towards

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 1, 2016

smh254 said:
The alk in my freshly mixed saltwater is about 10.4. I like to keep my alk at 7.7-8.2 so this is what I've been adding to bring alk down.Muriatic acid?
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Muriatic-acid?.260059/

That is a fine plan as long as you aerate it extensively after adding the acid so the excess CO2 can be blown off and the pH rise back toward normal.

Jdmonealp · Sep 1, 2016

My alk was 13 or so for a long time. I don't test often. But coral all looked awesome until I upgraded skimmer. stuff slowly started withering away. ive since completely turned the skimmer off and have been skimmerless for 3 months now. coral is back to happy!

IME
high nutrients high alk ok
low alk low nutrients ok
high nutrients low alk-no good
low alk high nutrients-no good

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 1, 2016

ahiggins said:
VERY interesting.
I have to find what the red sea regular makes up to. I do 5gal changes 1x per week but Im going to feed heavily and increase to 2x per week for a month to see how that affects the system.

The whole point is to bring my little SPS/LPS frags back from the bleach. so I cant do it too fast-I heard not to exceed 3 dkh per day?

Randy--what would you reccommend for a nano mixed reef-mostly LPS?
7.7-8.2 with little nutrients or a higher alk with more nutrients?
I dont have a choice at the moment but its something I can work towards

Depends on your goals. You likely get faster growth at higher alk and higher nutrients, and slower growth but maybe more color at lower nutrients/alk.