Dinos and alk and cal

[Slimkasey66]

I've been trying to increase my Nitrate and Phosphate in a battle to compete against Dinos. One thing I have done as well is decrease my water changes, however my Alk and Cal levels are going up. I've increased feeding, I've increased clean-up crew, I'm dosing Micro-phos and Nitrate, I'm using Micro Bacter 7, but the levels I want aren't increasing, but my Alk and Cal are increasing, even having stopped dosing these al together. any thoughts?

Sincerely, Steve in Calgary, Canada

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've been trying to increase my Nitrate and Phosphate in a battle to compete against Dinos. One thing I have done as well is decrease my water changes, however my Alk and Cal levels are going up. I've increased feeding, I've increased clean-up crew, I'm dosing Micro-phos and Nitrate, I'm using Micro Bacter 7, but the levels I want aren't increasing, but my Alk and Cal are increasing, even having stopped dosing these al together. any thoughts?

Sincerely, Steve in Calgary, Canada

Don’t spend time right now worrying about nutrients
Blow this stuff loose and do your water change.
thereafter, turn white lights off, preferably all lights off (blackout) for 5-7 days
Add 1.5 ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons during the day. At night… add 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons during blackout period
Cease adding Coral food and nopox also as it fuels dino
After day 5 , ramp up your blues And whites 5% every other day

 

[Dburr1014]

Have you checked your sg?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Nitrate dosing slowly boosts alk. Calcium is unlikely to drift too high.

I do agree that keeping nutrients detectable is desirable.

 

[Miami Reef]

Unless you are dosing 50ppm NO3, Alk won’t really spike like that.

Test salinity (as mentioned above) and also make sure you are doing the Ca and Alk tests properly. Without dosing nor water changes, it’s almost impossible for them to climb unless salinity is getting higher via evaporation.

 

[Slimkasey66]

Don’t spend time right now worrying about nutrients
Blow this stuff loose and do your water change.
thereafter, turn white lights off, preferably all lights off (blackout) for 5-7 days
Add 1.5 ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons during the day. At night… add 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons during blackout period
Cease adding Coral food and nopox also as it fuels dino
After day 5 , ramp up your blues And whites 5% every other day

That worked I’ve got clear glass for a couple of days now, and maybe a start of cyano, but that I know how to battle. Hope you don’t mind if I pass this info onto others. Thank you so much for saving my mind. Steve