Does coral use Alk and Cal consistently

[Billldg]

Do corals, specifically sps, use Alk and Cal consistently, or can they go on a Alk feeding frenzy periodically.

I have noticed that every 3 to 4 days my Alk drops .1 dkh on avg. I installed a Trident roughly 2 months ago and have been monitoring my parameters with it since. I turned on the controlled dosing to help stabilize my parameters. My Alk parameters will swing around .1 dkh daily with the avg. at 8.2. I started to notice that roughly every 4 days my Alk would drop .1 dkh, so basically the avg. would go from 8.2 to 8.1 quickly and then stabilize there until I manually bumped it back. I talked with @revhtree the other day and he also found this interesting. My Cal stays consistently at 440 and my Mag drops from 1510 to 1490 in 3 weeks.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Do you notice PH fluctuations? I know in my tank if ph is high (8.3-8.5) consumption skyrockets but if its low (7.9-8.2) consumption cuts in half. I have to readjust my dosing every spring and fall. During the summer windows are open so PH stays up, during winter windows are closed so ph falls

 

[HB AL]

With a difference that low it could just be the accuracy of our hobby grade test kits accuracy. Also it is possible there uptake does vary a little, perfectly normal unless it changed drastically. I wouldn't worry about the minor changes.

 

[Billldg]

My Ph stays between 8.1 and 8.2 consistently as I have a C02 reactor hooked up to my skimmer and a solenoid hooked up to it to control Ph.

Do you notice PH fluctuations? I know in my tank if ph is high (8.3-8.5) consumption skyrockets but if its low (7.9-8.2) consumption cuts in half. I have to readjust my dosing every spring and fall. During the summer windows are open so PH stays up, during winter windows are closed so ph falls

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

Your magnesium is high. Your alkalinity consumption isn't making since to me.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Most folks who monitor alk demand 24/7 think most of the demand is during the day. Is that due to the light cycle, or the pH cycle (or both). The answer is not known.

 

[Billldg]

With a difference that low it could just be the accuracy of our hobby grade test kits accuracy.

Using a Trident with 6 Alk test daily.

 

[Billldg]

Your magnesium is high. Your alkalinity consumption isn't making since to me.

I have my Mag high for a different reason, plus it seems that HW Marine reefer mix salt has a higher than normal Mag.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do corals, specifically sps, use Alk and Cal consistently, or can they go on a Alk feeding frenzy periodically.

I have noticed that every 3 to 4 days my Alk drops .1 dkh on avg. I installed a Trident roughly 2 months ago and have been monitoring my parameters with it since. I turned on the controlled dosing to help stabilize my parameters. My Alk parameters will swing around .1 dkh daily with the avg. at 8.2. I started to notice that roughly every 4 days my Alk would drop .1 dkh, so basically the avg. would go from 8.2 to 8.1 quickly and then stabilize there until I manually bumped it back. I talked with @revhtree the other day and he also found this interesting. My Cal stays consistently at 440 and my Mag drops from 1510 to 1490 in 3 weeks.

I’m not clear what you are dosing, if anything. If nothing, the magnesium drop is test error. It won’t be more than about 1/10th of the calcium demand.

 

[HB AL]

Using a Trident with 6 Alk test daily.

Still pretty much hobby grade and that small of a change is probably well within the norms for accuracy, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I have my Mag high for a different reason, plus it seems that HW Marine reefer mix salt has a higher than normal Mag.

For your reference

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley

[note: last updated edited on 8/10/2022] One of the main roles of an aquarist with a coral reef aquarium is to ensure that the conditions are right for their tank inhabitants. There are many different attributes of the aquarium that need to be...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Billldg]

min not clear what you are dosing, if anything. If nothing, the magnesium drop is test error. It won’t be more than about 1/10th if the calcium demand.

The mag dropped 20 ppm over a 3 week period in which case the controlled dosing on Cal could be hiding the difference as it will change how much it dosing over a givin time. I just put that info in just in case you needed it. Mainly, does sps corals consistently use Alk, or can it go on a Alk absorption spree and use more in a short period of time.

As of today I dosed 58.4 ml of Alk and 53.1 ml of Cal. I don't dose Mag because it drops so slowly.
Using BRS 2-part

 

[Billldg]

Still pretty much hobby grade and that small of a change is probably well within the norms for accuracy, I wouldn't worry about it.

Not really worried about it as its very easily corrected. The reason I brought the question up was it seemed fascinating, does coral consistently use supplements in a controlled environment, or can they splurge every so often and consume more.

 

[HB AL]

In my mixed reef I experience minor fluctuations here and there on there uptake. They definitely can use more or less depending on what "mood" there in. In my experience its perfectly normal, as I experience the same in my mixed reef jam packed with corals and fish.

 

[Billldg]

Most folks who monitor alk demand 24/7 think most of the demand is during the day. Is that due to the light cycle, or the pH cycle (or both). The answer is not known.

Originally I was dosing my Alk at night to help with keeping PH up, now I dose 24/7. When I see trends that are repeated several times I find it fascinating and start to question why. That was the reason for the question of does corals use Alk and Cal consistently if all things stay equal.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The mag dropped 20 ppm over a 3 week period in which case the controlled dosing on Cal could be hiding the difference as it will change how much it dosing over a givin time. I just put that info in just in case you needed it. Mainly, does sps corals consistently use Alk, or can it go on a Alk absorption spree and use more in a short period of time.

As of today I dosed 58.4 ml of Alk and 53.1 ml of Cal. I don't dose Mag because it drops so slowly.

there will be events that deter calcification, which might include pH changes, compounds in the water that might be from other organisms, etc. the noted effect is very small and may be test error.

 

[Billldg]

In my mixed reef I experience minor fluctuations here and there on there uptake. They definitely can use more or less depending on what "mood" there in. In my experience its perfectly normal, as I experience the same in my mixed reef jam packed with corals and fish.

Beautiful tank.

 

[Billldg]

For your reference

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley

[note: last updated edited on 8/10/2022] One of the main roles of an aquarist with a coral reef aquarium is to ensure that the conditions are right for their tank inhabitants. There are many different attributes of the aquarium that need to be...

www.reef2reef.com

The reason why my Mag is at 1500 is that over the course of several months my Mag stayed at 1400, nothing is ever that consistent. I ordered another test kit and it also read 1400 making me question red sea mag pro test kits in general. So I raised it to above 1500 and tested it again, this time the test kit actually and read 1500. My tank does not use much mag at all and like I said HW marine salt usually tests at 1380 to 1400. Right now my mag is at 1490, so I am letting it come down naturally.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

The reason why my Mag is at 1500 is that over the course of several months my Mag stayed at 1400, nothing is ever that consistent. I ordered another test kit and it also read 1400 making me question red sea mag pro test kits in general. So I raised it to above 1500 and tested it again, this time the test kit actually and read 1500. My tank does not use much mag at all and like I said HW marine salt usually tests at 1380 to 1400. Right now my mag is at 1490, so I am letting it come down naturally.

I understand the purpose of your thread now. IO reef crystals runs high on magnesium as well. I do find that I get a really slow decline of alkalinity over the course of a week. Of course I have different coral coming and going on a consistent basis as well, so the need for different water chemistry is changing lol

 

[Billldg]

I understand the purpose of your thread now. IO reef crystals runs high on magnesium as well. I do find that I get a really slow decline of alkalinity over the course of a week. Of course I have different coral coming and going on a consistent basis as well, so the need for different water chemistry is changing lol

I also have a falling trend of Alk and Cal, but now the controlled dosing takes care of that. I was just curious, with all things being equal, does corals use supplements equally, in this case Alk as I just seemed to notice a drop, small as it may have been, every 4 or so days. It could be a testing glitch but still found it fascinating. I do know that my parameters are constantly changing as my sps are starting to really take off.

Going mainly sps this time around, I have found it fascinating the relation between lighting, nutrients, parameters and such.