always reefin
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Alk can drop pretty dramatically in the right conditions
First loss, Alkalinity?
- Thread starter Isoprene
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OP
OP
Back on the topic, my drop was corrected back to 8.9 now where I plan to keep it, between 8.3 and 9.0, if its possible. I have a 55g system with a 12g sump so a total of about 70 gallons overall, maybe less with rock and all the equipment etc..
Anyways its been tough for me to keep alk in line using just a ATO and Kalk 2+. I have been working closely with my LFS owner to keep things stable, he has really helped a freaking ton. I upped my Kalk dosing in my ATO about two and a half weeks ago double the volume of what I was dosing on his advice. I was at 2.5 teaspoons 5g RO/DI in ATO to 4.0 teaspoons in 5g RO/DI now which seems to keep my alk around 8.3 to 8.6 from day to day. I am using Salifert alk test and I am very careful with my testing. My LFS was right on with his test when he did it compared to mine, both at exactly 8.3.
I have not ever bought a test kit, other than nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia till now. Kind of embarrassing but I did not have the money till now. I have been using the LFS to test my water once a week on the same day for Alk, Mg2+, and Ca2+, those guys have some serious patience with me. I talk a lot, hang out too long, and use them to test my water every week. Hey at least I spend money there right? Everything was fine until I realized the drop, 2 weeks of 7.3 dKH down from 8.7 - 9.3 dKH for 4 months prior. Why I did not act accordingly after the first week of the drop is beyond me...life gets busy I guess. Idk... I am kicking myself for it now.
I still have no idea why it dropped so significantly.
My water changes, now that I have the test kit could be suspect. I tested the alk in two 5g buckets today after mixing them overnight with a heater and they both read out at about 9.6 in one to 9.3 in the other. I figure they were similar but the salinity although seemingly the same on my hydrometer, probably off enough to cause the +/- of 0.3 dKH. I am looking to invest in a refractometer, next purchase after my test kits for Mg2+ and Ca2+.
I did the 10g water change, 5 gallons more than normal, and used the 10g to fill my new little nano for my gf. My alk read out at 8.6 dKH tonight. I am worried that a 7.3 dKH to a 8.9 dKH in approx 2.5 weeks is too much. What do you guys think...if you managed to read my novel?
Anyone also have any experience with the dKH that is mixed up in the water changes using Reef Crystals by Instant Ocean? Was it consistent for you?
Anyways its been tough for me to keep alk in line using just a ATO and Kalk 2+. I have been working closely with my LFS owner to keep things stable, he has really helped a freaking ton. I upped my Kalk dosing in my ATO about two and a half weeks ago double the volume of what I was dosing on his advice. I was at 2.5 teaspoons 5g RO/DI in ATO to 4.0 teaspoons in 5g RO/DI now which seems to keep my alk around 8.3 to 8.6 from day to day. I am using Salifert alk test and I am very careful with my testing. My LFS was right on with his test when he did it compared to mine, both at exactly 8.3.
I have not ever bought a test kit, other than nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia till now. Kind of embarrassing but I did not have the money till now. I have been using the LFS to test my water once a week on the same day for Alk, Mg2+, and Ca2+, those guys have some serious patience with me. I talk a lot, hang out too long, and use them to test my water every week. Hey at least I spend money there right? Everything was fine until I realized the drop, 2 weeks of 7.3 dKH down from 8.7 - 9.3 dKH for 4 months prior. Why I did not act accordingly after the first week of the drop is beyond me...life gets busy I guess. Idk... I am kicking myself for it now.
I still have no idea why it dropped so significantly.
My water changes, now that I have the test kit could be suspect. I tested the alk in two 5g buckets today after mixing them overnight with a heater and they both read out at about 9.6 in one to 9.3 in the other. I figure they were similar but the salinity although seemingly the same on my hydrometer, probably off enough to cause the +/- of 0.3 dKH. I am looking to invest in a refractometer, next purchase after my test kits for Mg2+ and Ca2+.
I did the 10g water change, 5 gallons more than normal, and used the 10g to fill my new little nano for my gf. My alk read out at 8.6 dKH tonight. I am worried that a 7.3 dKH to a 8.9 dKH in approx 2.5 weeks is too much. What do you guys think...if you managed to read my novel?
Anyone also have any experience with the dKH that is mixed up in the water changes using Reef Crystals by Instant Ocean? Was it consistent for you?
Last edited:
solar
Valuable Member
Hydrometers are usually wrong by as much as 6 points.
I has 2 totally different brand/type and they both read that my salinity was mixed and staying at 1.024. Well it was mixing and staying at 1.030 my alk was at 12 constant and my calcium was anywhere from 500-520
Buy a refractometer you will not regret it. The more the salinity rises the more alk/cal you get outta the waterchange. Just my 2cents! Hope you get it figured out, it was giving me a constant headache.
OP
OP
Yeah I am going to def invest in one at the end of the month I think. I am tired of really not knowing my salinity using the old swing arm. Its consistent I guess but its not the accuracy I want.
