HELP alk way low

Myka · Jan 29, 2017

Evan West said:
IO Reef Crystals ......also yeah i know it is odd

Have you tested the alkalinity of your freshly mixed saltwater?

If you're keeping alk at 11 dKH just by waterchanges, that suggests that the tank is using up very little alkalinity because I don't think IORC will be much higher than 11 dKH. Then all of a sudden you're down 3 dKH in less than 3 weeks? Something isn't quite right. Is it a new bucket? Is alk low in it? Did you double your coral load 6-8 weeks ago? Did your old test kit give you the same result as your new test kit? It doesn't add up to me.

reeferfoxx · Jan 29, 2017

Evan i remember you having a coral placement chart in the beginning? You didn't by any chance put your acan near a euphillia did you? Also can you post a pic of it?

Evan West · Jan 29, 2017

It is a new bag of salt, I will mix and test a new batch of that in a few. As far and the acan nothing has been moved around it so its got getting stung.

reeferfoxx · Jan 29, 2017

Evan West said:
It is a new bag of salt, I will mix and test a new batch of that in a few. As far and the acan nothing has been moved around it so its got getting stung.

Check magnesium too. I will say it looks healthy despite looking semi closed up. I think i'ts just growing new heads. With low nutrients however, I wouldn't run alk as high as 11dkh. 9-9.5dkh at the highest maybe.

Evan West · Jan 31, 2017

hmmmm just tested PH (lights still not on for the day) anf got 7.4 soooooo im running 8-8.4 during the light cycle.........big swing no?

reeferfoxx · Jan 31, 2017

Evan West said:
hmmmm just tested PH (lights still not on for the day) anf got 7.4 soooooo im running 8-8.4 during the light cycle.........big swing no?

Yep. And what was your magnesium?

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 31, 2017

Evan West said:
7.4 soooooo im running 8-8.4 during the light cycle.........big swing no?

yup.
IMO kalk or Co2 scrubber/outside air. @8.4 and a high alk already, Id look at air.

reeferfoxx · Jan 31, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
yup.
IMO kalk or Co2 scrubber/outside air. @8.4 and a high alk already, Id look at air.

Kalk on a 20 gallong long might be a bad idea especially if used in top off. Evaporation swing with lack of calcium up take. He does have a window near by. With a small skimmer he could run a line to the window.

Evan West · Jan 31, 2017

reeferfoxx said:
Kalk on a 20 gallong long might be a bad idea especially if used in top off. Evaporation swing with lack of calcium up take. He does have a window near by. With a small skimmer he could run a line to the window.

Hmmmm im currently sumpless and would like to stay that way, problem is I also dont want an in tank or hob skimmer and thats why i currently don't have one......might be time to look into a sump tho.......so one thing at a time, my alk is stabilised again at 9 or so but im having ph swings, frogspawn is healing but acan is still closed tho not losing tissue or color. So should i focus on figuring out a way to get outside air into the tank to stabilise ph first?

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 31, 2017

reeferfoxx said:
Kalk on a 20 gallong long might be a bad idea especially if used in top off. Evaporation swing with lack of calcium up take. He does have a window near by. With a small skimmer he could run a line to the window.

understood. I do definitely prefer the air solution. Reset the ALk params with WC, ad air. allow the tank to define the running Alk level and not force it. I personally don't see the need for higher alk in smaller tank. A smaller tank is by nature more unstable esp with no sump/large skimmer, and trying to keep a higher alk adds to instability IMO.
My two tanks(55 30) run completely differently as far as PH goes despite the same salt mixes. The 55 has an over flo Thats a lot of air, a tiny skimmer 9006 not plumbed to air and an average ph of 8.3 and the swing is never under 8. It also has a refugium on an opposite schedule. the 30 is sumpless with a 9004 just recently plumbed to air because we finally had winter.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 31, 2017

Evan West said:
Hmmmm im currently sumpless and would like to stay that way, problem is I also dont want an in tank or hob skimmer and thats why i currently don't have one......might be time to look into a sump tho.......so one thing at a time, my alk is stabilised again at 9 or so but im having ph swings, frogspawn is healing but acan is still closed tho not losing tissue or color. So should i focus on figuring out a way to get outside air into the tank to stabilise ph first?

what filter are you running?

Evan West · Jan 31, 2017

Fluval g3 currently.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 31, 2017

Evan West said:
Fluval g3 currently.

Ah.. Are you or did it come with a surface skimmer? are you running floss only or the media too? the down side of a larger biofilter(can) is it consumes more oxygen and add c02.
you may have to consider a temp solution for air. Id look again at Farleys Ph probs and possibly reconsider dosing strategey and Kalk. Im at 300ml of saturated(weak) in 2.5 gal rodi topoff and using two part at only 3ml per day . Targeting low 8's for alk.

reeferfoxx · Jan 31, 2017

I think switching the g3 out for a hydor nano skimmer, having it tucked in the corner of the tank, with an air line directed to the window would solve this issue. And it would run about $80 to do so. It's just a suggestion and a cheap one at that. I like the idea of co2 scrubbers but the media is outrageous in price.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 31, 2017

reeferfoxx said:
I like the idea of co2 scrubbers but the media is outrageous in price.

I did not know that.

reeferfoxx · Jan 31, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
I did not know that.

BRS has the cheapest of $50 per container. Its color changing so you know when to replace it. But most folks only get a good 4 or 5 days of scrubbing before having to change media.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 31, 2017

reeferfoxx said:
BRS has the cheapest of $50 per container. Its color changing so you know when to replace it. But most folks only get a good 4 or 5 days of scrubbing before having to change media.

ouch.