How to reduce alkalinity

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How safe is vinegar?

Vinegar is totally safe (when used at appropriate doses to spur bacterial growth), and totally useless in the context of lowering alkalinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will increasing Po4 work as mentioned above?

To do what?

If there is some sort of balanced export method for N and P (like growing algae or corals) and it is limited by phosphate being too low, that may increase the reduction in nitrate.

I do not see increasing nitrate export as a useful goal for you.

I would recommend nonzero phosphate to prevent dinos, and I'd either feed more or dose phosphate.

 

[MONTANTK]

To do what?

If there is some sort of balanced export method for N and P (like growing algae or corals) and it is limited by phosphate being too low, that may increase the reduction in nitrate.

I do not see increasing nitrate export as a useful goal for you.

I would recommend nonzero phosphate to prevent dinos, and I'd either feed more or dose phosphate.

Got it. I’ll continue feeding more then. My goal is to bring my alk down and lower No3 to the point where my corals can outcompete these algae

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Got it. I’ll continue feeding more then. My goal is to bring my alk down and lower No3 to the point where my corals can outcompete these algae

I do not think lowering nitrate will accomplish that algae goal without risking dinos and possibly starving corals, but you might be able to walk that fine line.

The alk decline can only be accomplished in one of three ways:

1. Wait for it to decline on its own (preferred, but may be slow)
2. Add an acid (works perfectly, but risks excessively low pH while you do it)
3. Water changes, possible with a mix made ultra low in alk by adding acid to it.

 

[MONTANTK]

I do not think lowering nitrate will accomplish that algae goal without risking dinos and possibly starving corals, but you might be able to walk that fine line.

The alk decline can only be accomplished in one of three ways:

1. Wait for it to decline on its own (preferred, but may be slow)
2. Add an acid (works perfectly, but risks excessively low pH while you do it)
3. Water changes, possible with a mix made ultra low in alk by adding acid to it.

Okay, then I suppose I’ll let all decline on its own while also dosing phosphate. It appears I’ll probably have to dose phosphate anyway given how much my tank appears to be consuming

 

[Millimylilly]

I get plenty of phosphates from feeding pellets

 

[MONTANTK]

I get plenty of phosphates from feeding pellets

That’s a good idea actually! I remember hearing certain brands produce a lot of phosphates due to the coating on the pellets

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That’s a good idea actually! I remember hearing certain brands produce a lot of phosphates due to the coating on the pellets

I discuss the phosphate level in many commercial foods here:

Aquarium Chemistry: Phosphate And Math: Yes You Need To Understand Both

Foods are by far the most important source of phosphate in most aquariums. In considering whether sources of phosphate other than foods are important, one must carefully look to the actual amounts involved to determine whether other sources are even worth trying to minimize.

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