Kh creeping up

[scotty333]

Guys,
9 days ago my kh was 9.3 but today it’s 10 , I know it’s a small increase but what’s slowed down consumption?

I’ll give relevant details on request because the whole tank’s life’s history is unesesary probably
Ironically I wanted 10kh but not this way

 

[george9]

Without any details of how you're running the tank, what you have done in the last few weeks and the current parameters, there is no possible way for any third party to know what's causing the rise.

Just off the top of my head, it could be anything from your water change water, inconsistent dosing, unhappy corals (due to a number of different causes), suddenly lower pH (or inconsistent pH), high nutrients, or even test error.

 

[Reefering1]

Guys,
9 days ago my kh was 9.3 but today it’s 10 , I know it’s a small increase but what’s slowed down consumption?

I’ll give relevant details on request because the whole tank’s life’s history is unesesary probably
Ironically I wanted 10kh but not this way

Verify ph and everything else. But this might be the slowed consumption, that we talked about looking out for, after recent alk/po4 "adventures". Slow your dosing to not perpetuate the instability of parameters. Let your po4 settle(and re evaluate) before resuming lc.

 

[scotty333]

I wasn’t going to list everything cos it’s pages long so I was waiting for some questions that are relative
So I’ll answer what you asked

Current params are
1.025
26 temp
Ph 8.15 ( is down a bit over the last couple of weeks)
Kh 10
Calc 420
Mag 1380
Orp 350
Glow 80x ( on pulse so 40x)
Par 100-400
No3 15
Po4 .17

Last water change a week ago 20% , matched the kh to 9.3


Over the last few weeks I’ve battled po4 swings but nothing else changed

Dosers not been touched

Corals are thriving

Always double check unexpected results

 

[scotty333]

Put this little addition on Friday but only just switched it on
Maybe it’ll help idk

Doors open always because the dogs come and go so no shortage of fresh air coming in

 

[george9]

Tank looks really really good! I was going to say I know when I used to live in a small apartment, it was very difficult for me to maintain consistent pH when people came over or when I went out of down (swinging ambient c02 led to drastic swings in pH). Are there any changes in the inhabitants of your home? i.e. more dogs or people living or staying there?

You mentioned that you were dealing with some phosphate swings the last couple of weeks. How big of a swing are we talking? I have noticed changes in carbonate uptake when I had phosphate swings. Based on what you wrote I'd probably chalk it up to swings in phosphate coupled with a slightly reduced pH leading to slower carbonate uptake over time. Corals don't tend to react to changes right away so this could potentially be the culprit IMO.

If everything looks good, I'd very gradually adjust your dosing to make sure kH doesn't rise too high and test more frequently while simultaneously keeping nutrients as stable as possible.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There can be many explanations, ranging from real consumption changes to changed dosing (pumps deliver less for many reasons, to test error.

Changes in pH from changes in indoor CO2 levels is a common reason real demand changes.

 

[scotty333]

Tank looks really really good! I was going to say I know when I used to live in a small apartment, it was very difficult for me to maintain consistent pH when people came over or when I went out of down (swinging ambient c02 led to drastic swings in pH). Are there any changes in the inhabitants of your home? i.e. more dogs or people living or staying there?

You mentioned that you were dealing with some phosphate swings the last couple of weeks. How big of a swing are we talking? I have noticed changes in carbonate uptake when I had phosphate swings. Based on what you wrote I'd probably chalk it up to swings in phosphate coupled with a slightly reduced pH leading to slower carbonate uptake over time. Corals don't tend to react to changes right away so this could potentially be the culprit IMO.

If everything looks good, I'd very gradually adjust your dosing to make sure kH doesn't rise too high and test more frequently while simultaneously keeping nutrients as stable as possible.

Well, this isn’t the case because since 3 weeks ago my wife left with my daughter and the maid so there’s less co2 now than before so it can’t be that , I still have 3 dogs so no change there
The po4 was bad
.11 steady for weeks
.41 5 days later
.26
.17
.30
.18
.17
.11
.11
.24 ( 3 days later)
.18
.17 yesterday

 

[george9]

Well, this isn’t the case because since 3 weeks ago my wife left with my daughter and the maid so there’s less co2 now than before so it can’t be that , I still have 3 dogs so no change there
The po4 was bad
.11 steady for weeks
.41 5 days later
.26
.17
.30
.18
.17
.11
.11
.24 ( 3 days later)
.18
.17 yesterday

Ah sounds like the PO4 is likely the culprit. I've run into sudden changes in consumption with PO4 swings like this. Nothing deadly although it definitely causes some temporary stress. Work on keeping that stable without letting your kh keep up too much and all should be well

I fell down an extreme rabbit hole last year with PO4. I began testing twice a day to monitor consumption and even put PO4 on an automatic doser to keep it rock solid.

 

[scotty333]

Yeah it was solid for months then bang it shot up

Low ph sorted , now 8.3
Ran an air line from the skimmer outside , open the door fully and with the fan pulling in air from behind the curtain I think it’ll stay up
Your right , it could be the po4 but let’s see tomorrow if it’s where it should be
Thanks

 

[scotty333]

So today another .17 po4
Ph is up at 8.4
Will check kh in a few days see if drops a touch

 

[scotty333]

Kh risen .3 over the last 5 days
Ph has been 8.5 for about a week , I believe high ph is like low ph , slows calcification?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Kh risen .3 over the last 5 days
Ph has been 8.5 for about a week , I believe high ph is like low ph , slows calcification?

No, high pH (at least that pH) seems to accelerate coral calcification, and higher pH does always accelerate abiotic precipitation.

 

[scotty333]

So the kh should be falling but over the last 3 weeks it’s gone from 9.3-10.3
I’ve done everything I can to increase growth , feeding the corals Red Sea ab+ , lowered po4 to .07
I know these may not guarantee more usage but they’re steps in the right direction no?

 

[scotty333]

Ph probe must be faulty
Is there something in the house I can test against like vinegar or gin ?

 

[scotty333]

I have a drop of nsw I raised the kh to 10 , should I warm that to 26 and see what I get?

 

[scotty333]

Anyone?