Low Alk Problem

[Fishbro]

Hey everyone, so I was advised by another member to post an issue here I’m having with my Alk. In my Biocube 32 my parameters are:

Alk: 7.3
Calcium: 470
Magnesium: 1360

I’m using Reef Crystals and my Alk seems very low. I’m using Sailfert to test these. Should I get my LFS to test my Alk just in case my test kit is bad? I only have 3 zoa frags, two mushrooms, and a green sinularia leather in the tank so the consumption doesn’t seem to be the issue. Tank has been set up for a month and two weeks. Also my corals seem to be doing great there is no issues with them.

 

[Spare time]

When did you last do a water change? Reef crystals has an alk of 13 so that is why I asked.

 

[W1ngz]

I'd say you have a borderline high calcium problem, but not really a low alk problem.
Ranges are flexible and a lot of people's preferences vary but typically they're around:
Alk 7.0-8.0
Ca: 400-450
Mg: 1300-1400

 

[Fishbro]

When did you last do a water change? Reef crystals has an alk of 13 so that is why I asked.

So my last water change was last Tuesday I’m not going to be able to do another one today since I’m about 5 hours from home but when I get home Thursday I’ll do one.

 

[Fishbro]

but I have been doing basically one gallon water changes since I got new coral last week I used the coral rx packet and it required one gallon of water so I did 3, 3 gallon water changes last week too.

 

[Spare time]

So my last water change was last Tuesday I’m not going to be able to do another one today since I’m about 5 hours from home but when I get home Thursday I’ll do one.

Try to mix the salt around in the bucket before you scoop it. Some people have problems with the salt not being evenly mixed in the bucket (not sure how this works though).

 

[PatW]

An ALK of 7.3 is low but it is not a disaster. Getting the LFS to confirm your reading would be a good choice.

If 7.3 is right, your salt Mix might have been. I think it happens. Your corals are not the kind to consume ALK. So they should not be the issue. Snails consume ALK as their shells grow. But unless you have a big bunch of well fed snails, they would not do it this fast. Coralline algae consumes ALK but your tank is pretty young and you probably do not have much. It might have been that your salt mix has low A!K. It can happen.

If your ALK is low, you can boost it with water changes assuming your salt mix is OK. Or you can use an additive to boost ALK like soda ash.

 

[NS Mike D]

yes, get a second test on that ALK to rule out the test kit.

A new tank so I dont think it's corals consuming alk fasted than CA

Mix up a batch of salt cyrstals and test the batch for a reference point. How you mix salt dies matter. ambient CO2 affects pH and needs to get to equilibrium (many folks mix a day in advance) .

check salinity of the mix water - reef crystals formula is for 1.022 SG. That, IMO, would equal lower alk that desired if you intended to mix to 1.025

I read somewhere to add salt to water and not the other way around. If you put the salt in the bucket first, things happen that prevent full dissolving - I can't vouch for that.

 

[Fishbro]

yes, get a second test on that ALK to rule out the test kit.

A new tank so I dont think it's corals consuming alk fasted than CA

Mix up a batch of salt cyrstals and test the batch for a reference point. How you mix salt dies matter. ambient CO2 affects pH and needs to get to equilibrium (many folks mix a day in advance) .

check salinity of the mix water - reef crystals formula is for 1.022 SG. That, IMO, would equal lower alk that desired if you intended to mix to 1.025

I read somewhere to add salt to water and not the other way around. If you put the salt in the bucket first, things happen that prevent full dissolving - I can't vouch for that.

Yeah I mix the salt in a 5 gallon bucket with a power head and heater overnight. And yeah I’ll mix up a new batch and test it.

 

[Natescorals]

If salt was mixed correctly than the alk should be a lot higher than the 7-8 range. I use instant ocean and I don’t dose anything. Plus I have Duncan’s and hammers and torches. Mine stays in the 9-10 range

 

[Natescorals]

Salt parameters

 

[Natescorals]

Reef crystals has the highest alkalinity. And you only have softies.

 

[Fishbro]

If salt was mixed correctly than the alk should be a lot higher than the 7-8 range. I use instant ocean and I don’t dose anything. Plus I have Duncan’s and hammers and torches. Mine stays in the 9-10 range

Yeah I'm gonna get it tested again.

 

[NS Mike D]

Yeah I mix the salt in a 5 gallon bucket with a power head and heater overnight. And yeah I’ll mix up a new batch and test it.

You will likely need to raise the alk in the tank to match the salt mix alk. There are many products to do this. I have Seacham Fusion ALk part 2 on hand and use that by checking one the reef calculators to make sure that I don't raise ALk or pH too fast.

fwiw, I recently stopped using reef crystals and went with IO instead with my tank redo. I don't need the higher alk of RC for now and I have but a handful of frags. I am fine with my ALK in the 8-9 range and no longer try to get it to the 10-12. Stability is more important andI also follow the notion of high NO3/PO4: High Alk, low NO3/PO4: low alk, I like to use the Red Sea target parameters for mixed reefs with one exception, They target alk at 11.5. I found that to be near impossible to maintain in my tank,. It seemed to settle in the 8 - 9 range and since my NO3 and PO4 weren't high (by Red Sea's parameters) that's where I decide it should be for my tank

 

[Fishbro]

You will likely need to raise the alk in the tank to match the salt mix alk. There are many products to do this. I have Seacham Fusion ALk part 2 on hand and use that by checking one the reef calculators to make sure that I don't raise ALk or pH too fast.

fwiw, I recently stopped using reef crystals and went with IO instead with my tank redo. I don't need the higher alk of RC for now and I have but a handful of frags. I am fine with my ALK in the 8-9 range and no longer try to get it to the 10-12. Stability is more important andI also follow the notion of high NO3/PO4: High Alk, low NO3/PO4: low alk, I like to use the Red Sea target parameters for mixed reefs with one exception, They target alk at 11.5. I found that to be near impossible to maintain in my tank,. It seemed to settle in the 8 - 9 range and since my NO3 and PO4 weren't high (by Red Sea's parameters) that's where I decide it should be for my tank

Alright if I have to end up dosing I’ll probably just use Tropic Marine All for Reef since I was planning on using that anyways.

 

[NS Mike D]

Alright if I have to end up dosing I’ll probably just use Tropic Marine All for Reef since I was planning on using that anyways.

whoa there, that also contains CA and MG. You need only raise ALK ( and I think raising the CA might cause a precipitation thus having the opposite of your desired outcome).

There are home solutions using baking soda and baking powder (one screws up pH). I'll check on that for you and post back .

 

[Fishbro]

Ok just to be sure guys, if my Alk really is at 9,10, or 11 am I in the clear? I don’t really want to adjust anything if I don’t have to.

 

[NS Mike D]

Ok just to be sure guys, if my Alk really is at 9,10, or 11 am I in the clear? I don’t really want to adjust anything if I don’t have to.

great question

so lots of sps ultra low nutrient tanks run ALK at your current level and are jaw dropping awesome

I think there is general consensus that anything above 8 and below 12 is fine and that stability is more important that the actual number.

Since you are using reef crystals, keep testing your mix to determine what level ALK you are mixing to and use that as your target number (so long as it's in the 8-12 range).

Then you can test ALK to see what the tank consumption rate is and then calculate a dosing schedule to replenish what the corals (and coraline) are consuming between water changes.

Keep in mind that some tanks consume ALK faster than CA so doing rates may not be equal

 

[Spare time]

Yeah I'm gonna get it tested again.

you could also br

Ok just to be sure guys, if my Alk really is at 9,10, or 11 am I in the clear? I don’t really want to adjust anything if I don’t have to.

You want it to match your salt so that water chanegs don't make lps and sps upset. Those are fine numbers, but keeping it where the salt is at is better if you do water changes.