Low Alkalinity

[ElusiveKumquat]

So I have had a low alkalinity for awhile according to my api test kits. But I finally just got my red sea test kit to get a more accurate reading. It is still low but magnesium is actually high. Looking for some thoughts on why my parameters are what they are and also what is the best way to raise alk. I do weekly water changes of 15 gallons using reef crystals and RODI. Have an ato reservoir.

My parameters are:
Total system volume: 150 gal.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Phos.: .25
Ph: 8.4
Mg: 1620
Ca: 445
Alk: 5.3 dkh
Temp: 79°
Salinity: 1.025

If I have missed any other details please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Cory]

Everything looks good besides alk and magnesium being high. I cabt see any strange reason for alk being low its actually normal for alk to drop on its own. Mag may be from salt mix whats it read in a new batch?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm assuming you're not dosing anything (kalkwasser or two part). If this is a reef tank with hard corals or clams, water changes alone will not keep up with alk consumption....you'll need to dose.

The simplest thing to raise alk is to dose baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). There are a number of calculators available that will tell you how much to add. My only suggestion is not to do more that 1 dkh per day....raise it over a couple days.

 

[ElusiveKumquat]

Everything looks good besides alk and magnesium being high. I cabt see any strange reason for alk being low its actually normal for alk to drop on its own. Mag may be from salt mix whats it read in a new batch?

Not sure. Will have to test next one I make. Box says 1345 ppm.

 

[Cory]

Not sure. Will have to test next one I make. Box says 1345 ppm.

Sounds good. What device to measure salinity are you using? Reason I ask is if your actually accidentally making the new batch at 1.028 because the device you use doesnt read correctly that would exsplain high magnesium.

 

[ElusiveKumquat]

Sounds good. What device to measure salinity are you using? Reason I ask is if your actually accidentally making the new batch at 1.028 because the device you use doesnt read correctly that would exsplain high magnesium.

Using refractometer calibrated using solution. Just checked it to make sure it didn't change but it's good. Do you have any experience with caribseas 2 part? I've not really dose anything regularly. Just use aqua vitro 8.4 rarely and fuel once a week. But I got a the caribsea 2 part at a show for free. Thinking about trying it.

 

[Cory]

Using refractometer calibrated using solution. Just checked it to make sure it didn't change but it's good. Do you have any experience with caribseas 2 part? I've not really dose anything regularly. Just use aqua vitro 8.4 rarely and fuel once a week. But I got a the caribsea 2 part at a show for free. Thinking about trying it.

Sorry no experience with caribsea two part. But im sure it will raise alkalinty just fine. How much does it say to add?

 

[Diesel]

What sets me off is a PH of 8.4 but ALK is 5.3 that can't be.
I know that @Randy Holmes-Farley had a formula for it and I know I saved it some where but I'm so messed up lately that I can't find my own house anymore, today I did and I was lucky I guess.
Anyways PH of 8.4 and ALK of 5.3 is the question.
If you wanna house corals look also into your nitrate (No3) to bring that up a bit. 2ppm

 

[ElusiveKumquat]

Sorry no experience with caribsea two part. But im sure it will raise alkalinty just fine. How much does it say to add?

1ml per 1 gallon will raise alk by .6meq/l. So I may just do a half dose to raise slowly. Should I do it daily to raise it to what I want or space it out longer?

 

[Cory]

1ml per 1 gallon will raise alk by .6meq/l. So I may just do a half dose to raise slowly. Should I do it daily to raise it to what I want or space it out longer?

Id raise it daily, over a couple of days. But your alk is lower than the accepted low, so i would even be inclined to raise it to at least to 7dkh all at once.

 

[ElusiveKumquat]

What sets me off is a PH of 8.4 but ALK is 5.3 that can't be.
I know that @Randy Holmes-Farley had a formula for it and I know I saved it some where but I'm so messed up lately that I can't find my own house anymore, today I did and I was lucky I guess.
Anyways PH of 8.4 and ALK of 5.3 is the question.
If you wanna house corals look also into your nitrate (No3) to bring that up a bit. 2ppm

How do I raise nitrate? Why do you want a small amount?

 

[ElusiveKumquat]

What sets me off is a PH of 8.4 but ALK is 5.3 that can't be.
I know that @Randy Holmes-Farley had a formula for it and I know I saved it some where but I'm so messed up lately that I can't find my own house anymore, today I did and I was lucky I guess.
Anyways PH of 8.4 and ALK of 5.3 is the question.
If you wanna house corals look also into your nitrate (No3) to bring that up a bit. 2ppm

I will need to re calibrate my ph meter again to be sure. Let me test it with api test real quick

 

[ElusiveKumquat]

Id raise it daily, over a couple of days. But your alk is lower than the accepted low, so i would even be inclined to raise it to at least to 7dkh all at once.

Alright sounds good. I've been dealing with the low alk for a while couldn't figure out why. I just got the new test kit today I wanted to see what magnesium was at to get a better understanding.

 

[ElusiveKumquat]

So I don't have the color card for the saltwater high range ph but used my phone and it looks to be close to 8.0 so it's possible my meter is off.

 

[Diesel]

How do I raise nitrate? Why do you want a small amount?

Nitrate are nutrients for corals and bacteria, never bad to have some.
I keep my tank at 4ppm but has to dose daily about 12ml of stumpremover mix.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/potassium-nitrate-spectracide-stump-remover-dosing-steps.215730/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/no3-po4-why-is-this-a-primary-focus.268889/

 

[spidercrab]

Id raise it daily, over a couple of days. But your alk is lower than the accepted low, so i would even be inclined to raise it to at least to 7dkh all at once.

Dont do that.. dont chase numbers assuming you have coral in there..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Dont do that.. dont chase numbers assuming you have coral in there..

You are suggesting that if alk is very low to not raise it however much is needed to get to 7 dKH? That sounds overly conservative to me.

 

[spidercrab]

You are suggesting that if alk is very low to not raise it however much is needed to get to 7 dKH? That sounds overly conservative to me.

Not to raise it all at once that's asking for trouble. I recommend Always dosing as slowly as possible and maintaining an uptrend until the desired goal is reached. I see too many tanks crash from "number chasing" and overdosing. 5.3 to 7 in one dose would most likely kill any coral in that tank.

 

[Diesel]

Not to raise it all at once that's asking for trouble. I recommend Always dosing as slowly as possible and maintaining an uptrend until the desired goal is reached. I see too many tanks crash from "number chasing" and overdosing. 5.3 to 7 in one dose would most likely kill any coral in that tank.

There is some truth in there but you can raise your ALK from 5.3 to 7 in one day.
Just doing a few water changes a day and dose ALK, testing every time is required.
Just watch your PH but don't chase it.
Maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley he can send his link what the safest periodic time table is to get to your required ALK level.

 

[spidercrab]

There is some truth in there but you can raise your ALK from 5.3 to 7 in one day.
Just doing a few water changes a day and dose ALK, testing every time is required.
Just watch your PH but don't chase it.
Maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley he can send his link what the safest periodic time table is to get to your required ALK level.

In one day yes thats 24 hours of dosing but if you just mix carbonate in some water and pour it in, You would be asking for trouble.