Maintaining alkalinity

LivinTheSwreefLife

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
540
Reaction score
241
Location
Baltimore MD
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi, I have what is probably a very stupid question, but I will still ask it: I maintain the alkalinity and calcium in my tank using ESV 2-part additive and an auto-doser. Right now, I dose x amount of alkalinity additive, and it keeps the alkalinity steady at 9.5 dKH.

I plan to lower my alkalinity by doing water changes with a new salt mix (Red Sea) that should have a lower alkalinity, around 8. After a few water changes, I would expect the alkalinity in the tank to come close to 8 as well. If I did that and continued to dose x amount of additive per day, that would maintain at the new lower alkalinity instead of shooting it back up to 9.5 dKH, correct? As in, the x dose of alkalinity additive is putting back exactly what my corals use, NOT keeping it at 9.5 dKH specifically. Right?

Thank you.
 
No, it will boost the alkalinity higher than 8 dKH, and the best way to reduce the alk is to slowly reduce the dose of calcium and alkalinity added each day (not water changes).

The dose of calcium and alkalinity needed each day to maintain a fixed level actually rises as the alk (and pH) rise. That is because both coral skeletal growth and abiotic precipitation rises as the alk and pH rise.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

New Posts

Back
Top