I run a low-tech LPS system about 80 gal including sump. One yellow tank, a cleaner shrimp and a few snails. I change 10 gals of water ever week. I have been using Brightwell Aquatics Alkalin8.3 and I have never been about to get the alkalinity much above 8. Even if I use the max dosing, the level just about gets to 8 and then water change throws it off again. I have checked the pH and it is 8.2 - 8.3, so I think that is safe. What am I doing wrong?
Managing alkalinity
- Thread starter jbd
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King Turkey
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hum. have you tested water you mix once it is ready? do you dose anything ells? what order do you dose? how long do you wait to dose? what time of the day are you testing the water?
smartwater101
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Might be test kit. What are you using and do you have a second kit to confirm readings?
8.2 - 8.3 pH is great, but remember that means the consumption rate of alk increases. Has your pH stayed in this range for awhile? If it's shifting (beyond the regular daily shifts) you're alk will shift as well.
That said, many people like to keep their tanks at a similar alk as their salt mix. That way water changes don't throw things out of whack. If your alk changes, you're pH could shift and it's a loop of inconsistency.
Confirm your readings from your test kit and do multiple tests each day for several days. It will help you get in tune with consumption rate and will likely show you the route of the problem.
8.2 - 8.3 pH is great, but remember that means the consumption rate of alk increases. Has your pH stayed in this range for awhile? If it's shifting (beyond the regular daily shifts) you're alk will shift as well.
That said, many people like to keep their tanks at a similar alk as their salt mix. That way water changes don't throw things out of whack. If your alk changes, you're pH could shift and it's a loop of inconsistency.
Confirm your readings from your test kit and do multiple tests each day for several days. It will help you get in tune with consumption rate and will likely show you the route of the problem.
smartwater101
Valuable Member
This is a good point. Testing what you're adding helps narrow in on what's happening.
The salt water I add is 8.3 - 8.6 dKH. The only other chem I mess with is Calcium and Magnesium, but I haven't been dosing those because I was told the alkalinity needed to be right first. Last time I tested Ca it was low (360) and Mg was 1240. I generally test mid day before I dose.
I am using Salifert KH/Alk Profi Test. The pH has been about the same, which is confusing. The buffering solution I use (Brightwell Aquatics Alkalin 8.3) claims that alk and pH will climb together, but pH will stop at 8.3 while the alk will continue to climb. I tested the salt water I get and it is 8.3 - 8.6 dKH, so I am going to call that my upper limit. I live in So Cal so the salt water comes from off shore near Catalina Island. I just bought a new test kit so I will try it.
BonelessEvil
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I'm dosing alkalinity like crazy (67.2 mL/day) on my Reefer 425 XL (88 gallon visible), but normally turn off my calcium dosing, as it hovers around 450. I turned on about every other day just to bump it.and truth be told – my alkalinity measured at 6.8 dKH last night. It dropped a few weeks ago and just won't go back up. Magnesium is 1360, salt 1.025 and pH… Depending on whether you look at the Apex probe (7.8 on both the Neptune systems probe and the BRS probes, both double junction) or do the Red Sea test (8.2), you get different results.
Still, the corals look pretty good… though the control freak in me is going crazy looking at these numbers.
Still, the corals look pretty good… though the control freak in me is going crazy looking at these numbers.
