Montipora using up alot of alk?

HiBRiD109 · Apr 30, 2019

I have a Evo 13.5 that has been up for 3 months. I have been having a hard time getting my alk above 7kph and stable. I think that the 2 montiporas I have are using it all up. Do they tend to use up quite a bit? They are growing very very fast. I have been dosing SeaChem fusion 1 & 2 but it seems the highest I can get with dosing twice a day of a total of 1 kph/day can only get me to 8 kph and then stalls. I also do 20% water change with RS Coral Pro. My hammers have become pale but I don't know if that's related. I am thinking of removing the large monti on the right side as it may be too much for my nano with manual dosing and ATO.

Parameters:
Salinity: 1.026
Calc: 400
Alk: 7
Nitrate: <5
Phos: <.25
Temp: 78F

The top pic is when I first got it then the second and third picture is 6 weeks later.

Crabs McJones · Apr 30, 2019

Yup, they're using up quite a bit

What test kit are you using to determine your levels?

Backreefing · Apr 30, 2019

One word: magnesium

Backreefing · Apr 30, 2019

Magnesium Has a big affect on both alkalinity and calcium

Crabs McJones · Apr 30, 2019

Backreefing said:
One word: magnesium

Do you think? 20% water changes with red sea coral pro salt I didn't even consider magnesium to be an issue...possible though.

HiBRiD109 · Apr 30, 2019

Crabs McJones said:
Yup, they're using up quite a bit What test kit are you using to determine your levels?

Right now I am using the API reef kit. I am saving up for the Salifert/RedSea test kits. I tested the RS Coral Pro and I get 12kph as labeled on the bucket so I know its close. I need to get ultra low Nitrate and phosphate kit along with Mag.

Backreefing · Apr 30, 2019

Low magnesium causes bleaching as well. It’s a major element

Crabs McJones · Apr 30, 2019

HiBRiD109 said:
Right now I am using the API reef kit. I am saving up for the Salifert/RedSea test kits. I tested the RS Coral Pro and I get 12kph as labeled on the bucket so I know its close. I need to get ultra low Nitrate and phosphate kit along with Mag.

In all honesty, i've never been a fan of the API test kits. I would opt for either the salifert kits or the hannah checkers IMO

HiBRiD109 · Apr 30, 2019

Crabs McJones said:
In all honesty, i've never been a fan of the API test kits. I would opt for either the salifert kits or the hannah checkers IMO

I find them ok for ballpark and daily testing because of the low cost but I definitely agree that I need to the salifert kits and I need to test my mag.

SeaDweller · May 2, 2019

I doubt your Mg levels are low if your demand is low and you’re using RSCP with your regular water changes. Doesn’t hurt to test it though, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s NOT low.

HiBRiD109 · May 2, 2019

TitanCi said:
I doubt your Mg levels are low if your demand is low and you’re using RSCP with your regular water changes. Doesn’t hurt to test it though, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s NOT low.

Thanks. Yeah I am not sure but I should have been testing for Mg anyways. I ordered a full Salifert set (Cal, Alk, Mg, Phos, Nitrate) that will be here today so I can hopefully get a more accurate or more narrow range at where my parameters are. I will follow up on my findings.

SeaDweller · May 2, 2019

HiBRiD109 said:
Thanks. Yeah I am not sure but I should have been testing for Mg anyways. I ordered a full Salifert set (Cal, Alk, Mg, Phos, Nitrate) that will be here today so I can hopefully get a more accurate or more narrow range at where my parameters are. I will follow up on my findings.

How much do you dose and what dKh are you trying to target? No real need to go higher than 8.0 dKh imo.

HiBRiD109 · May 2, 2019

TitanCi said:
How much do you dose and what dKh are you trying to target? No real need to go higher than 8.0 dKh imo.

Well I initially thought I wouldn't need to dose at all with using RSCP (20-25% weekly/WC) and having a nano with the amount of coral I have. But I started dosing a few weeks ago, typically I do 2 doses (raise .5 dkh per dose) a day to raise it 1 dkh. I was sitting at 6-7 dhk before dosing. I would dose every day till I get to 8 dkh and it would stall but I would see the Montipora and green coralline algae explode. I would stop dosing in fear I was causing some ionizing problem because there should be no way that much alk was being used up in 24 hours. It about 4 days it goes down to about 6 dkh. I test the alk everyday before I dose. My goal is to sit at 9 dkh.

This is why I think the Monitporas are the problem. The LFS gave them to me for almost free with the kenya tree I bought from them. They told me they are growing so fast they can't sell it fast enough. I believe it's just the standard red monti cap.

HiBRiD109 · May 2, 2019

Got the Salifert tests. I would say MG is not low.

Temp: 78F
Salinity: 1.026
Calcium: 470 ppm
Alk: 8.0 dKh
Mg: 1410 ppm
NO3: 2.5 ppm
PO4: 0 ppm

Maybe my API tests are off. I will not dose Alk and try to see what my daily usage of Alk is.

ckalupa · May 3, 2019

1410 mag is not low. It is good.

SeaDweller · May 3, 2019

HiBRiD109 said:
Got the Salifert tests. I would say MG is not low.

Temp: 78F
Salinity: 1.026
Calcium: 470 ppm
Alk: 8.0 dKh
Mg: 1410 ppm
NO3: 2.5 ppm
PO4: 0 ppm

Maybe my API tests are off. I will not dose Alk and try to see what my daily usage of Alk is.

Those params look great to me. Don’t forget coralline and other inhabitants can use elements pretty quickly too.