More Alk than CA

[coil1002]

Is it possible to be using way more Alk than CA ? My Mag is at 1400 my Ca is 450 and stays there with a 6 ml a day dose of brs 2 part. But my ALK I am dosing 30 ml a day and still dropping. The tank is predominantly SPS Monipora and Acropora could they really be using way more Alk ?

 

[Cherub]

Is it possible to be using way more Alk than CA ? My Mag is at 1400 my Ca is 450 and stays there with a 6 ml a day dose of brs 2 part. But my ALK I am dosing 30 ml a day and still dropping. The tank is predominantly SPS Monipora and Acropora could they really be using way more Alk ?

It's not unusual but I would still try a different test kit to be sure

 

[Xmoji]

I have the same issue. I HAVE to dose for all daily CA not so much.

 

[coil1002]

I tested with three kits red sea, hanna, and api and they are all right in the same range. If its not that uncommon ill just up my dose and not worry.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

I was doing the same thing until everyoneon here told me that I should always dose alk and ca in equal parts so now I’ve started dosing equal amounts of each to try to get my tank balanced out. I’m still learning though so maybe someone else will chime in to help.

 

[coil1002]

I was doing the same thing until everyoneon here told me that I should always dose alk and ca in equal parts so now I’ve started dosing equal amounts of each to try to get my tank balanced out. I’m still learning though so maybe someone else will chime in to help.

If I did that my Ca would be through the roof. If I wait until my Ca comes down enough to dose equally my Alk would be way too low. I always thought you where supposed to dose them equally too. This is my first time trying 2 part Last tank all i used was Kalk.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

If I did that my Ca would be through the roof. If I wait until my Ca comes down enough to dose equally my Alk would be way too low. I always thought you where supposed to dose them equally too. This is my first time trying 2 part Last tank all i used was Kalk.

There are several tanks I know where exactly this happens.
Equal dosing thus here might not make sense

- adapt the dosing for a short time to „more KH than Ca“ until BOTH values are good
- try to continue with equal dosing then
- if both values stay at good levels..... fine
If KH Drops faster than Ca again, dose more KH than Ca for the future

 

[Martin Kuhn]

One of the advantages of 2 part against kalkwasser is that you can adapt Ca and KH consumption separately from each other

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is it possible to be using way more Alk than CA ? My Mag is at 1400 my Ca is 450 and stays there with a 6 ml a day dose of brs 2 part. But my ALK I am dosing 30 ml a day and still dropping. The tank is predominantly SPS Monipora and Acropora could they really be using way more Alk ?

The main way that demand appears unbalanced is from water changes with a mix not matching the tank.

Unless you are using a sulfur denitrator, there's no way a reef tank will consume a greatly unbalanced amount of alk relative to calcium. You are suggesting 1/5th as much calcium demand, and that cannot be from consumption.

There can be lots of other explanations.

How long did you monitor to make these determinations?

Are you using tap water?

Do you use any other additives?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was doing the same thing until everyoneon here told me that I should always dose alk and ca in equal parts so now I’ve started dosing equal amounts of each to try to get my tank balanced out. I’m still learning though so maybe someone else will chime in to help.

Unless calcium is already too high, equal parts is the best starting point, and will rarely lead to a problem.

 

[bhavy]

I'm having a similar issue looking for suggestions

 

[Kmsutows]

Wait I've always ready alk is consumed faster than calcium... I'm doing 60ml dKH and 20ml ca and thought that was totally normal. I don't use brs but isn't that why 2 part comes in different size bottles when bought together??

 

[bhavy]

200 gal system . Neptune Dos, 4 soft corals 2 montis 1 bird nest .
Dosing 220ml cal 240 ml Alk per day!
Alk 6.5
Cal 440
I don't understand! I attempted a 1 time correction with Alk but next day levels were the same. I dos in the sump in return camber (which also houses my Gfo/carbon reactor pump) . I check at the same time everyday using Hanna tester.
What should I try? Should i shut down Calcium for a few days?
I have slow growth but everything looks happy. I don't see any precipitation.
Help

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wait I've always ready alk is consumed faster than calcium... I'm doing 60ml dKH and 20ml ca and thought that was totally normal. I don't use brs but isn't that why 2 part comes in different size bottles when bought together??

Not all calcium and alkalinity additives are designed to be a two part with equal parts dosing, but all two parts I have seen are designed to be equal volumes for equal parts dosing.

Certainly, BRS that uses my DIY is designed for approximate equal parts dosing.

What exactly are you using?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

200 gal system . Neptune Dos, 4 soft corals 2 montis 1 bird nest .
Dosing 220ml cal 240 ml Alk per day!
Alk 6.5
Cal 440
I don't understand! I attempted a 1 time correction with Alk but next day levels were the same. I dos in the sump in return camber (which also houses my Gfo/carbon reactor pump) . I check at the same time everyday using Hanna tester.
What should I try? Should i shut down Calcium for a few days?
I have slow growth but everything looks happy. I don't see any precipitation.
Help

OK, let's put this in perspective.

On a percentage basis, alkalinity drops faster just because there's a huge reservoir of calcium in seawater. So calcium looks to drop slowly, but is typically balanced (2.8 dKH for each 18-20 ppm of calcium).

If you used a two part using equal parts to boost alk from 6.5 to 8 dKH (1.5 dKH), calcium will only rise by about 10 ppm, and will still be perfect.

Stick to equal parts dosing EXCEPT when making a big boost to calcium (alk will rise too much) or if calcium is already too high.

 

[Kmsutows]

Not all calcium and alkalinity additives are designed to be a two part with equal parts dosing, but all two parts I have seen are designed to be equal volumes for equal parts dosing.

Certainly, BRS that uses my DIY is designed for approximate equal parts dosing.

What exactly are you using?

Brightwell aquaitics alkalin8.3, calcion, and magnesion

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Brightwell aquaitics alkalin8.3, calcion, and magnesion

Those do not comprise a balanced two/three part system, and hence are not designed for equal parts dosing.

 

[bhavy]

Randy
Thanks for the time.
So I am likely not near a saturation point in your opinion? (That was my worry)
Your recommending I should make a large adjustment of Alk over a day or 2 to bring up to the mid 8's and continue equal dosing after that?
I use your recipe from BRS.
Do you think 250ml /day is a lot for a tank with a low coral/Coraline load?
Thanks