My alk consumption is rising higher than ever

[ksfulk]

for me I have about 75 total water volume, and I hand dose every night 200ml of cal then an hour later 200 ml of alk.

I believe this is your problem right here - if you are hand dosing 200ml of calcium and then the matching 200ml of alkalinity within an hour of one another, this is why you are dosing so much, as its precipitating out. Likely you have an alkalinity of 12.0+ dKH when you dose and then all of the free calcium in the water causes it to precipitate out of solution.

My suggestion would be to spread out your dosing over several hours, rather than just once a day.

More to the point. I would test your alkalinity, not dose anything, test again the next day (at or around the same time you tested the day before), not dose anything, and repeat for a total of three days and three tests. You can then find out your Alkalinity usage per day and then begin dosing accordingly. This gives you a start point and an expectation as to how much you SHOULD be dosing per day (per the 2 part directions) and adjusting as needed. Cleaning off any heaters or pumps that are covered in precipitate is also suggested.

 

[jsker]

What are you testing with?

 

[Tommy's Reef]

I believe this is your problem right here - if you are hand dosing 200ml of calcium and then the matching 200ml of alkalinity within an hour of one another, this is why you are dosing so much, as its precipitating out. Likely you have an alkalinity of 12.0+ dKH when you dose and then all of the free calcium in the water causes it to precipitate out of solution.

My suggestion would be to spread out your dosing over several hours, rather than just once a day.

More to the point. I would test your alkalinity, not dose anything, test again the next day (at or around the same time you tested the day before), not dose anything, and repeat for a total of three days and three tests. You can then find out your Alkalinity usage per day and then begin dosing accordingly. This gives you a start point and an expectation as to how much you SHOULD be dosing per day (per the 2 part directions) and adjusting as needed. Cleaning off any heaters or pumps that are covered in precipitate is also suggested.

So I feel your right on this my demand on the reef has increased since last year to double. Before the increase the little amount of demand of 75,80,100 ml or so it was OK to dose back to back alk and Cal without seeing any conflicts to the reef, but as things have grew to now, it's just to much.
But as far as not dosing for a few days I couldn't do that and watch things burn from the alk swing

 

[Tommy's Reef]

I might have to dose Cal before work and alk after, to spread it out properly

 

[ksfulk]

So I feel your right on this my demand on the reef has increased since last year to double. Before the increase the little amount of demand of 75,80,100 ml or so it was OK to dose back to back alk and Cal without seeing any conflicts to the reef, but as things have grew to now, it's just to much.
But as far as not dosing for a few days I couldn't do that and watch things burn from the alk swing

Unless you are seeing a drop from 10 dKH to 6 dKH in a day, your alk swing probably isnt as bad as you think it is. By dumping in 200mL of Alkalinity at once, you are seeing a greater swing in that moment than you will likely see over 2-3 days. If anything, your alk consumption is basically nothing at night (or at least within a few hours of lights out), and you can test tonight and get your numbers then test tomorrow before you dose anything and see what the change is. Otherwise you are just guessing, and likely wasting $$$ on needless dosing

Good luck!

 

[Tommy's Reef]

Api, I have 3 different test kits for alk and cal. Mag I'm using salferit and nyos

 

[jsker]

All your dosing should be based off of your alk. Once you have your alk number set then work on getting your Mg and Ca levels were you like. As suggested in previous posts dosing more times per day will make you alk swings less. When I switch to 8 times a day I found it was so much easier to control my numbers and dosed less. I have use a Jeboa doser and the doser has not let me down yet. I also use the AF reef salt but also use the 1+2+3+ and dose in 82gal water volume 36 ml daily alk.

 

[amps]

I'll also recommend getting a Jebao doser or a couple of BRS 1.1ml/min dosers. Super easy to program and you can space your dosing out over the whole day. I use my Jebao to dose 8 times a day to help any big swings and I've noticed a big difference from dumping it all at once.

At you're current rate, you're bumping your alk to at least 11.5dkh each time you dose. Like the other posters said, you're probably not utilizing it all before you add the calcium (even 8hrs later) and causing it to precipitate out.

 

[Sabellafella]

I'm using brs 2 part I didn't know there was different concentration formulas?

No lanthinum chloride. Water changes once a month with aquaforest reef salt, new batch at like 7.5 dkh I raise it before putting it in reef. I do have precipitation decently unwanted definitely! If I cut my dosage down to 1/3 I could have a huge Alk swing right? I don't need that.

Alot of precipitation. Cal 340, low, alk 7, mag 1450. Cal dosed at 8pm alk dosed at 9pm an hour apart
With my numbers being low they've been like that for 4 months with aggressive a happy color and growth on corals. But please advice needed?

Your dosing way way to much alk hence to maybe why your calcium is that low. If your dosing the whole 200 ml at once is prob why this is happening. I dont see an issue cutting it down to a third. Try dosing like 80ml, throught the day with both parts and see where it gets you through diligent testing. To get your calcium up you may want to dose your water change water and bring it up that way. Do a couple water changes to get everything back on par

 

[Sabellafella]

I know its hard(or just doesnt seem right) to just cut back like that if everything is on par with your corals, but it may need to eventually get done sometime soon. Just incase you do loose a coral, and loose your mind as well. Now what i would do, is bring all your levels on par to your desired level, maybe through water changes as its easy opposed to having to dose tons of mls of supplements- basically playing with your ph levels and precipitation while your at it. Then give it a day or 2 of testing, and note the drop from there. Can calculate how much 2 part youll need from there with help from a member or the brs calculator

 

[bif24701]

You should take a look her to prevent it.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/

 

[bif24701]

Are you added both at the same time?

It's precipitating because you are adding too much. Need to cut it back.

 

[rock_lobster]

I think any easy solution would be to buy a dosing pump and save a lot of time manually dosing. plus you cant leave your tank for 1 day if you are adding 4dkh per day. If you miss a day or 2 thats it no more reef. Thats how my nanos are without the dosing pump they are dead in 2 days.

 

[Tommy's Reef]

I know its hard(or just doesnt seem right) to just cut back like that if everything is on par with your corals, but it may need to eventually get done sometime soon. Just incase you do loose a coral, and loose your mind as well. Now what i would do, is bring all your levels on par to your desired level, maybe through water changes as its easy opposed to having to dose tons of mls of supplements- basically playing with your ph levels and precipitation while your at it. Then give it a day or 2 of testing, and note the drop from there. Can calculate how much 2 part youll need from there with help from a member or the brs calculator

Lol it is hard to take in but I know that something has to be done before it gets to out of whack.

 

[Tommy's Reef]

I don't trust dosing pumps at all

 

[rock_lobster]

I don't trust dosing pumps at all

Your afraid they might become self-aware?

 

[Fishfinder]

Dosing pumps are great. I run all kinds of stuff off the dosing pump

 

[Tommy's Reef]

Lol

Your afraid they might become self-aware?

lol not sure what you mean by that rock lobster. I don't trust them because of the horrible stories of them dumping all the alk in at once. And reef's crashing never to be seen again. I've had a reef crash from not taking care of alk and alkalinity issue's are the number 1 cause of a crashed reef. It's like poring gasoline in your tank lol. Just sketchy!

 

[Tommy's Reef]

For the most part imma keep everyone updated. ( so if it crashes you'll know)
My plan is to add Cal in morning and alk at night to see the big difference in demand, ( since its just kinda precipitating everywhere) and kinda go from there. I appreciate all the help guys! Please continue to add stuff to help

 

[amps]

The worst case with your dosing pump failing is that it dumps your alkalinity solution into your tank. Using a BRS doser, that would take 2.5 days to dump a gallon. The side effects would be that it would all precipitate out of the system once it hits roughly 11 dkh ad you'd notice long before. Well right now, you're dumping a large amount of alk solution all at once, something that would take 3+ hrs to do with a BRS doser and you're causing most of it to precipitate out anyways. You have nothing to lose by using an proper automated system and everything to gain.