Red Sea blue bucket issue and alk

[Stickboy15]

so I have a biocube 29 that’s sps dom with a lot of High end acros. I do a weekly 5 gallon water change so I always test my water and dose my alk up to 10.0 which is what I run my all at and my calc at 450. So normally my newly made saltwater tests around 8.0 so I just tested it twice and got a reading of 7.1 2x to be sure. What should I do because I’ve never had it test so low?

My other question is so I added about 13 corals last week at a swap and I’ve been testing every day because normally I have a alk drop within the first week and my alk has been rising not dropping it used to be be very stable at 9.8-10.0 and this week I’ve been getting readings of 10.6 to 11.0 today and I can’t figure out why it’s rising when I’ve been dosing the same amount for months it should be dropping since I added more corals and a maxima clam

 

[SPR1968]

The Red Sea standard salt mixes to around 8 alkalinity, so if your trying to get up towards 10 maybe take a look at the Red Sea Coral Pro which mixes to higher levels with alkalinity around 11 close to were your aiming

Apart from that, the different readings you have could well be test error with the hobby grade kits we have. The main thing don’t chase numbers, as stability is the key, and in a bio cube because 0f the water volume it makes it even harder to maintain stability.

In addition if you happy doing water changes, if you use something like Coral Pro you may not have to dose at all, and in your size system take a look at the ABC+ skeletal elements which is an all in one.

 

[Stickboy15]

Thanks but I used that and never had any luck only stn and coral pro mixes at 12. I have always had stable water just wondering whats going on with it rising and I always test my fresh saltwater and normally get 8.0 but not this time 7.1

 

[CindyKz]

Did you calibrate your refractometer? Maybe you mixed it a little lighter than usual.

 

[BedrockIOMC]

i use the pro and works great. I would say that your new corals are starting to use more alk. It will take you a couple of weeks to get it to level out after adding more corals. its normal when adding more coral the more alk and cal gets used. just test every other day for a couple of weeks till you get it leveled out and learn what you have to add daily. Nothing wrong there.

 

[BedrockIOMC]

and as far as your fresh, has it been setting a while? or even the bucket of salt? maybe it was a run that red sea had a little bit of issues making. everything wont always be 100% on the money thats the point of testing before hand so you know.

 

[Mical]

Another note to all of the above replies, on your next change stir the salt in the bucket before mixing with water.

 

[Stickboy15]

I use a Milwaukee digital refractometer, I use a old mp10 to mix salt I’d say total mixing time was about 2- 2 and a half hours and bucket of salt is probably 3 months old and always has the lid on it after the water change

 

[Stickboy15]

One thought that popped into my head about all rising is since I also added a maxima clam my calc is getting eaten faster causing a alk imbalance making it go up?

 

[lion king]

As far as your mixed water's alk dropping, what is your mixing and usage procedure. Using warm water or excessive mixing and storing water before use, can promote precip, which in turn would lower alk, as well as other elements ca and mg.

 

[Stickboy15]

Fill a bucket of rodi water up then take it upstairs put a mp10 in it on gyre mode and start mixing salt then check it and add a little more salt normally to get up to 35 ppt and let it mix a little then test it and dose it up then do the water change total time from making a bucket of rodi to pouring old saltwater outside I’d say is about 3 hours

 

[Stickboy15]

i use the pro and works great. I would say that your new corals are starting to use more alk. It will take you a couple of weeks to get it to level out after adding more corals. its normal when adding more coral the more alk and cal gets used. just test every other day for a couple of weeks till you get it leveled out and learn what you have to add daily. Nothing wrong there.

The alk issue was my alk rising all of a sudden I know it would drop when they start growing but Ive never had it rise so lets say its 10.5 and after adding corals its down to 10.0 steady ill use the brs calculator to get it back up to 10.5.