So much alk consumption! Would love some dosing advice

[lba4590]

I noticed some of my corals looking unhappy and tested all of my parameters 2 days ago and got the following:
Salinity 1.025-1.026
Temp: 78
Nitrates: 12? I have a hard time with those colors..
Phos: 0.08
Cal: 440
Alk: 6.5 !! Yikes

I had been dosing all for reef by hand, minimum suggested amount, every few days. On 1/25 alk was 7.5, and on 2/1 it was 6.5... added more all for reef and it was 7.0 yesterday. Added more, twice today. I’m probably shocking everything, I don’t know what I’m doing! Lol.

Another concern is I use IO reef crystals, with a very high dkh. Generally after a 20% water change dkh is 8-8.5. Consumption has rapidly increased just in the last month. Calcium never seems to really change and I haven’t checked magnesium in a while.

Do I need to start auto dosing? Is two part the way to go? Keep using all for reef twice a day? Any product suggestions?

 

[laverda]

You don't want to add to much all for reef as your CA is getting high. Remember it takes time for the alk to become available with the allforreef, unlike other additives. I sounds like a water change may be a better option for you, as long as the ca in your nsw is not to high. Another option would be to dose some of the alk from 2 part. Either using baking soda or baked baking soda.

 

[lba4590]

You don't want to add to much all for reef as your CA is getting high. Remember it takes time for the alk to become available with the allforreef, unlike other additives. I sounds like a water change may be a better option for you, as long as the ca in your nsw is not to high. Another option would be to dose some of the alk from 2 part. Either using baking soda or baked baking soda.

Thank you! I didn’t realize the change in available alk would take time, how long should I give it before continuing to add something like soda ash? I just checked it and it’s 7.3 now after about 10ml doses twice today.. so only up 0.3 from yesterday.