Something is sucking up my ALK

[micl10]

I've been struggling to keep my alk above 7.0 (my goal is a model 7.5)
I use TM pro reef salt, (which mixes at 7.0 @ 35ppt)

My tank has been hovering at 6.8 alk for the last two days, and after a 10% water change yesterday, i finally measured 7.0.
And today, it measured a whopping 6.3.

I have a 20g AIO with exactly one skeleton building coral (a single polyp candy cane). My pH is a decent 8.2 - 8.3

I do dose all for reef (1ml per day). Lately though, i've been seeing white spots on my tank, that when i scrape off, leaves some "watermark" looking marks. Are these crystalized calcium carbonate? Are these my culprit? Am I dosing wrong? I use a 1mm syringe and slowly drop All For Reef into my return compartment of my AIO

 

[stoney7713]

I've been struggling to keep my alk above 7.0 (my goal is a model 7.5)
I use TM pro reef salt, (which mixes at 7.0 @ 35ppt)

My tank has been hovering at 6.8 alk for the last two days, and after a 10% water change yesterday, i finally measured 7.0.
And today, it measured a whopping 6.3.

I have a 20g AIO with exactly one skeleton building coral (a single polyp candy cane). My pH is a decent 8.2 - 8.3

I do dose all for reef (1ml per day). Lately though, i've been seeing white spots on my tank, that when i scrape off, leaves some "watermark" looking marks. Are these crystalized calcium carbonate? Are these my culprit? Am I dosing wrong? I use a 1mm syringe and slowly drop All For Reef into my return compartment of my AIO

Dry rock or live rock? Do you have any coralline algae?

I dose 1.5ml AFR daily for a 13.5 Fluval that has 2 mushrooms and a few bivalves. 17 lbs of live rock covered in coralline. I keep my Alk at around 8.5 and if I don't dose for a few days I do see a decrease. Coralline really sucks it up it seems.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I expect you just need to significantly up the dose over several days,

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

I've been struggling to keep my alk above 7.0 (my goal is a model 7.5)
I use TM pro reef salt, (which mixes at 7.0 @ 35ppt)

My tank has been hovering at 6.8 alk for the last two days, and after a 10% water change yesterday, i finally measured 7.0.
And today, it measured a whopping 6.3.

I have a 20g AIO with exactly one skeleton building coral (a single polyp candy cane). My pH is a decent 8.2 - 8.3

I do dose all for reef (1ml per day). Lately though, i've been seeing white spots on my tank, that when i scrape off, leaves some "watermark" looking marks. Are these crystalized calcium carbonate? Are these my culprit? Am I dosing wrong? I use a 1mm syringe and slowly drop All For Reef into my return compartment of my AIO

I would suggest the fix approach for Alk - dose Alk - like maybe 1/4 -tsp of Baking Soda (20-gallons) for two days and test.
Then adjust your AFR to try and hold the water parameters you prefer.


Probably happens !

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I was using 12ML a day in my 20AIO when I had it up. I did have Gulf rock and more coral. 1ML just seems light.

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

I was using 12ML a day in my 20AIO when I had it up. I did have Gulf rock and more coral. 1ML just seems light.

I will assume we are talking about AFR - All-for-Reef - I think there is something with a name that begins with an "F" that the bacteria chew on to raise Alk. I would start with 5-mills and go from there - use baking soda to keep the Alk up while you find the sweet spot for your tank. IDK much about AFR and see a lot of comments about low Alk problems ?

Yes, I have watched the videos and read the claims !

'https://atlantareefclub.org/boards/index.php?threads/all-for-reef-questions.1177919/'


Probably Happens !