Still having problems with chemistry

[Doug Geib]

Its gotten to the point that Im about ready to hang it up. I have been struggling with low alkalinity and low PH for months. Im dosing 2 part although not equally but according to the BRS calculator.
MG 1400
CA 407
KH 7.0
The only things in the tank rock, sand, 2 clowns, a conch and an emerald crab and thats it. for the past week CA and Mag have remained stable but alk will not go up. Also, I noticed tonight the sandbed is hard. No sign of percipitation on any glass or equipment.
PH is almost always at 7.8. I have a Co2 scrubber running and an airline from outside going into my skimmer, doesnt help.
Any ideas before I start selling off?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

What exactly is the problem? Are your fish sick? Did you lose some coral? Or are the numbers just bothering you?

 

[Doug Geib]

What exactly is the problem? Are your fish sick? Did you lose some coral? Or are the numbers just bothering you?

I dont have any corals, just rock, fish, sand, an emerald crab, and a conch. The fish seem fine, its the constant low alkalinity that is frustrating me as well as the inability to raise PH despite all my efforts. Im thinking the BRS soda ash Im dosing is precipitating out but Im not seeing evidence of it or very little.
\ If Im not mistaken the KH should be between 7-12 ideally around 9. ( is a pipe dream for me, I rarely see 7.8

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ok put the test kits down!

Do regular water changes (bi-weekly or something like that) and just enjoy your tank. If something looks off test nitrates, ammonia, that kind of stuff. I haven't tested ph in 6 yrs and I only test Alk on my reef tank, never on my 2 fish only tanks.

 

[Doug Geib]

Ok put the test kits down!

Do regular water changes (bi-weekly or something like that) and just enjoy your tank. If something looks off test nitrates, ammonia, that kind of stuff. I haven't tested ph in 6 yrs and I only test Alk on my reef tank, never on my 2 fish only tanks.

Cant hurt, Ill give it a go. I really do like having the tank its just frustrating getting nowhere despite every effort. Maybe Im just over-thinking it.

 

[ADAM]

I dont have any corals, just rock, fish, sand, an emerald crab, and a conch. The fish seem fine, its the constant low alkalinity that is frustrating me as well as the inability to raise PH despite all my efforts. Im thinking the BRS soda ash Im dosing is precipitating out but Im not seeing evidence of it or very little.
\ If Im not mistaken the KH should be between 7-12 ideally around 9. ( is a pipe dream for me, I rarely see 7.8

Whoa!!! Stop dosing 2 part right now!!!! No corals: no need to dose. Water changes once or twice a month should maintain the Ca, ALK, Mag level without any dosing. Precipitation of calcium carbonate can harden sand, and bet 10-1 thats part of your issue.

What are you testing pH with?

 

[Doug Geib]

Whoa!!! Stop dosing 2 part right now!!!! No corals: no need to dose. Water changes once or twice a month should maintain the Ca, ALK, Mag level without any dosing. Precipitation of calcium carbonate can harden sand, and bet 10-1 thats part of your issue.

What are you testing pH with?

Im testing with all hanna checkers. The last time I stopped dosing everything crashed and Im talking an alk of below 6. Also, its a 75 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump, thats all I could fit, and a 20 gallon water change increased the alk form 7.0 to 7.3. Very little difference. It would cost a fortune in water to do a lot of water changes not to mention salt.

 

[Doug Geib]

Im testing with all hanna checkers. The last time I stopped dosing everything crashed and Im talking an alk of below 6. Also, its a 75 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump, thats all I could fit, and a 20 gallon water change increased the alk form 7.0 to 7.3. Very little difference. It would cost a fortune in water to do a lot of water changes not to mention salt.

Its part of what frustrates me, what is soaking up all that alkalinity with only fish and no corals????

 

[Doug Geib]

Its part of what frustrates me, what is soaking up all that alkalinity with only fish and no corals????

Wouldnt you think with all the dosing Im doing as per BRS calculator that levels would be high??

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Wouldnt you think with all the dosing Im doing as per BRS calculator that levels would be high??

I believe your sand is hard because of too high of Alk (precipitation). Like @ADAM said, stop the dosing, it isn't necessary for a fish only

 

[cshouston]

You’re definitely overthinking things with a fish only tank. If you don’t have corals, don’t dose, and don’t worry about those reef-specific parameters. Just do water changes on a regular schedule and relax. Enjoy your fish.

For what it’s worth, your alkalinity is dropping due to nitrification. When ammonia is converted to nitrate, some alkalinity is destroyed in the process. When nitrate is processed in some way, like conversion to nitrogen gas by anaerobic bacteria, it can be recovered.

Finally, if the dosing is done out of ionic balance, it can precipitate. That would explain why you’re not seeing numbers rise. I still think the advice about putting the test kits away is good.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

@Randy Holmes-Farley touched on that subject here https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/clumping-sand-and-high-alk-ca-usage.277944/

 

[Doug Geib]

I believe your sand is hard because of too high of Alk (precipitation). Like @ADAM said, stop the dosing, it isn't necessary for a fish only

with all due respect, what do I do when the alk, Ca, and Mag all drop way low and water change has minimal effect? (unless its like a 50% water change??

 

[Doug Geib]

with all due respect, what do I do when the alk, Ca, and Mag all drop way low and water change has minimal effect? (unless its like a 50% water change??

Here's what Ill do, Illl stop all dosing and retest in 24 and 48 hr intervals and update the results here.

 

[cshouston]

with all due respect, what do I do when the alk, Ca, and Mag all drop way low and water change has minimal effect? (unless its like a 50% water change??

They will hit a point where the processes which consume them cease. You’ll be fine just doing water changes. Those parameters are really only important with reef tanks. Also, 7dkh is fine; that’s the level of natural seawater.

 

[Fezbearer]

How's the ventilation where the tank is? Getting some fresh air in there might help a bit with the Ph.

 

[Doug Geib]

They will hit a point where the processes which consume them cease. You’ll be fine just doing water changes. Those parameters are really only important with reef tanks. Also, 7dkh is fine; that’s the level of natural seawater.

I hope your right. Just out of curiosity, if 7 is ok, why do people shoot for 9dkh?

 

[cshouston]

Here's what Ill do, Illl stop all dosing and retest in 24 and 48 hr intervals and update the results here.

Or you could follow the good advice offered and quit testing those parameters altogether. They do not matter in your tank.

 

[Doug Geib]

How's the ventilation where the tank is? Getting some fresh air in there might help a bit with the Ph.

I actually got a C02 monitor and when the room is closed up and Im in it, it can reach 1000. While its still nice out I do open the door and it frops to 400+. But, I have 2 other tanks in the same room and Co2 doesnt seem to bother them. So I dont think C02 is the issue but I dont know why the PH doesnt go up with the scrubber and air intake on the skimmer being fed from outdoors. Just another frustrating mystery.

 

[flampton]

Yes test kits down. You can't crash a tank that's FOWLR by dropping any of those parameters (within reason). Are you immediately in need of stony corals?