Strange Alkalinity issue

[Scubabum]

Setup a Red Sea Reefer 525XL 8 months ago. Been dosing Component 1 2 3 in equal parts. I'm also using ABVE and my parameters have been very stable for the last 4 months. Alk 8.4 Ca 445 and Mg 1340 All corals doing well. I added 10 sps frags 3 weeks ago and have been testing Alk daily, expecting an increase in Alk consumption. My alk has been rising approx .1-.2 dkh daily. (Hanna Test) I backed off my dose 2ml and still had increase. backed off 4 ml and still had increase. I completely shut off my doser for 5 days and my tank seems to have stalled at consuming ALK. Only change to the tank is I'm purposely raising Nitrate and Phos to try and fight a small Dino outbreak. Currently my Nitrate is at 10ppm and Phos is .10 Prior to raising my nutrients my Nitrate was 2ppm and Phos was .02 Not sure if raising nutrients could have an affect on Alk consumption. At this point I'm just monitoring daily and will re introduce my doser once I see a drop. Any thoughts or ideas on why this is happening? Never have experienced this before.

 

[Anirban]

There can be two possibilities. First when you introduced so many frags at a time you destabilised the system.Then you kept poking with it which we all do. 0.1 dkh a day can be just an measuring error so dont be so judgemental. Trust me your system can handle much more than that drop. Second NO3 and Alk are related too. Did you see the increase of Alk exactly when you increased the NO3 or after increasing the NO3.

 

[Scubabum]

There can be two possibilities. First when you introduced so many frags at a time you destabilised the system.Then you kept poking with it which we all do. 0.1 dkh a day can be just an measuring error so dont be so judgemental. Trust me your system can handle much more than that drop. Second NO3 and Alk are related too. Did you see the increase of Alk exactly when you increased the NO3 or after increasing the NO3.

Cant say for sure as I've slowly been raising nutrients to my targeted levels. Once I reached my target is when I noticed the increase in alk, however I wasn't testing daily until I added the SPS frags. Thanks for pointing out the measuring error, I'm going to keep my eye on things and adjust accordingly. Appreciate the input.

 

[KJoFan]

There can be two possibilities. First when you introduced so many frags at a time you destabilised the system.Then you kept poking with it which we all do. 0.1 dkh a day can be just an measuring error so dont be so judgemental. Trust me your system can handle much more than that drop. Second NO3 and Alk are related too. Did you see the increase of Alk exactly when you increased the NO3 or after increasing the NO3.

Just curious, when you would consider taking action based on alk readings? 0.1 dKH change isn't enough of a change to take action as you stated, but at what point, in your opinion would you consider taking action?

 

[Anirban]

Just curious, when you would consider taking action based on alk readings? 0.1 dKH change isn't enough of a change to take action as you stated, but at what point, in your opinion would you consider taking action?

For me I would take action if the change is 0.4 or more within 24 hour. Hanna has an accuracy level of 0.3 dkh so o.4 should be a good point as per my opinion.

 

[Anirban]

Cant say for sure as I've slowly been raising nutrients to my targeted levels. Once I reached my target is when I noticed the increase in alk, however I wasn't testing daily until I added the SPS frags. Thanks for pointing out the measuring error, I'm going to keep my eye on things and adjust accordingly. Appreciate the input.

Remember,
When organisms metabolize organics to ammonia and then to nitrate, alkalinity is consumed.
Then if it is taken up by algae or bacteria (or corals), that same amount of alkalintiy is returned to the system.
So if you start with elevated nitrate and it is consumed, alk will tend to rise.

 

[Scubabum]

Just curious, when you would consider taking action based on alk readings? 0.1 dKH change isn't enough of a change to take action as you stated, but at what point, in your opinion would you consider taking action?

I didn't take action until my DKH rose from a very stable 8.4 dkh to 9.1 dkh. I like to maintain my dkh at 8.4 The rise was over several days not a 24 hour period. I could be wrong with even worrying about it but thats why I reached out here for feedback. I appreciate everyone's input.