So I have been testing daily for the past 2 weeks consistently at 8-8:30pm trying to see my daily consumption. Yesterday I tested early (3-3:30) and it tested 8.2, where I try to keep my alk. So I tested at my normal time 8:30 and it tested at 7.7; right where I had expected it to test every day. My question is would the tank be using that .5 in just a couple hours, or does testing at different times not come with consistent results.
testing alk question
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Reefer40b
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Testing not at the same time will result in what you are seeing...
Test same time daily and you should get the same number if stable. If your making adjustments then continue testing every day until you are stable and then just test once a week to monitor the tank
Test same time daily and you should get the same number if stable. If your making adjustments then continue testing every day until you are stable and then just test once a week to monitor the tank
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Do you have many growing coral? Alkalinity generally decreases unless you are adding something to the system.
I found the best way to answer your question is to perform a time of day study. This is nothing more than measuring the parameter of interest every 1 or 2 hours. You might be amazed at the trend.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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My Tank Thread
0.5 dKH in 5 h late day in the the light cycle is not unreasonable. Most alk appears to be used during the day.
