Time to dose alkalinity?

[GlassCityReefer]

I have an innovative marine Nuvo 20 with about 11 corals in it and it has been up and running for almost 2 years. I have recently gotten a salifert alkalinity test kit instead of an api one and in 5 days after a water change my alk went from 8.3 to 7.5 I am doing a water change tomorrow and I do use reef crystals. My calcium stays pretty constant and I do have a refugium running on the Chaetomax light. Thanks for your time.I did the tests at the same time of day as well.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I have an innovative marine Nuvo 20 with about 11 corals in it and it has been up and running for almost 2 years. I have recently gotten a salifert alkalinity test kit instead of an api one and in 5 days after a water change my alk went from 8.3 to 7.5 I am doing a water change tomorrow and I do use reef crystals. My calcium stays pretty constant and I do have a refugium running on the Chaetomax light. Thanks for your time.

Depending on what corals your keeping, yes.

I hand dose alkalinity in my system using this calculator:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

And I make alkalinity in solution using baking soda into a gallon of RO/DI water using Randy's recipe:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Raise no more than a 1 DKH in a day's time and you should be good.

Hope this helps.

 

[GlassCityReefer]

Thanks I will try that method. I can just dose alkalinity though and just keep an eye on calcium until I see that change correct?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Thanks I will try that method. I can just dose alkalinity though and just keep an eye on calcium until I see that change correct?

Yes, even if you plan on dosing 2 part.
You have to have both stable first. Dosing regardless, depends on demand. Always test frequently to know consumption.