UV and All-for-Reef

[covjéfé]

I've been using All-for-Reef for months and my alk has been stable. Two weeks ago I added a UV light to my system, which seems to have affected All-for-Reef's effectiveness. My alk continued to drop all the way down to 7.3 (just taken 20 minutes ago) even after I upped A4R dosage last week. Does A4R have any known incompatibility with UV sterilizers? I understand that how A4R works is it contains something bacteria feeds on and that the product of this process increases the alk.

I did add five or six coral frags three weeks ago but I don't believe they would have increased consumption by this much.

 

[Acrofiend]

UV will increase water clarity which increases light penetration and this will increase alk consumption. It’s almost the same as increasing your light intensity. I can almost guarantee your pH is higher than normal. Higher pH= Higher alk consumption

 

[Hans-Werner]

I also don't see a direct connection to the All-For-Reef. I'd rather see the termination of some kind of inhibition of calcification, for example by the destruction of organic substances that bind trace metals, besides increase of light penetration.

 

[Waynerock]

Been using DIY AFR AND UV for over a year now (crap got to change bulb) with no issues. I can still set my watch to my alk and cal numbers! Just my input

 

[hart24601]

I am another that used a4r and uv off and on for a good while and didn’t notice impacts when the uv was on.

 

[SPS2020]

I run UV 24\7 and dose a4r daily and my alk stays around 9.

 

[covjéfé]

Thanks for the input, guys! I guess my alk consumption really soared thanks to the UV. Now that's a good problem to have!