Water change alkalinity

[131696]

Lol I laugh when someone stays alk is to low ,do you understand about growth of a coral? You can keep alk and calcium low and then coral will still live and be very happy ,they will grow very very slow and a lot less fragging . But have to keep them parameters stable that's all. To keep alk 9 is to let corals grow but once they are grown to keep them at 1 level without fragging lower alk and calcium and keep stable. All about stability.

 

[131696]

Fond this by Mr. Randy ,lower alk and calcium will keep corals alive just won't grow as fast that's all.

 

[131696]

Fond this by Mr. Randy ,lower alk and calcium will keep corals alive just won't grow as fast that's all.

7 is Ok just keep stable that's all ,key to reefing is stability everyone is different but everyone keeps there parameters stable so keep your stable and everything will be OK.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I did a water change yesterday because my alkalinity was low. I’ve tested today and it is still the same and I’m confused on why it hasn’t increased. I’m using the Red Sea foundation test kit and I used Red Sea coral pro salt.

Check your calcium levels. As beneficial as calcium can be for coral health and growth, there is a delicate balance that must be upheld in your aquarium. We have discussed in the past how almost every element in a reef aquarium is connected to another element. Changing one thing can lead to a ripple effect of consequences if you are new to the hobby.
In calcium’s case, it is connected with alkalinity levels. As calcium rises, alkalinity levels tend to drop. At the same time, an increase in alkalinity can decrease calcium. If your calcium levels are too high in your reef aquarium, you run the risk of your alkalinity is too low.

 

[131696]

Check your calcium levels. As beneficial as calcium can be for coral health and growth, there is a delicate balance that must be upheld in your aquarium. We have discussed in the past how almost every element in a reef aquarium is connected to another element. Changing one thing can lead to a ripple effect of consequences if you are new to the hobby.
In calcium’s case, it is connected with alkalinity levels. As calcium rises, alkalinity levels tend to drop. At the same time, an increase in alkalinity can decrease calcium. If your calcium levels are too high in your reef aquarium, you run the risk of your alkalinity is too low.

Also if you raise and keep your ph stable will help with ALK, PH stable needed. Learned this from chummingham reef on YouTube video with reefdudes Watch on YouTube he talks about it on you video/ expert he is.

 

[FRANK48]

Lol I laugh when someone stays alk is to low ,do you understand about growth of a coral? You can keep alk and calcium low and then coral will still live and be very happy ,they will grow very very slow and a lot less fragging . But have to keep them parameters stable that's all. To keep alk 9 is to let corals grow but once they are grown to keep them at 1 level without fragging lower alk and calcium and keep stable. All about stability.

I want my corals to grow fast though

 

[131696]

I want my corals to grow fast though.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I want my corals to grow fast though

The problem with this is that it affects the buffering capabilities of the water, which in turn affects the pH levels.
You dont want to go quickly as high calcium levels can even stress your invertebrates out.

 

[131696]

Néed Stable then dont sound like you got it ,alk was low did water change to pick it up with read sea coral pro that's what I use but I change water every week to keep them perimeters up if you wait awhile till water change they will fall and be harder to pick back up ,and you don't want to pick up alk to fast it will kill corals. Get a routine going every week if you have a routine every week and do water changes and it still don't pick up well it's time to start dosing then. But very slowly no hurry

 

[FRANK48]

Néed Stable then dont sound like you got it ,alk was low did water change to pick it up with read sea coral pro that's what I use but I change water every week to keep them perimeters up if you wait awhile till water change they will fall and be harder to pick back up ,and you don't want to pick up alk to fast it will kill corals. Get a routine going every week if you have a routine every week and do water changes and it still don't pick up well it's time to start dosing then. But very slowly no hurry

So should I do a 10% water change every week and not dose?

 

[MaxTremors]

How do I know how much to dose?

You’ll need a reef calculator (just Google it), you input your current Alk, where you want your Alk to be, what brand of two part you’re using, and it will tell you how much to dose. Ideally you’ll test your Alk everyday, at the same time each day, for a week and see how much Alk your tank is consuming each day, then you’ll use that info in the reef calculator to determine how much you should add daily. You want to make sure to get a balanced two part, one where you add equal amounts of each part. There are two parts that are not balanced, but just starting out I’d recommend going with a balanced one (most are balanced).

 

[FRANK48]

You’ll need a reef calculator (just Google it), you input your current Alk, where you want your Alk to be, what brand of two part you’re using, and it will tell you how much to dose. Ideally you’ll test your Alk everyday, at the same time each day, for a week and see how much Alk your tank is consuming each day, then you’ll use that info in the reef calculator to determine how much you should add daily. You want to make sure to get a balanced two part, one where you add equal amounts of each part. There are two parts that are not balanced, but just starting out I’d recommend going with a balanced one (most are balanced).

I dosed sodium bicarbonate and after i tested it and my alk is now 9.5. I’m not sure what happened

 

[Rmckoy]

You’ll need a reef calculator (just Google it), you input your current Alk, where you want your Alk to be, what brand of two part you’re using, and it will tell you how much to dose. Ideally you’ll test your Alk everyday, at the same time each day, for a week and see how much Alk your tank is consuming each day, then you’ll use that info in the reef calculator to determine how much you should add daily. You want to make sure to get a balanced two part, one where you add equal amounts of each part. There are two parts that are not balanced, but just starting out I’d recommend going with a balanced one (most are balanced).

This has all been mentioned earlier .
prior to dosing baking soda which raised alk too high .

 

[Rmckoy]

I dosed sodium bicarbonate and after i tested it and my alk is now 9.5. I’m not sure what happened

Remember that calculator I posted earlier .
I believe Randy also posted the same link .

enter the required values ( volume , tested alk , desired alk. And choose a product

it will tell you how much to dose . And if too much it will
Also say do not dose all at once .
Before trying to speed up growth
I’d aim more for stability to make things live . Extra growth can come later with experience

 

[vetteguy53081]

While using baking soda is one of the safest ways to raise alkalinity in the water of the reef tank, I prefer the use of soda ash depending on the level of pH in the water.
But. . . Before making any more changes, assure you are not getting false test results. I would suggest taking a water sample to a trusted LFS that does Not use API kits and see what readings they come up with.

What test kit are you using ?

 

[Miami Reef]

@FRANK48

I think I know what went wrong.

First, your corals will not die with this jump, please don’t panic.

Can you please post the calculator you used.

Tell me:

What tank gallon size did you use?

What was the starting alk you put?

What was the goal alk you put?

I already know you dosed 4 grams.

 

[FRANK48]

@FRANK48

I think I know what went wrong.

First, your corals will not die with this jump, please don’t panic.

Can you please post the calculator you used.

Tell me:

What tank gallon size did you use?

What was the starting alk you put?

What was the goal alk you put?

I already know you dosed 4 grams.@FRANK48

I think I know what went wrong.

First, your corals will not die with this jump, please don’t panic.

Can you please post the calculator you used.

Tell me:

What tank gallon size did you use?

What was the starting alk you put?

What was the goal alk you put?

I already know you dosed 4 grams.

I used BRS alkalinity supplement calculator

tank size 50 gallons
Starting alk 7.25
Alk goal 8

 

[Miami Reef]

Which one did you click? @FRANK48

 

[Miami Reef]

@FRANK48 See my post above.

 

[Miami Reef]

I did some playing with numbers.

Can you please test your alk one more time? I don’t believe that alk of 9.5dkh is real. I think you tested too soon.