Where is my Alkalinity, Cal, MG going?

[Haroldwagner]

I am new to Saltwater. I do not have any corals. I have 2 clownfish. Redsea reefer 425.
I keep putting in Alkalinity, Cal, and MG thru apex DOS. The levels keep dropping.
I do an automatic water change of 1.5 gals every day.
I use Classic Sea Salt Mix. Alkalinity - 9-10 dKH (approx) Calcium - 380 ppm (approx) Magnesium - 1260 ppm (approx)
I am using Seachem Alk and CA, Fritz RPM Liquid Magnesium

I have not turned on my skimmer, I have a ReefMat by Redsea
What am I doing wrong?

 

[Saltyreef]

If you are doing 1.5g AWC everyday in an empty tank, that should keep your levels stable to that salt mix.

Have you checked the calibration of your tester? I assume its a trident?

You can do a consumption trend with just the AWC going and stop adding the supplimental elements.
Use some salifert kits to compare to your trident. Maybe needs calibration.

 

[Haroldwagner]

You are correct it is a Trident. I have not checked the calibration of my tester. I had a computer test at the LFS. Once I put on the trident the levels are going down. When I hooked up the Trident the levels were almost spot on with the LFS test.

I have a red sea test kit. I will test it.

 

[Smite]

Test your mixing container as well to verify your new salt water parameters going in for the auto water change. I didn't see you mention what your salinity is at but be sure you are testing that in the newly mixed water as well; don't just go off recommended weight/measurements.

How are you mixing your new water for the AWC? How large is the reservoir?

 

[csturgis1989]

What 2 part are you using? I would recommend testing with a different test kit at least weekly or monthly to keep the trident honest. Is your salinity staying consistent? Is the DOS used for AWC calibrated?

 

[Haroldwagner]

I have a mixing station with RODI water and salt water.
The salinity is 1.025 to 1.026
My RODI water is over 9 PH and it drops once I add salt to it.
I feed 2 -3 times a day, 4-6 nuggets for fish food they eat it all within 30-60 seconds. My ammonia is 0 Nitrates .2 and nitrites are 0.00

 

[Haroldwagner]

Yes my salinity is staying consistent. yes another DOS used for AWC, and is calibrated also

 

[Crustaceon]

And no one has mentioned coralline algae yet...

 

[Saltyreef]

And no one has mentioned coralline algae yet...

Sounds like its a new tank but you are correct....we havent lol.

I couldnt imagine there to be that much coraline causing dropping macros on top of AWC.

 

[Haroldwagner]

I have not turned on my lights yet I do not see any coralline algae. I could be missing it.

 

[Crustaceon]

Sounds like its a new tank but you are correct....we havent lol.

I couldnt imagine there to be that much coraline causing dropping macros on top of AWC.

Probably not. My second question would be where the doses are being administered. If they're not being done in a high flow area, precipitation could be a concern.

 

[Saltyreef]

Probably not. My second question would be where the doses are being administered. If they're not being done in a high flow area, precipitation could be a concern.

We want photos!

 

[Smite]

I have a mixing station with RODI water and salt water.
The salinity is 1.025 to 1.026
My RODI water is over 9 PH and it drops once I add salt to it.
I feed 2 -3 times a day, 4-6 nuggets for fish food they eat it all within 30-60 seconds. My ammonia is 0 Nitrates .2 and nitrites are 0.00

I would verify your tank parameters as suggested above and your SW reservoir tub for alk,ca,mg with your redsea kits. If you find your mixing barrel parameters are low then that will be your issue. Not preheating the water before mixing and/or adding too much salt at once can cause low levels. I've also experienced drops in fresh mixed salt water over extended periods if I continually mix it. I believe all those are caused by precipitation so if your mixing barrel is getting crust in it, that could be the case.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can you clarify how much of what are you adding each day? Maybe it’s just not much.

 

[Haroldwagner]

I'm adding about 30 ml of both every day. But I have no corals, no lights. I just don't know where it's going. Does the tank use calcium and alkalinity even though that there's no coral in the system?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm adding about 30 ml of both every day. But I have no corals, no lights. I just don't know where it's going. Does the tank use calcium and alkalinity even though that there's no coral in the system?

I understand the question, but where it is going will have a different answer depending on the amount. Can you provide us the vales in dKH per day and ppm per day? We will just have to do that ourselves if you do not.

A reasonable amount may be precipitating calcium carbonate on bare rock and sand that acts as seed crystals for precipitation. Also on pumps and heaters. Alk is depleted by rising nitrate.

 

[Haroldwagner]

Here are the stats since I hooked up the trident.
Magnesium, calcium, alkalinity, and finally pH.. there's no precipitation on anywhere on the sump. Ammonia is at zero. Nitrite is at zero nitrate is at 0.2