Why does my alk drop so fast?

[reefpeeper]

So I checked my alk and cal today and found it to be lower than I like. My alk was 7.7dkh and cal was 380. So I added 2 part to bring alk to 9dkh and cal to 420. I tested again later and found alk back to 7.7dkh and cal was still at 420. Any ideas why my tank would be using so much alk? It is only about 50g total. I usually add about 50-60ml of 2 part daily. Your help would be appriciated

 

[ritter6788]

Did you add the 2 part at the same time or separately? A 1 dkh drop per day in alk is not that much.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Whats in your tank?

 

[reefpeeper]

Did you add the 2 part at the same time or separately? A 1 dkh drop per day in alk is not that much.

Separately

 

[reefpeeper]

Whats in your tank?

Coral. Lol but seriously mixture of everything. Mostly sps and zoas

 

[reefpeeper]

Did you add the 2 part at the same time or separately? A 1 dkh drop per day in alk is not that much.

Not even a whole day and it dropped that much

 

[reefpeeper]

I think it is crazy the amount I have to add to keep my alk up. How much is too much to add in one day

 

[ritter6788]

50 to 60 ml isn't all that much in a 50 gallon tank if you have heavy sps. I dose 150 ml per day of BRS soda ash in my 75 for alk. Less on calcium but only because I got a batch of salt with already high calcium.

 

[reefpeeper]

50 to 60 ml isn't all that much in a 50 gallon tank if you have heavy sps. I dose 150 ml per day of BRS soda ash in my 75 for alk. Less on calcium but only because I got a batch of salt with already high calcium.

What would you consider heavy sps. I have a couple fairly large monti, 2 medium sized acros, and the rest are frags. Probly about 10 of those

 

[shred5]

Do you dose carbon or use bio pellets?...
Bacteria also consume lots of alk..

 

[ritter6788]

What would you consider heavy sps. I have a couple fairly large monti, 2 medium sized acros, and the rest are frags. Probly about 10 of those

Hard to say really. A couple large monti can really eat up the alk. I have a good sized derasa clam too.

 

[reefpeeper]

Do you dose carbon or use bio pellets?...
Bacteria also consume lots of alk..

I dose mb7 every monday. About 5ml

 

[reefpeeper]

Ok. Maybe I will just have to bump up my dosing

 

[ritter6788]

Are you dosing manually?

 

[reefpeeper]

Are you dosing manually?

Yes. I use bionic

 

[ritter6788]

Might be worth it to check into dosing pumps if you're dosing that often.

 

[reefpeeper]

Might be worth it to check into dosing pumps if you're dosing that often.

Yeah I have been thinking about that lately. It would save me the work. Also would add it much slower

 

[gacolt]

try kalk it has worked great for me and keep my cal at 460 dkh at 10.3.i also add part 2 every other day.i have mostly anemones sps and chalice and lots of zoas

 

[marke]

What's your mag at? Low mg causes issues like this.

 

[mike007]

Dosing pumps and 2 part are the way to go. Much cheaper using bulk 2 part and dosing pump will help keep parameters stable.