Alk is rising 0.1dkh per day. I'm already at 11.8 and I'm leaving on vacation in 6 days.

[SomeHappyFish]

I only have a few days to prevent an issue before leaving on vacation and I don't want to make a costly mistake.

On July 3rd Alk was 10.5 dkh
On July 15th Alk was 11.8 dkh
An increase of 1.3dkh in 12 days so 0.1 dkh per day.

I think the raise in nitrate and the consumption of nitrates by my corals, macro algae and bacteria is rising my Alk or it might be due to something else that I can't pin point. Nitrate went from 22.3 to 33.7 and now 25.9. I have not change my feeding habit so I don't know what caused this.

Yesterday, I have reduce by half my dosing of Organic Trace Elements by Fauna Marin (0.5ml/Day to 0.2ml/Day) and performed a 10% water change with saltwater with an alk of 8.6.

So alk should be 11.5dkh now, will test tonight.

What should I do before leaving for 10 days to prevent alk rising past 12dkh?

-Water change with lower alk (8.6 or lower with seachem buffer)
-Trim some macro algae
-Cut carbon dosing trace elements by half
-Add 1-2 sps coral? Lol idk

Thanks. Just woried of having my alk raised past 12 dkh and ruining a good vacation to panama to visits some reefs.

 

[billyocean]

I only have a few days to prevent an issue before leaving on vacation and I don't want to make a costly mistake.

On July 3rd Alk was 10.5 dkh
On July 15th Alk was 11.8 dkh
An increase of 1.3dkh in 12 days so 0.1 dkh per day.

I think the raise in nitrate and the consumption of nitrates by my corals, macro algae and bacteria is rising my Alk or it might be due to something else that I can't pin point. Nitrate went from 22.3 to 33.7 and now 25.9. I have not change my feeding habit so I don't know what caused this.

Yesterday, I have reduce by half my dosing of Organic Trace Elements by Fauna Marin (0.5ml/Day to 0.2ml/Day) and performed a 10% water change with saltwater with an alk of 8.6.

So alk should be 11.5dkh now, will test tonight.

What should I do before leaving for 10 days to prevent alk rising past 12dkh?

-Water change with lower alk (8.6 or lower with seachem buffer)
-Trim some macro algae
-Cut carbon dosing trace elements by half
-Add 1-2 sps coral? Lol idk

Thanks. Just woried of having my alk raised past 12 dkh and ruining a good vacation to panama to visits some reefs.

Are you dosing an alk supplement? Do you have an auto top off? It's either dosing too much alkalinity, testing error, salinity is off, or perhaps frequent water changes with a high alkalinity value. Nothing else that I can think of will raise alk/dkh.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Are you dosing an alk supplement? Do you have an auto top off? It's either dosing too much alkalinity, testing error, salinity is off, or perhaps frequent water changes with a high alkalinity value. Nothing else that I can think of will raise alk/dkh.

I do not dose any alk supppememt.

Auto top off with RODI.

Salinity is at 34.6ppt. Tested with a hanna checker and refractometer.

Both would be wrong? I doubt it... Will test again tonight to make sure I wasn't drunk.

Waterchange alk is 8.6 each time for the last 3-4 times.

Randy wrote that nitrate can play a part in alk rising or going down if I understood the forums correctly.

 

[MarsReefer]

Alk can only raise if you add it into the tank. Either through a water change or dosing a chemical. Alk will drop over time if corals are consuming it. If your alk is raising either stop dosing alk or stop doing high alk water changes.

So either your salt water isn't 8.6 alk or your testing kit is broken.

 

[billyocean]

If you have used 8.6 dkh salt this whole time and your dkh is 11.8 now and rising then something doesn't make sense and it's not n03. Give us a rundown on everything you add to the tank and what your other parameters are.

 

[badpit]

Do you monitor your PH? Some biological processes, such as the activity of certain algae or organisms in the substrate, can affect the alkalinity of the water. For instance, coralline algae and some types of macroalgae can absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, which can lead to an increase in alkalinity.

 

[KStatefan]

I do not dose any alk supppememt.

Auto top off with RODI.

Salinity is at 34.6ppt. Tested with a hanna checker and refractometer.

Both would be wrong? I doubt it... Will test again tonight to make sure I wasn't drunk.

Waterchange alk is 8.6 each time for the last 3-4 times.

Randy wrote that nitrate can play a part in alk rising or going down if I understood the forums correctly.

Would have to look it up but what I remember is every 10ppm of nitrate consumed will increase alk 0.5 dkh.

 

[billyocean]

But op said nothing is being dosed. I dont see being able to feed that much nor do his corals appear to be consuming anything...still no word on what all is in the tank.

 

[billyocean]

Post in thread 'Nitrates and alkalinity' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nitrates-and-alkalinity.889647/post-9854591

 

[twentyleagues]

While the use of nitrate by bacteria does increase alk its not that much. I would look elsewhere. What is in the organic trace elements from fm?

 

[billyocean]

N03 by feeding which adds ammonia is a wash (takes away then adds back)...actually dosing n03 appears to be the only way to raise the alk when consumed. If no straight n03 is being dosed then I do not know...either error or above my pay grade...lol

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I doubt my Hanna and Salifert test kit are broken.. A user error is more probable.

The Hanna reagent was expire not long ago so I bought a Salifert test kit but it still gave me the same results has my hanna.

I know something doesn't make sense haha.

My parameters are:
Temp 78-79
Salinity 34.6
Alk 11.8
Calcium 440
Mag 1340-1350
Nitrate 25.9
Phos 0.06
Ph is a 8.0 using the salifert test kit.

I have a baseball size clump of dragon's breath in my display. Started has a golf ball size. Not much coraline algae..

All my corals look fine.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I feed a mix of frozen food by Hikari and some pellets

 

[SomeHappyFish]

But op said nothing is being dosed. I dont see being able to feed that much nor do his corals appear to be consuming anything...still no word on what all is in the tank.

I only dose this

0.5 ml daily for the past two months.

Organic - Fauna Marin

Buy Fauna Marin Organic - Fauna Marin at the best price of CAD $ 27.99 at BIGShow Frags

bigshowfrags.com

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I will be buy a hanna reagent tonight to test the tank and compare the values.

 

[billyocean]

Nothing I see to consume much dkh. A couple of things with the hanna reagent 1. shake before each use
2. Refrigerate

I've found over time unrefrigerated hanna alk reagent drifts much quicker and if not shaken before each use it can slightly vary as well. I would implore getting some new alk..and over the next bit before you leave test a couple times a day at the same times. This will give you a better idea of the trend.

 

[billyocean]

I only dose this

0.5 ml daily for the past two months.

Organic - Fauna Marin

Buy Fauna Marin Organic - Fauna Marin at the best price of CAD $ 27.99 at BIGShow Frags

bigshowfrags.com

With as little coral in your tank right now, water changes should be more than sufficient.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

My Alkalinity goes up slightly when I clean any part of my Aquarium. pH goes down. Not sure why this happens, CO2 off of my breath? Additional free nutrients to the water? Are you giving your Aquarium a good cleaning, in preparation for the Vacation, unattended time?

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Nothing I see to consume much dkh. A couple of things with the hanna reagent 1. shake before each use
2. Refrigerate

I've found over time unrefrigerated hanna alk reagent drifts much quicker and if not shaken before each use it can slightly vary as well. I would implore getting some new alk..and over the next bit before you leave test a couple times a day at the same times. This will give you a better idea of the trend.

Il'l give it a try for my next reagent.

I will be testing each might until I leave. However if my alk is really 11.8dkh what do?

I was dosing these trace element for my macro algae and I saw an improvement in size and look. Could this be the culprit? I don't see how.

My Alkalinity goes up slightly when I clean any part of my Aquarium. pH goes down. Not sure why this happens, CO2 off of my breath? Additional free nutrients to the water? Are you giving your Aquarium a good cleaning, in preparation for the Vacation, unattended time?

Nothing different I heard that not making any change before going on vacation is key.


Could having my door closed between 3pm and 22pm increase the C02 and raise my alk? I have a pet ferret who likes to climb in my sump so I have no choice to close the door when its out but the Air exchange is on max mode all day.