Alkalinity (and other parameters) - When is a swing not a swing?

UKReefer67 · Oct 17, 2022

Hi All, I`ve been in the hobby a while now. I have had good success with Softies and LPS but when it comes to SPS I just dont seem to be able to hit the sweet spot. Tank is a DD Reef-Pro 900 (290 Litres total system), I have a Radion XR15 (Blue) at 100% on the AB+ Setting, 10% water change every couple of weeks, good flow, 2 x AI Nero on random setting upto 85%. My parameter testing since Aug are below. My question is... do these results show a "swing" which is to broad to be comfortable for SPS or is that within a normal tolerance given testing accuracy etc. Date Mg KH Ca Phos pH Salinity Nitrate 11.06.22 1360 11.2 460 0.5 8.26 1.025 2.5 12.06.22 1440 9.5 450 0.03 8.35 1.025 3 18.06.22 1400 9 440 0.25 8.29 1.023 5 25.06.22 1360 10 450 0.03 8.1 1.025 2 16.07.22 1240 7.7 425 0.03 8.16 1.024 3 26.07.22 1360 9 425 0.03 8.3 1.024 5 06.08.22 1360 8.1 410 0.03 8.14 1.025 5 13.08.22 1400 7.8 450 0.03 8.2 1.026 2.5 24.08.22 1400 8.7 430 0.03 8.15 1.026 0.5 27.08.22 1440 9 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 10.09.22 1200 8.1 425 0.03 8.17 1.027 0.5 18.09.22 1440 7 410 0.03 8.16 1.025 0.5 24.09.22 1480 9.2 420 0.03 8.1 1.026 0.5 01.10.22 1440 8.4 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 16.10.22 1400 7.8 380 0.03 8.2 1.026 0.5 Very interested to hear others views on this...

14 foot reef · Oct 17, 2022

If you can, try to layout those numbers a little more separated, all those numbers are probably running together without really understanding your numbers.

Just a thought. The forum here will surely advise the best they can.

TokenReefer · Oct 17, 2022

You're in the matrix I think

Crustaceon · Oct 17, 2022

UKReefer67 said:
Hi All, I`ve been in the hobby a while now. I have had good success with Softies and LPS but when it comes to SPS I just dont seem to be able to hit the sweet spot. Tank is a DD Reef-Pro 900 (290 Litres total system), I have a Radion XR15 (Blue) at 100% on the AB+ Setting, 10% water change every couple of weeks, good flow, 2 x AI Nero on random setting upto 85%. My parameter testing since Aug are below. My question is... do these results show a "swing" which is to broad to be comfortable for SPS or is that within a normal tolerance given testing accuracy etc. Date Mg KH Ca Phos pH Salinity Nitrate 11.06.22 1360 11.2 460 0.5 8.26 1.025 2.5 12.06.22 1440 9.5 450 0.03 8.35 1.025 3 18.06.22 1400 9 440 0.25 8.29 1.023 5 25.06.22 1360 10 450 0.03 8.1 1.025 2 16.07.22 1240 7.7 425 0.03 8.16 1.024 3 26.07.22 1360 9 425 0.03 8.3 1.024 5 06.08.22 1360 8.1 410 0.03 8.14 1.025 5 13.08.22 1400 7.8 450 0.03 8.2 1.026 2.5 24.08.22 1400 8.7 430 0.03 8.15 1.026 0.5 27.08.22 1440 9 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 10.09.22 1200 8.1 425 0.03 8.17 1.027 0.5 18.09.22 1440 7 410 0.03 8.16 1.025 0.5 24.09.22 1480 9.2 420 0.03 8.1 1.026 0.5 01.10.22 1440 8.4 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 16.10.22 1400 7.8 380 0.03 8.2 1.026 0.5 Very interested to hear others views on this...

My advice is to get things more consistent. If you're going to do a 10% water change every couple of weeks, instead do a 5% every week. Most importantly, test alk/cal/mg at the same time every day (not every so often) and adjust your dosing method until you find the sweet spot. Consider the use of alk/cal/mg reagents a necessary monthly expenditure.

((FORDTECH)) · Oct 17, 2022

UKReefer67 said:
Hi All, I`ve been in the hobby a while now. I have had good success with Softies and LPS but when it comes to SPS I just dont seem to be able to hit the sweet spot. Tank is a DD Reef-Pro 900 (290 Litres total system), I have a Radion XR15 (Blue) at 100% on the AB+ Setting, 10% water change every couple of weeks, good flow, 2 x AI Nero on random setting upto 85%. My parameter testing since Aug are below. My question is... do these results show a "swing" which is to broad to be comfortable for SPS or is that within a normal tolerance given testing accuracy etc. Date Mg KH Ca Phos pH Salinity Nitrate 11.06.22 1360 11.2 460 0.5 8.26 1.025 2.5 12.06.22 1440 9.5 450 0.03 8.35 1.025 3 18.06.22 1400 9 440 0.25 8.29 1.023 5 25.06.22 1360 10 450 0.03 8.1 1.025 2 16.07.22 1240 7.7 425 0.03 8.16 1.024 3 26.07.22 1360 9 425 0.03 8.3 1.024 5 06.08.22 1360 8.1 410 0.03 8.14 1.025 5 13.08.22 1400 7.8 450 0.03 8.2 1.026 2.5 24.08.22 1400 8.7 430 0.03 8.15 1.026 0.5 27.08.22 1440 9 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 10.09.22 1200 8.1 425 0.03 8.17 1.027 0.5 18.09.22 1440 7 410 0.03 8.16 1.025 0.5 24.09.22 1480 9.2 420 0.03 8.1 1.026 0.5 01.10.22 1440 8.4 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 16.10.22 1400 7.8 380 0.03 8.2 1.026 0.5 Very interested to hear others views on this...

If your asking about specifically alk yes it is swinging to much. But I got a headache looking at the way you posted that so I don’t wanna look any further

((FORDTECH)) · Oct 17, 2022

You should have no more then .2-.3 swing thru the day

((FORDTECH)) · Oct 17, 2022

UKReefer67 said:
Hi All, I`ve been in the hobby a while now. I have had good success with Softies and LPS but when it comes to SPS I just dont seem to be able to hit the sweet spot. Tank is a DD Reef-Pro 900 (290 Litres total system), I have a Radion XR15 (Blue) at 100% on the AB+ Setting, 10% water change every couple of weeks, good flow, 2 x AI Nero on random setting upto 85%. My parameter testing since Aug are below. My question is... do these results show a "swing" which is to broad to be comfortable for SPS or is that within a normal tolerance given testing accuracy etc. Date Mg KH Ca Phos pH Salinity Nitrate 11.06.22 1360 11.2 460 0.5 8.26 1.025 2.5 12.06.22 1440 9.5 450 0.03 8.35 1.025 3 18.06.22 1400 9 440 0.25 8.29 1.023 5 25.06.22 1360 10 450 0.03 8.1 1.025 2 16.07.22 1240 7.7 425 0.03 8.16 1.024 3 26.07.22 1360 9 425 0.03 8.3 1.024 5 06.08.22 1360 8.1 410 0.03 8.14 1.025 5 13.08.22 1400 7.8 450 0.03 8.2 1.026 2.5 24.08.22 1400 8.7 430 0.03 8.15 1.026 0.5 27.08.22 1440 9 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 10.09.22 1200 8.1 425 0.03 8.17 1.027 0.5 18.09.22 1440 7 410 0.03 8.16 1.025 0.5 24.09.22 1480 9.2 420 0.03 8.1 1.026 0.5 01.10.22 1440 8.4 450 0.03 8.2 1.027 0.5 16.10.22 1400 7.8 380 0.03 8.2 1.026 0.5 Very interested to hear others views on this...

I’m noticing in like 10 day periods alkalinity is moving a full point you’re missing the big picture of those what’s happening in those 10 days in between if every day it’s going up and down one point you have a problem

UKReefer67 · Oct 17, 2022

Sorry, the formatting was OK when I wrote the post - here`s a graphic of the measurements..

Jake4727 · Oct 17, 2022

UKReefer67 said:
Sorry, the formatting was OK when I wrote the post - here`s a graphic of the measurements..

Are you dosing ? How full is your tank with corals? And what corals?

14 foot reef · Oct 17, 2022

I think it was mentioned, make sure you're checking alk at the exact same time of the day, if your not, you wont know how to dial in. Very Very important. Time of day must be the same.

((FORDTECH)) · Oct 17, 2022

UKReefer67 said:
Sorry, the formatting was OK when I wrote the post - here`s a graphic of the measurements..

What are you using to measure phophates I see alot of .03s

92Miata · Oct 21, 2022

I'm way less concerned about "stability" than most - I'm more of a "are things in the right range" person - wild reefs aren't stable at all.

That being said - your alkalinity is all over the place. You need to flatten that out, and if you're trying to use water changes to manage alkalinity - that's a fools errand. Start dosing consistently, and start testing your fresh saltwater before you do a water change. You can't keep the tank at 8 and do water changes with water at 12 and not yoyo things around. It's really easy and cheap to adjust the alkalinity of salt and things will flatten out and get easier if you can match your water change parameters to your tank parameters.

Given the .03 phosphate, and the low nitrates, you'll have better luck down around the 7dkh range than you will up around 11dkh, especially while you're still trying to figure out keeping parameters reasonable.