I would double check your testing first and foremost. Get a second test kit for alk. im not understanding how your tank is using that much alk. Is it in a basement with 0 air flow?
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
If you keep dosing all you are doing is hardening your sand. You have nothing else using that much alk. It’s going to take longer than a weekend to correct. You also need to break up the sand clumpsUpdate:
I did about a 15% water change on Friday morning before I left town for the weekend. I left the dosing pumps off and the CO2 scrubber on. I tested this morning (Monday) for alkalinity and calcium and my calcium dropped about 10 ppm to 410 and my alkalinity dropped from about 7 dKH to 5.5 dKH. I don’t think this no dosing thing is sustainable!
Also, I’m just stating the trend I’ve seen: when CO2 scrubber is connected, I have more issues with precipitation because of the increased pH. When it’s off, it generally stabilizes.
That is certainly the expected result.![]()
The sand must be not thoroughly plugged with phosphates yet if it precipitates that rapidly at 8.1-8.2 pH. Would you agree?
The highest level of phosphates I’ve been able to achieve is 0.02 ppm, and that’s only within the last month or so.