So I have a 15g which I know will lead to some instability but this one is stumping me. Randy kind of started me on the topic so I'd like to discuss further. My Alk stays around 6. Yesterday i measured and it was 4.9. Did a 20-25% water change and 24 hours later it is 5.7. Using reef Crystals, fresh mix was 11.2. Now where Randy lost me is about a correlation with nitrates and Alk. And another thing about precipitation. Can I dose All for Reef and be fine, or is there more to it? Ultimately I'd like a full break down on cause and effects and just to learn what I can/ should do.
Constant Low Alk in newish tank
- Thread starter Aaron75
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From my limited chemistry knowledge i think it takes some alk (bicarbonates) in the nitrification process.
Is your sand clumping/ turning into rocks??? What kinda bioload do you have?? Lots of corals?? Also what are ya using for testing??
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Free bump as I’m dealing with about the same thing. 5.3 here and can’t raise with water change or all for reef. Just ordered two part to boost levels including magnesium as that has a strong relationship with all.
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If your sand is clumping up that could mean that you are experincing a deposition event, aka your alk and calcium are outta wack and dont want to stay in solution so they start to form crystals. And our sandbeds are the perfect seeding spots for these crystals
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Maybe test your other parameters
Ca,Mag,pH just to kinda get a base line for whats goin on...
When i had my percipitation event i was dosing 61ml of brightwell alk into a 2month old LPS tank lol
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Sand is not clumpy. I have gsp on the wall, 1 single head splitting torch, 1 5 head micro hammer, 12 total heads of zoas, and 1 1" homewrecker that is surprisingly doing well. Using new Hanna checker, changed reagents and got same results. I'd say medium bioload, I do have to dose nitrates to keep them up.
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Hmm not alot of calcifying corals... kinda odd that it'd consume 1.7dkh daily but then again 15 gallons is not alot of buffer
Id say keep an eye on your sand and other perameters, and maybe check your Mag? Low mag makes it hard to maintain the other two
Ps 4.9 to 11.2 is a massive alk swing! Try to raise it slowly
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I'll test mag and calcium whenever I get those tests and see what I've got. Thanks.Hmm not alot of calcifying corals... kinda odd that it'd consume 1.7dkh daily but then again 15 gallons is not alot of buffer
Id say keep an eye on your sand and other perameters, and maybe check your Mag? Low mag makes it hard to maintain the other two
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