Hi All, 2 weeks ago my nitrates and phosphates were both bottomed out and near zero. As a result, I started feeding heavier and more frequently. Over the last 7-10 days I now notice I need to dose more Alk than Ca to keep my levels in range - which oddly enough has given me an even greater pH boost, lol. (I target alk of 8 and CA of 450)
Can feeding heavy to increase nitrate/phosphate cause Alk to drop and not Ca? Since its dropping more than my Ca, I am assuming the drop is not due to coral growth/calcification, but something else going on. The only thing I've changed is feeding heavy. As a result of this, I have to dose more Alk than Ca to keep Alk in range...if I dose equal parts of Alk and Ca, then my CA starts to get too high (nearing 500, when normally I keep it close to 450).
A few questions:
1.) Is this observation real and can be explained scientifically? Or have others experienced this? Or perhaps the concentration of my 2 part is messed up...
2.) If I continue to feed heavy, will Alk consumption continue to be greater than Ca consumption? Or does it eventually slow back down?
3.) During this period of heavy feeding to boost nutrients, am I okay to dose more Alk than Ca to keep my numbers in range? I use B-Ionic 2-part. I have always been advised to always dose in equal amounts, so curious if there will be issues if I don't dose in equal amounts while driving nutrients up...
Thanks for any insights!
Can feeding heavy to increase nitrate/phosphate cause Alk to drop and not Ca? Since its dropping more than my Ca, I am assuming the drop is not due to coral growth/calcification, but something else going on. The only thing I've changed is feeding heavy. As a result of this, I have to dose more Alk than Ca to keep Alk in range...if I dose equal parts of Alk and Ca, then my CA starts to get too high (nearing 500, when normally I keep it close to 450).
A few questions:
1.) Is this observation real and can be explained scientifically? Or have others experienced this? Or perhaps the concentration of my 2 part is messed up...
2.) If I continue to feed heavy, will Alk consumption continue to be greater than Ca consumption? Or does it eventually slow back down?
3.) During this period of heavy feeding to boost nutrients, am I okay to dose more Alk than Ca to keep my numbers in range? I use B-Ionic 2-part. I have always been advised to always dose in equal amounts, so curious if there will be issues if I don't dose in equal amounts while driving nutrients up...
Thanks for any insights!
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