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My tank is about 4 months old. For the past month (maybe closer to 2) I've been dosing Alk to maintain stability at around 8dkh.
Currently I'm up to dosing to add 0.5 dkh a day using Red Sea Foundation B KH/Alk.
I don't dose any Calc and test it roughly once to twice a week (using a Hanna checker).
Past results have been:
456 (today)
462
459
460
476
484
473
475
484
481
481
455
484
468
I do nightly water change ~7L for a total weekly roughly 10% of my 500L display.
I understand there is a relationship between Calc and Alk consumption and its been niggling on my mind that something isn't quite right for a while. @vetteguy53081 here suggested my Calc might be low but I've never tested low number.
I've been looking around for possible causes/answers and stumbled upon @Randy Holmes-Farley 's post When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance? - which has some great info and possible causes for the imbalance.
For me I guess one possible cause for the imbalance is ,my water changes - but it still worries me I'm seeing "pitted skeletons"
I see quotes like "After two days, many aquarists might conclude that they need additional alkalinity, when in reality, they need more of both calcium and alkalinity to stabilize the system." and it makes me wonder if I should just been doing Alk and Calc.
Does anytone have advice on whether I should incorporate a more balanced approach to my dosing? More calc etc.
Thanks in advance.
Currently I'm up to dosing to add 0.5 dkh a day using Red Sea Foundation B KH/Alk.
I don't dose any Calc and test it roughly once to twice a week (using a Hanna checker).
Past results have been:
456 (today)
462
459
460
476
484
473
475
484
481
481
455
484
468
I do nightly water change ~7L for a total weekly roughly 10% of my 500L display.
I understand there is a relationship between Calc and Alk consumption and its been niggling on my mind that something isn't quite right for a while. @vetteguy53081 here suggested my Calc might be low but I've never tested low number.
I've been looking around for possible causes/answers and stumbled upon @Randy Holmes-Farley 's post When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance? - which has some great info and possible causes for the imbalance.
For me I guess one possible cause for the imbalance is ,my water changes - but it still worries me I'm seeing "pitted skeletons"
I see quotes like "After two days, many aquarists might conclude that they need additional alkalinity, when in reality, they need more of both calcium and alkalinity to stabilize the system." and it makes me wonder if I should just been doing Alk and Calc.
Does anytone have advice on whether I should incorporate a more balanced approach to my dosing? More calc etc.
Thanks in advance.