Question about Alkalinity usage spike with 8.3 ph

[CaptainNoFunsReef]

Hello All,


This is my first post and I have a specific question about the best way to manage alkalinity with increased PH.

My alk has been at 7.56 to 7.68 consistently for the last year plus
Calcium ranges from 430-450 same consistently
I have been dosing only kalk the life of the tank and as of a month ago added BRS Balling (not using trace yet) as I was up to 4000ml daily to keep up with tank consumption.
My PH swings were 8.05 to 8.20 daily. a few points lower if i didn't keep up with the co2 media.
I just started a closed loop on the skimmer with the co2 media and my PH range is 8.19 to 8.35 and alk has gone down 7.2 to 7.3.

Finally my question,
How do I stabilize the PH swing?
Only dose Kalk at night?
Just increase the alk dosing to meet demand?
Hybrid of Alk during the day only and Kalk all day?
I am worried to just raise the alk during the day and drive the ph even higher

Thank you

My Equipment
redsea 850 Been running 2 years
3x Neptune SKY
SPS Dominant

 

[killer2001]

Reduce the pH swing by aerating the water more. But typically 0.2 difference from day to night cycle is the standard.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the goal is raising pH, there are many ways, including hydroxide for all alk needed, fresher air to the room, more photosynthesis, outside air to a skimmer, and a CO2 scrubber on a skimmer.

 

[GlassMunky]

Not to hijack, but what is this giant red coral in the middle of the tank?
That thing has a crazy growth shape

 

[CaptainNoFunsReef]

Thank you, I bumped the kalk last night 100ml and will check throughout the day. The airstone is a neat idea as well I never thought of that.

 

[CaptainNoFunsReef]

Not to hijack, but what is this giant red coral in the middle of the tank?
That thing has a crazy growth shape

Its a Jason Fox firestarter monti. It grows like crazy!!

 

[CaptainNoFunsReef]

If the goal is raising pH, there are many ways, including hydroxide for all alk needed, fresher air to the room, more photosynthesis, outside air to a skimmer, and a CO2 scrubber on a skimmer.

I was more trying to reduce the swing amount. I have seen the Chris Meckley method thrown around where the goal is to keep the ph pegged at 8.3 day and night. What are your thoughts on that?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I was more trying to reduce the swing amount. I have seen the Chris Meckley method thrown around where the goal is to keep the ph pegged at 8.3 day and night. What are your thoughts on that?

I do not know if fixing pH at any particular value is useful, and if so, what is best.

I’ve seen folks fix pH in various ways without noting anything different as a consequence.

We discuss that topic a bit here;

Alkalinity stability? pH stability? Are they even different?

It is currently the dogma of the reef aquarium hobby to say that alkalinity stability is very important for SPS corals, and that pH is not. Often, the very idea of someone trying to optimize pH is called “chasing numbers” as if that statement by itself shows it to be foolish. Since I have...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[CaptainNoFunsReef]

I do not know if fixing pH at any particular value is useful, and if so, what is best.

I’ve seen folks fix pH in various ways without noting anything different as a consequence.

We discuss that topic a bit here;

Alkalinity stability? pH stability? Are they even different?

It is currently the dogma of the reef aquarium hobby to say that alkalinity stability is very important for SPS corals, and that pH is not. Often, the very idea of someone trying to optimize pH is called “chasing numbers” as if that statement by itself shows it to be foolish. Since I have...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you, I see your point. My corals are happy and growing with the daily swing so the "old if it aint broke don't fix it" applies here.

 

[Garf]

alk has been at 7.56 to 7.68 consistently

How on earth are you measuring with that precision? For what it's worth I've been adding kalk during the day for a while to stabilise Alkalinity. I Recently switched to dosing 24 hours and now the tank appears to consume some alkalinity at night, which it did not appear to do previously.

Edit - when I say 24hrs, that's actually every 2 hrs on a dosing pump, for clarity.

 

[CaptainNoFunsReef]

How on earth are you measuring with that precision? For what it's worth I've been adding kalk during the day for a while to stabilise Alkalinity. I Recently switched to dosing 24 hours and now the tank appears to consume some alkalinity at night, which it did not appear to do previously.

Edit - when I say 24hrs, that's actually every 2 hrs on a dosing pump, for clarity.

I am using an Alkatronic. It is an amazing piece of equipment!!