Raising my alk

[Denisk]

So my cal and alk was on the low end reading at cal-385 and alk -7.2 using regular instant ocean. I decided to switch salts and have been doing large water changes every other day however my alk is going up really slowly compared to my calcium.

My calcium is currently at 420 and alk is now at 7.6 and mag at 1400. I don't have many sps so I know there is hardly any consumption.

My questions is what would be the best way to get my alk up but not stressing my current sps? Reason I'm doing this is bc I want my parameters closer to reef crystals for when I do water changes.

 

[Diesel]

Bro, your # are spot on.
No need to raise anything.
How are you corals liking it?
Any pics?

 

[Denisk]

Bro, your # are spot on.
No need to raise anything.
How are you corals liking it?
Any pics?

There are pictures in my build thread. I was say my sps have great colors a little pale but not too bad. My concern here is that as I continue to do water changes won't the parameters be all over the place since reef crystals is much higher in alk/cal?

 

[hybridazn]

Which salt are you using now?

 

[Diesel]

There are pictures in my build thread. I was say my sps have great colors a little pale but not too bad. My concern here is that as I continue to do water changes won't the parameters be all over the place since reef crystals is much higher in alk/cal?

Stick with the same salt.
If colors are pale it could be a nutrient problem.
What are your Po4 and No3?

 

[Denisk]

Currently using reef crystals.

 

[Denisk]

Stick with the same salt.
If colors are pale it could be a nutrient problem.
What are your Po4 and No3?

 

[hybridazn]

Unless you do water changes every day your tank will never keep those parameters stable. This in the long run will cost a fortune. Sounds like you need to start supplementing with either kalk, 2 part or a CaRX.

 

[Denisk]

Unless you do water changes every day your tank will never keep those parameters stable. This in the long run will cost a fortune. Sounds like you need to start supplementing with either kalk, 2 part or a CaRX.

Ok got it. I've kept sps before and have never had this particular situation so I thought maybe I was just overthinking it which is pretty easy to do in the hobby

 

[Diesel]

Is that Po4?

 

[Diesel]

Ok got it. I've kept sps before and have never had this particular situation so I thought maybe I was just overthinking it which is pretty easy to do in the hobby

SPS, clams and coralline are the major ALK and CAL consumers in your tank.
Try to figure out without doing water changes how much your # are dropping in 24 hrs.
BRS has a nice schedule how to dose two part to keep them on target.

 

[Denisk]

Is that Po4?

Yes it is.

 

[Denisk]

SPS, clams and coralline are the major ALK and CAL consumers in your tank.
Try to figure out without doing water changes how much your # are dropping in 24 hrs.
BRS has a nice schedule how to dose two part to keep them on target.

Yeah that's what I used in the past. Thanks!

 

[Diesel]

Yes it is.

Than your good on Po4 as well.
How's No3?

 

[Denisk]

Than your good on Po4 as well.
How's No3?

undetectable.

 

[Diesel]

undetectable.

Raise it.
Cause you starving your corals as why they look bleached out.

I used too use Spectracide as that's a Potassium Nitrate now I use a Sodium Nitrate from Loudwolf.
Just Google that last.
Spectracide will work as well but as much I was dosing to keep my No3 at 5ppm my potassium was creeping up too.

 

[Denisk]

Raise it.
Cause you starving your corals as why they look bleached out.

I used too use Spectracide as that's a Potassium Nitrate now I use a Sodium Nitrate from Loudwolf.
Just Google that last.
Spectracide will work as well but as much I was dosing to keep my No3 at 5ppm my potassium was creeping up too.

Thank you! I appreciate all the insight/help. Probably makes sense why it's undetectable. I only have 4 fish in a 150 gallon display.

 

[Diesel]

Thank you! I appreciate all the insight/help. Probably makes sense why it's undetectable. I only have 4 fish in a 150 gallon display.

That's your problem right there.
Suggestion is more fish and if you do quarantine first for the full 76 days.
Nitrate dosing is a old remedy too raise your low nitrate, it came forward from the fresh water planted tanks as No3 is a must for the plants.
In the salt water part it's food for mainly bacteria and corals as inverts use it too.
As I said I used to dose spectracide by a formula but for the last 6 months I use Sodium Nitrate,

http://www.loudwolf.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=69

I use the same mixing formula as the Potassium Nitrate.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/potassium-nitrate-spectracide-stump-remover-dosing-steps.215730/

NOTE: start out slow with dosing and test everyday on No3 and ALK.
Keep ALK low in the 7 if NO3 is low too.
If No3 comes up to 2 or 3 ppm you can bring ALK up to 8 or 8.5.

 

[Denisk]

That's your problem right there.
Suggestion is more fish and if you do quarantine first for the full 76 days.
Nitrate dosing is a old remedy too raise your low nitrate, it came forward from the fresh water planted tanks as No3 is a must for the plants.
In the salt water part it's food for mainly bacteria and corals as inverts use it too.
As I said I used to dose spectracide by a formula but for the last 6 months I use Sodium Nitrate,

http://www.loudwolf.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=69

I use the same mixing formula as the Potassium Nitrate.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/potassium-nitrate-spectracide-stump-remover-dosing-steps.215730/

NOTE: start out slow with dosing and test everyday on No3 and ALK.
Keep ALK low in the 7 if NO3 is low too.
If No3 comes up to 2 or 3 ppm you can bring ALK up to 8 or 8.5.

Thank you!

 

[yellojello]

What salinity are you mixing too? I usually get 10-11 dkh at 1.026 with IO.