What’s your kh consumption

[scotty333]

Having a head scratcher this week, got at least 2kg of stonies with only 1.1kh consumption which is down from 1.8 prior to a swing
Tests are all in range 11 that I can test for that is

 

[Formulator]

Having a head scratcher this week, got at least 2kg of stonies with only 1.1kh consumption which is down from 1.8 prior to a swing
Tests are all in range 11 that I can test for that is

That sounds about right I think. If I had to estimate, I probably have about one kg of stony corals and my tank consumes about 0.5 dkh per day. More when the pH is up if we are out of the house for a while.

 

[scotty333]

That sounds about right I think. If I had to estimate, I probably have about one kg of stony corals and my tank consumes about 0.5 dkh per day. More when the pH is up if we are out of the house for a while.

Thanks buddy , ph is 8.4 and never tested it different for the last few weeks
Good to know

 

[Formulator]

Thanks buddy , ph is 8.4 and never tested it different for the last few weeks
Good to know

I got into the 8.4-8.5 range once when we were gone for a week and my consumption went up to almost 1.0 dkh. I was pretty impressed with the difference. Typically I run at 8.0-8.2. Currently working on increasing my baseline pH due to that experience.

 

[scotty333]

I see a lot of peoples success stories with stable high ph 8.3-5
For me it’s number 2 , kh is king and if that’s going down your doing it right

 

[scotty333]

Now I’m really stumped , kh is rising .15 per day
Currently 8.1
Think a few big water changes would be an idea

 

[scotty333]

Let’s see if a 40% wc has made a difference
Icp taken before to figure out what was causing my kh to rise with the same dose

 

[Formulator]

Let’s see if a 40% wc has made a difference
Icp taken before to figure out what was causing my kh to rise with the same dose

I’m not sure the icp will tell you much. I suspect your consumption is just down after the swing you mentioned. The corals may just need time to get back into their groove after the shock.

 

[scotty333]

Let’s see
I did a bigger swing than that 2 weeks ago and 2 days later they were consuming again
That crossed my mind but 5 days now so getting worried

 

[scotty333]

I’m not sure the icp will tell you much. I suspect your consumption is just down after the swing you mentioned. The corals may just need time to get back into their groove after the shock.

There’s 2 different kind of reefers imo, those who sit back do nothing and suffer the consequences then there’s them that know their own circumstances and experiences and know when to intervene before it’s too late

Generalised terms like your not giving enough time is for newbies that don’t know what’s going on so in my case an icp is essential in finding out the problem to stop it happening again

 

[Formulator]

Generalised terms like your not giving enough time is for newbies that don’t know what’s going so in my case an icp is essential in finding out the problem to stop it happening again

Time is still important for experienced reefers. I don’t understand what you expect to see in an icp test that would explain decreased alkalinity consumption…

Occam’s razor states that the most obvious explanation is usually correct. You had a big alk swing, now your alkalinity consumption is down. Alkalinity swings stress corals. Stressed corals grow less. Less growth consumes less alk. Am I missing something?

 

[scotty333]

Couple of things to reply to that .
How do I know if I don’t have elevated iron, tin, lead, copper etc . Kids drop alsorts in tanks , I’ve read thousands of posts like that so should I go on?
Also , I’ve had more swings than a 70s pop group and I know how my system reacts depending on the rise and the period it was over as too how long the corals go back to normal rates.
Yes your missing something, just like me but it’s beyond home testing
Now, as the corals were exposed to air for 30 minutes I don’t expect instant reduction but I’ll bet my bottom dollar this time tomorrow my kh will be around 7.3
If I’m wrong , and I promise I’ll post the exact result which will prove my theory
Keep doing what your doing , don’t listen to anyone else and happy reefing

 

[Formulator]

Couple of things to reply to that .
How do I know if I don’t have elevated iron, tin, lead, copper etc . Kids drop alsorts in tanks , I’ve read thousands of posts like that so should I go on?
Also , I’ve had more swings than a 70s pop group and I know how my system reacts depending on the rise and the period it was over as too how long the corals go back to normal rates.
Yes your missing something, just like me but it’s beyond home testing
Now, as the corals were exposed to air for 30 minutes I don’t expect instant reduction but I’ll bet my bottom dollar this time tomorrow my kh will be around 7.3
If I’m wrong , and I promise I’ll post the exact result which will prove my theory
Keep doing what your doing , don’t listen to anyone else and happy reefing

I don’t know why you are getting so angry because I suggested something different from your own perspective. This is a friendly discussion. I don’t think ICP is a bad idea. I just don’t know that it is going to give you a smoking gun for your issue. A contaminant may or may not cause decreased alkalinity consumption. All I was suggesting is that there may just be decreased consumption due to the more obvious recent event of a large alk swing. And if this is the case, only time and stability will help you. For some reason you took offense to this suggestion as if I was somehow talking down to you or assuming you were a newbie.

I often listen to others’ suggestions. You are obviously the one who knows everything. Get bent.

 

[tbaum101]

Now I’m really stumped , kh is rising .15 per day
Currently 8.1
Think a few big water changes would be an idea

I run mine between 11 and 12 dkh and my tank consumes on average 2dkh per day. Try slowly raising the dkh. My tank was doing next to nothing until I jacked my numbers. 480-500 Calc, 1400 Mag and 11 to 12 dKh. I can see SPS grow every 2 weeks with pics. Good growth tips as well. Not so great with LPS though but working on it

 

[SaltySqueeble]

Just as a comparison. My 25 gallon uses .15 dkh daily. It’s packed full with LPS, and two montis. I keep it at 8

 

[scotty333]

Get bent? Nice
25 years of this and my issue isn’t a kh swing period
And yes I do get out of shape when I have someone’s opinion that makes no sense ? Just wait ….. hmmm I’m not risking thousands of cash on corals to watch them die
Have a nice evening , enjoy ya tank n leave the business side to people that have ideas of solutions that I may have missed
You give nothing, just wait!

 

[scotty333]

I run mine between 11 and 12 dkh and my tank consumes on average 2dkh per day. Try slowly raising the dkh. My tank was doing next to nothing until I jacked my numbers. 480-500 Calc, 1400 Mag and 11 to 12 dKh. I can see SPS grow every 2 weeks with pics. Good growth tips as well. Not so great with LPS though but working on it

Thanks for your comments , my corals grow fast at 7s and a month ago was consuming 1.6kh , I was considering going to 9 to experiment but had a spanner in the works by overdosing kh which has set me back a bit but soon as I’m back on track I’ll raise to 9 in time for my vacation for extra wiggle room

 

[scotty333]

I run mine between 11 and 12 dkh and my tank consumes on average 2dkh per day. Try slowly raising the dkh. My tank was doing next to nothing until I jacked my numbers. 480-500 Calc, 1400 Mag and 11 to 12 dKh. I can see SPS grow every 2 weeks with pics. Good growth tips as well. Not so great with LPS though but working on it

What volume tank? Nutrient levels ?

 

[Garf]

I run mine between 11 and 12 dkh and my tank consumes on average 2dkh per day. Try slowly raising the dkh. My tank was doing next to nothing until I jacked my numbers. 480-500 Calc, 1400 Mag and 11 to 12 dKh. I can see SPS grow every 2 weeks with pics. Good growth tips as well. Not so great with LPS though but working on it

You sure it's not just precipitating out of solution?

 

[Formulator]

Get bent? Nice
25 years of this and my issue isn’t a kh swing period
And yes I do get out of shape when I have someone’s opinion that makes no sense ? Just wait ….. hmmm I’m not risking thousands of cash on corals to watch them die
Have a nice evening , enjoy ya tank n leave the business side to people that have ideas of solutions that I may have missed
You give nothing, just wait!

You said you had a kh swing in your first post!

down from 1.8 prior to a swing

Swings stress corals. Stressed corals consume less kh. End of story. If you think this makes no sense and you’ve been doing this 25 years, I don’t know what to tell you.