Alk Issue

[M3P]

Checked my levels for the first time today since starting my tank. Here is what I got:

Alk (kH) 5.4
Mag 1395
Ca 460

I thought, surely this can't be right, so I ran the test again and got the same kH.

I checked my water change water (reef crystals mixed at 1.025). It measured at a kH of 11.8.

Thoughts on how to resolve this?

 

[Schplitter]

Check it with a different test kit just in case. If the reading is true then a few 5% water changes until you are where you want to be.

 

[Breto]

I had a similar issue a few months. What I did was test a few times myself and also take some water to two different LFS and have them check it. After I was sure it was low I dosed with the BRS two part system to raise it.


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[Nanook]

Checked my levels for the first time today since starting my tank. Here is what I got:

Alk (kH) 5.4
Mag 1395
Ca 460

I thought, surely this can't be right, so I ran the test again and got the same kH.

I checked my water change water (reef crystals mixed at 1.025). It measured at a kH of 11.8.

Thoughts on how to resolve this?

Keep it honest with another kit. Then realize you're only 2 points off or so from optimal. If your stuff looks good just slowly raise it a bit. Are you supplementing anything? Calcium reactor, kalk, 2-part?

 

[Pife]

Mine have been in the 4s before. Dose it up slow.

 

[M3P]

Keep it honest with another kit. Then realize you're only 2 points off or so from optimal. If your stuff looks good just slowly raise it a bit. Are you supplementing anything? Calcium reactor, kalk, 2-part?

I definitely don't want to go crazy. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby and since this has likely been a chronic problem, I'll take it slow.

I have not been running any reactors previously. I fired up the kalk reactor yesterday, but am only dosing 10 seconds every 30 minutes with an aqualifter, so it's barely a few drops. Will continue to test and adjust once the calcium reactor is set up. I just need to calibrate the pH probe to turn it on. Maybe this week.

Did a 20 gallon water change today and checked alk a few hours later. Up to 6.1. Will recheck daily this week to see what it does and probably do another 20 gallon water change.

 

[frogspawn74]

I thought is was considered safe moving a full point a day. Has that changed? Just curious.

 

[M3P]

I thought is was considered safe moving a full point a day. Has that changed? Just curious.

That is probably safe, but I'm not in a rush as long as things are looking ok.

 

[frogspawn74]

alk is still ****ing me off.
I just upped the dosing from 25min to 30 min every hour with a 1.1 ml per minute.
Hopefully I can maintain at that number. 3.3 cups of BRS alk solution a day. Seems insane. While ignoring the tank with the build alk dropped to 5.6


How are you making out M3P?

 

[Pife]

Make sure you check your tubing in the pump running that often.

 

[Nanook]

Might be time to increase that calcium reactor. I've got the GEO 12x24 you can convert if u want a picture?

 

[frogspawn74]

might do that. Need to make it threw taxes. and see where im at.

 

[Nanook]

No worries, it will be here

 

[Tigé21v]

alk is still ****ing me off.
I just upped the dosing from 25min to 30 min every hour with a 1.1 ml per minute.
Hopefully I can maintain at that number. 3.3 cups of BRS alk solution a day. Seems insane. While ignoring the tank with the build alk dropped to 5.6

What's your target level? the higher the Alk, the more it takes to keep it there bc of precipitation (heaters, pumps, etc)
Are you dosing carbonate or bicarbonate? If you're dosing carbonate, what is it doing to your ph with adding that amount?

 

[frogspawn74]

I am using sodium bicarbonate. Target levels are 8. Though most times I test are mid 7's. My ph is normally around 8.4.