ALK off the charts or so it seems?

[spamreefnew]

I test my water once per month. I use and have been using BRS 2-part for ever.
I NEVER have any trouble keeping my levels just so.
Well yesterday I tested and found my ALK to be at 16 dkh!!! and CA was at its usual 420? I did start dosing vinegar about a month ago and am up to 40ml per day.
And I started culturing phyto about a month ago and add about 40ml per day.
I use vigero 10-10-10(multi use plant food) to grow the phyto.

Now my guess is that the carbon dosing is raising my ALK or just the reading but I am no chemist! so please help!

 

[spamreefnew]

nobody?? Is it something I said?? lol

 

[Decadence]

I usually hear problems about carbon dosing dropping alkalinity rather than raising it. bacteria can run out of CO2 and utilizing bicarbonate instead, dropping the levels.

Perhaps it is possible that you have been adding far too much alkalinity supplement this whole time but did not know about it because it was precipitating. Potentially, this could be from magnesium levels being low. Vigero contains magnesium. Perhaps the magnesium entering your tank is raising the levels up, allowing bicarbonate to not precipitate as much. I would test your magnesium levels and get them in check. I would also cut your alkalinity supplementation to get that in check.

 

[disc1]

I usually hear problems about carbon dosing dropping alkalinity rather than raising it. bacteria can run out of CO2 and utilizing bicarbonate instead, dropping the levels.

This isn't photosynthesis. Those bacteria aren't using CO2. They're using oxygen for normal respiration to break down the ethanol or the acetate.

Perhaps it is possible that you have been adding far too much alkalinity supplement this whole time but did not know about it because it was precipitating. Potentially, this could be from magnesium levels being low. Vigero contains magnesium. Perhaps the magnesium entering your tank is raising the levels up, allowing bicarbonate to not precipitate as much. I would test your magnesium levels and get them in check. I would also cut your alkalinity supplementation to get that in check.

Bicarbonate doesn't precipitate with calcium. Carbonate does.

 

[kylathwe]

Be careful carbon dosing with high alk. I know with me vodka dosing my corals don't do well if my alk is above 8.5 or so