Alk Rising

[jim.ranger]

My Alk seems to be slowly rising in my 180 gal. My salinity is 1.025, PH is 7.95 to 8.05 range depending on day or night, my CA is 425 and Mag is 1425. I use RO/DI water to top off and Reef Crystals for the salt.

In the last 2 weeks or so the Alk has gone from 9.2 to 10.25 last week to 11.34 this morning? I realize that is still ok but want to ensure it stops rising if I can!

Not sure what would be causing it to rise. I have opened a window in the same room as the tank. I am dosing mag and 2 part ca but nothing else.

I have been looking at buying a Stenner pump to start doing automatic water changes. Not sure if that would help. Will water changes help stabilize Alk?

I realized how much I still have to learn but sure appreciate the great input here!!

Thanks

Jim

 

[Aquarist007]

My Alk seems to be slowly rising in my 180 gal. My salinity is 1.025, PH is 7.95 to 8.05 range depending on day or night, my CA is 425 and Mag is 1425. I use RO/DI water to top off and Reef Crystals for the salt.

In the last 2 weeks or so the Alk has gone from 9.2 to 10.25 last week to 11.34 this morning? I realize that is still ok but want to ensure it stops rising if I can!

Not sure what would be causing it to rise. I have opened a window in the same room as the tank. I am dosing mag and 2 part ca but nothing else.

I have been looking at buying a Stenner pump to start doing automatic water changes. Not sure if that would help. Will water changes help stabilize Alk?

I realized how much I still have to learn but sure appreciate the great input here!!

Thanks

Jim

How often and how many gals are you doing water changes
Are you adding any other supplements
Is it possible you are using the alk two part and not the calcium

 

[jim.ranger]

Sorry meant Calcium Chloride and NOT 2 part. I change about 20 gal a week.

 

[downbeach]

Are you using any pH buffers?

 

[Aquarist007]

Sorry meant Calcium Chloride and NOT 2 part. I change about 20 gal a week.

.

What are you dosing mag with

 

[jim.ranger]

I just went back and double checked everything I have as it was all set up by a friend who has far more experience than me but he is in Europe for the next couple months on business so I cannot ask him.
I am not using any PH buffer. I am using Dow Flake for the calcium. I am using magnesium sulfate (Epson Slats) and Magnesium chloride (Mag Flake). I have the baking soda but have not dosed with it.

 

[DDon]

Have you tested the alk of your new water?

 

[jim.ranger]

I just checked and my new water is 9.3.

 

[Aquarist007]

Stop dosing for a week and remeasure. Don't do a water change during that time either. We need that time to unravel your chemistry. I strongly suspect the Epsom salts here but let's see

 

[jim.ranger]

Ok I will not do anything for a week. I have now stopped the dosing. So easy with an Apex Controller.

 

[Aquarist007]

Ok I will not do anything for a week. I have now stopped the dosing. So easy with an Apex Controller.

IMO too easy to alter your tanks chemical equilibrium:lol:

 

[jim.ranger]

Ok its been a week since I did any dosing. Below are the current parameters.

Alk 10.1
Ca 330
Ma 1175

PH 7.99 to 8.15 depending day or night
Salinity 1.025

 

[Aquarist007]

Ok its been a week since I did any dosing. Below are the current parameters.

Alk 10.1
Ca 330
Ma 1175

PH 7.99 to 8.15 depending day or night
Salinity 1.025

What test kits are you using? I am puzzled by that big a drop in the cal and mag and suspect the test kits

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Are you topping off with tap water?

For alk to be rising, you must be adding some somehow.