Alk Supplements?

WalrusKisses

WalrusKisses

Member
I just got my Salifert Alk test kit and tested my water. Turns out my dKH is 5.2. How I even have SPS happening is beyond me.

Anyway, I'm wondering what you guys recommend (supplement and strategy wise) to raising and stabilizing Alk. Looks like I'll have to start doing a 2 part after I get Cal and Mag kits.

Thanks!
 
Hmmm, I might have to look into that. It certainly seems cheaper and "more pure" than brand names. No nonsense, I like it.
 
Def just use baking soda.. If your getting a pH spike just bake the baking soda for an hour it cuts down on the spike.. That's the cheapest but honestly your tank is small so it wouldn't be impractical to just buy some ESV bionic 2 part or similar and be done with it.. $20 worth will probably last you a long time..

This is a good read if you haven't read it.. The original one is more thorough on what's going on http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/
 
Dapg8gt said:
Def just use baking soda.. If your getting a pH spike just bake the baking soda for an hour it cuts down on the spike.. That's the cheapest but honestly your tank is small so it wouldn't be impractical to just buy some ESV bionic 2 part or similar and be done with it.. $20 worth will probably last you a long time..

This is a good read if you haven't read it.. The original one is more thorough on what's going on http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/
Click to expand...

Dragonvale said:
Curious to know your water change schedule and the amount exchanged?
Click to expand...
Dap, I think I'll be making up some stock mag, cal, and alk solutions via the recipe lokii posted, overall it seems easier to get a hold of and much cheaper than brand stuff.

Dragonvale, I do a 2 gallon water change usually every week unless I'm busy. If I miss my change then I'll usually do the better part of five gallons. I'm using water from Pet Club (supposedly Catalina).
 
Made up the alk solution day before last, and have been dosing 5 drops three times a day. Just tested 8.9 dKH. It raised a bit faster than I would have liked, but at least it's up. I'll test again tomorrow after not dosing and see how much it has dropped. Do the same the next day, and that should tell me what my consumption looks like.

Thoughts?
 
Glad to see your alk up to normal, but 5.2 to 8.9 in a few days cant be good. Let us know how your tank reacts. To me, consistent alk is better than the perfect number. And chasing the perfect number each day isn't a great idea.
With only 12 gallons, I would think water changes would be sufficient, but if you do continue to dose, I would dose a very small amount each day. And test at the same time during the day. If you have a decent amount of coral in your tank using up alk, then I would not stop dosing, just dose very small amount. I aim for 8.1-8.4. If you stop for a couple days and your alk goes down to 7, that would not be a good idea. Its really easy once you get it dialed in, but go VERY slow. Maybe a couple drops each day.
 
What, about your cal/mag? All 3 go hand and hand and you will leave your tank with an imbalance that will lead to issues.. I would stick to water changes until you know those numbers and have the means to correct the deficiency..also you will never be able to keep your alk/cal stable if your mag is low
 
Yeah, I severely underestimated the potency of the solution. So far everything seems to be happy, including SPS.

I had assumed water changes would be sufficient as well, but I tested 5.2 dKH 3 days after a substantial water change. I plan to test the water I do the changes with, as I have a sneaking suspicion that it has very low alk to begin with. If this is the case, I may have to begin mixing my own (or dosing the water before changing), something I haven't done because I can't afford an RO/DI unit, and I'm only doing 2-5 gallon changes at a time.

As far as magnesium and calcium go, I do not have tests for either one, and Ceasar's (friendly as always)flat out refused to test for them if I was not actively dosing even though they were the only levels I had asked to be tested. They instead tested my Ammonia, trites, trates, and SG, which was honestly rather insulting. But I digress.

I will surely get the test kits eventually when I have the money, but for now I decided to focus on my obscenely low alk due to a chalice and an acan receding with all other testable levels stable.

TL;DR Alk definitely shot up too quickly, will be dosing sparingly if at all, need to get other test kits.
 
I can't see a 12 gallon biocube drop that much in alk in a week if a 2 gallon of water is changed. Did you miss a water change? Unless their ALK is that low which I can't see it being that low since large public aquariums use their water for their reef tanks. I just hate for you to buy all those test kits and the test kits costing half of the tank! IMO I would have switched salts to a cheap salt like I/O from caesaers to make your own water. Then I'd go to caesars to get tested weekly to make sure the weekly 2 gallons change kept all of the parameters in line. If not, go to 2.5 then to 3 gallon change weekly until its stable. I doubt it will ever need to go over 4 for that small of a tank unless it packed to the brim with stony corals :) Good luck!
 
The plot thickens... I just tested the water I'm about to do a change with and the alk is only 7.5 dKH. Are there any places locally that sell good pre-made water (besides Caesar's)? If not, I may be in the market for a salt mix. Any suggestions in the salt department?
 
How long has you tank been set up with fish and corals. Are you using live rock and aragonite sand?
What is your photoperiod?
And when you do water changes do you gravel vacuum the sand?
Make sure the top of the water is really rippling by like an extra power head.
This with help gas off CO2 and maintain your Alk.
Do you have any green algae issues?
Also I would avoid buying pre made water. And if you are buying water from a LFS take a minute to check out their tanks. Make sure their husbandry skills are up to par before taking any advice from them. Like if they have red slime and weird Algae in their tanks or their animals look sketchy definitely don't buy your water there. I would recommend Get a hight quality salt. I'm partial to Brightwells Neomarine. Then buy R/O water from a water store , there's a good one on the corner if Summerfield and Montgomery in SR. This way you have control of your water and get it to the exact parameters that you need.
Sorry about the rant. Hope that this made sense.
 
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