Alk swing, and not the dreaded RTN\STN

[imarkspeed]

Alk swing, and not the dreaded RTN\STN

Match the new water parameters to the tank and there will be no swing. I keep my alk in the 7.8-8 range and find the "reef" salts to be much higher when fresh mixed, so I use Red Sea regular which tests right there (8.0) when mixed to 35ppt salinity. Many folks use instant ocean and that has a lower alk as well. Check out the salt mix guide in the chemistry forum. Hope that helps!

I bought Red Sea salt pro and man the alk is high. Why would people use this or how do they? This how I got the all swing in the first place.

 

[s2nhle]

I am too have the same problem with my alk and ph. I keep adding alk every day.

 

[xtlosx]

Glad to hear. I'm hoping I don't loose my large acro but it's the only one not looking so hot still. I just started adding amino acids have you tried this?

No I have not tried aminos because from what I have seen, other reefers have had problems with Aminos and S. Gigantea anemones of which I have a showpiece specimen. I don't chance it, and get great color without them (at least in my eyes).

I honestly don't even match the alk with my new tank water when changing, so I should probably check that... I do 10% changes weekly, and never see my alk swing because of that.

I added some real nice high end acros yesterday (four frags) and so far things are doing phenomenal. The SPS that receded, have stopped, and growing back, showing better polyp extension and color. Although, I did just do a red bug treatment, so that might be helping too!

 

[xtlosx]

So now I can officially say my Alk is back to being stable, and I am seeing growth again! All recession as far as I can see has stopped. I even had a pink lemonade that receded a tiny bit around the outside of the base, that has now stopped.

It's amazing how things just go haywire, then the switch flips, and it's just all better. This hobby amazes me every day.

 

[fitnessitalia]

Aefw?

 

[rds85]

Nice work xtolx. Glad to hear you are starting to have success again. I have had an alk swing problem before as most of you guys on this thread have had. I now use two different alk testing kits and average the two to get a more accurate result and prevent stuff like this from happening.

 

[rds85]

Glad to hear. I'm hoping I don't loose my large acro but it's the only one not looking so hot still. I just started adding amino acids have you tried this?

On a side note
How have the amino acids worked out for you?

 

[xtlosx]

Things have very much recovered... My pink lemonade has been the most interesting to watch as it receded for about a week, a bit at the base, stopped one day, now it has "scabbed" and is growing over the scab. Once my problems stopped, literally the day after colors started coming back, etc.

I just did my third treatment for red bugs, so between the two variables, I am pretty sure my entire acro population is MUCH happier.. I use a Hanna alk tester (used to use salifert but hanna is so much easier).

 

[Nibrown9]

On a side note
How have the amino acids worked out for you?

Surprisingly well, my wild acros are coloring up more now and noticing more feeding extensions from them. Everything is coloring up nicely and slowly growing again. I had to ramp down my LEDs as it started to bleach the tips on a couple so I'll see how that plays out for a little bit now