bad two part

[nuttyd]

anyone else have an issue with the two part kent solutions. Recently found the newer labeled bottle has not been keeping alk up to par.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Is there a chance that your corals are now consuming more and this could be your problem?

 

[nuttyd]

When I started dosing 5 months ago, daily usage was 15ml per day. A month ago, daily usage was adjusted to 16ml per day. Two weeks ago, upped to 25ml and still cant raise alk. Bottles last one month, new bottle started two weeks ago. Calcium 420, MG 1450, Alk dropping yesterday was 6.8.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

What corals do you have in your tank? Can you put up a full tank shot ?

 

[javimarino]

I used arm and hammer baking soda form the super market, work fine all the time. I dont bake it or anything, just dilute in water. Test alk before and after. About cup per gallon dose little by little and re test after couple of hours.

 

[nuttyd]

This one is from middle of january. Can take an updated one later when i get home from work. Have the following:

1 xl bubble (12" dia with babies on side)
1 duncan (30+ heads)
Frogspawn or hammers (8 heads all developing more)
Trumpet coral (10 heads)
birdsnest (baseball size)
2 birdsnest frags
cabbage leather
devils hand
gsp islands
derasa clam
zoa frag
stylophora coral
favia coral (tennis ball size)
zuma mushroom
green monticap frag
some kind of hand polyp group
button coral

Tank size is 55 gallons. Sump and Refugium about 20 gallons. Filter socks changed couple times a week. No protein skimmer. 150lbs+ liverock.

 

[animan]

Hi,

What test kit are you using to measure alkalinity. I was having the same issue and turned out to be bad batch of Hanna Alkalinity reagents.

There is a thread here in RC with information on how to check Hanna reagent batch numbers and how to get replacements in case you are using Hanna Alkanity test kit.

 

[nuttyd]

im using red sea. hanna is next step eventually.

 

[animan]

Ok never mind. One possibility eliminated.

 

[nuttyd]

I actually changed brands of two part last night and am waiting to get home tonight so see if the corals are a little happier.

 

[oseymour]

In January I broke down my 50 breeder with 20 gallon sump. It had full coraline algae coverage and the coral stocking was not as high as yours, My tank was consuming 1dkh of alk per day and I dosed 60ml of the ESV bionic part A to keep it at 8.

It could be your tank is using that much.

 

[nuttyd]

Yeah, thats about right. its .9 dkh usage a day. The first bottles of kent i was using was keeping it at 8 with 15ml a day.

The switch to different brand two part has shown happier corals in just 24hrs. birdsnest's are much fluffier.

 

[nuttyd]

Current look of tank and corals

 

[hkgar]

Make your own two part:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/

Much cheaper and you know the quality.

I get the magnesium and calcium from Bulk Reef Supply

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-bulk-calcium-chloride-aquarium-supplement.html

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-bulk-magnesium-chloride-aquarium-supplement.html

 

[nuttyd]

so week after switching two part brand the tank is almost back to normal and the sps polyps are back to full extension.