Tripod1404
Active member
Hey guys,
All the tank I have always had a stable alk level. Here with stability I mean more like an equilibrium.
For this particular tank is is around 8.4 dKH. If i go above it, it quickly drops back to 8.4. But after that the rate of reductions slows down.
For instance, when I do a water change, my alkalinity goes close to 9-9.3 (since I use RS coral pro that hs very high alk). In two days or so it drops back to 8.6-8.4. Than it would drop to 8.15 to 8 in 2 weeks (I normally dose 2 part after it drops below 8.5).
My Ca and Mg levels are within normal ranges (470 and 1400) so it is not a precipitation issue.
I have some small SPS and lots of LPS corals and they seem to be growing at a constant rate (at a high rate). I have a derasa clam that adds 1/4 inches of new shell every month. So there definitely is uptake.
It is interesting what keeps the alk stable around 8.4. Is it rapid uptake by the corals, coraline algae or the clam when alk increases and than gradual usage over time. But I have no idea if they can even store carbonate. Or maybe photosynthesis or uptake by bacteria.
Do anyone has a explanation for this or experienced something similar.
All the tank I have always had a stable alk level. Here with stability I mean more like an equilibrium.
For this particular tank is is around 8.4 dKH. If i go above it, it quickly drops back to 8.4. But after that the rate of reductions slows down.
For instance, when I do a water change, my alkalinity goes close to 9-9.3 (since I use RS coral pro that hs very high alk). In two days or so it drops back to 8.6-8.4. Than it would drop to 8.15 to 8 in 2 weeks (I normally dose 2 part after it drops below 8.5).
My Ca and Mg levels are within normal ranges (470 and 1400) so it is not a precipitation issue.
I have some small SPS and lots of LPS corals and they seem to be growing at a constant rate (at a high rate). I have a derasa clam that adds 1/4 inches of new shell every month. So there definitely is uptake.
It is interesting what keeps the alk stable around 8.4. Is it rapid uptake by the corals, coraline algae or the clam when alk increases and than gradual usage over time. But I have no idea if they can even store carbonate. Or maybe photosynthesis or uptake by bacteria.
Do anyone has a explanation for this or experienced something similar.
