How do I lower ALK?

[Doubledown]

Corals are growing (a little browner than I would like ) so I haven't tested params in a while.

That said, I found Mg low at 1170 and Alk high @ 13.1 and Ca spot on @ 420.

I have added a Mg suppliment to raise that, but how do I lower the Alk?

Oh, and what causes a high level of Alk? I am using ReefCrystals salt and run both a Ca reactor and a Kalk reactor for all topoff. The kalk mixes twice per day and all topoff water goes through it.

Thanks
Chris

 

[ostrow]

Did you double check? Bad test?

Give some to me, I've always been on the low side.

That said, it should drop over time, sept I have zero experience with the reactor. I'd think the Mg should help. Though when my Mg is low my Alk crashes?

I wouldn't worry too much, and I'd re-test with a different kit to make sure...

 

[NewSchool04]

Both your Ca reactor and your Kalk reactor will raise Alk. I'd turn both off and let the Alk lower naturally. You need to adjust both reactors to keep your Alk down or you may not need both? Try to keep your Ca at 420 while the Alk lowers, Turbo Calcium or even Prestone Driveway heat will help by manual additions.
Use this calculator to find a balanced Alk and Ca range. I like 420 ppm Ca and 3.2 meq Alk.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[hansnfrans]

Like NewSchool said, you may just be able to run the Ca reactor by itself. Try that out and see if it helps (it should).

I would get that Mg2+ adjusted first b/c a low mag level will make the Ca and Alk difficult to control. Use that link and figure out how much you need to supplement in order to get your Mag level in check. What you should really do is run some Dolomite in that Ca reactor to increase the mag levels. This will also decrease the amount of CaCO3 that you can put in the reactor and may further help to decrease your Alk. But it may come at the cost of a slightly lower Ca reading.

 

[hansnfrans]

As far as the coral coloration is concerned, the low Mg2+ levels may be to blame (that is if your lighting is good and your PO4 levels are low).

 

[Doubledown]

Thanks all.

I have not tried another test kit yet, maybe I should since this one is probably 2 years old now. I'll have to do that before getting all worried.

I run both reactors to even out the Ph. Ca reactor is a GEO 624 - single chamber 6" x 24" - filled 2/3rds with ARM and 1/3rd (about 5") with Dolomite chips. Kalk reactor is also a GEO filled with 2 cups Kalk powder once per month or so and mixed twice per day. With both reactors running (and a small refugium lit 24/7) I keep Ph between 8.1 and 8.25.

PO4 is undetectable (big suprise there - no test kit I have ever owned has been able to accurately measure that) now, especially after the addition of the refugium. Macro (Cheato) in the fuge is growing like crazy though.

I would like to keep the levels at 420 Ca, 10 dKh Alk and 1350 Mg. It is my understanding that the reactors, particularly the Ca reactor, only maintain the levels in your tank - I need to add the supliments to bring them in line first. Is this accurate?

Thanks for the help.

Chris

 

[yznhmr]

drain the lank.. the ALK will be "lower"..

 

[Doubledown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7902728#post7902728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yznhmr
drain the lank.. the ALK will be "lower"..

What's a lank?











Smarta$$

 

[yznhmr]

damn,someone stole the top of my "T"

 

[Rod Buehler]

I would take that CA reactor off line and keep the kalk reactor going. I am betting that you will find out that the CA reactor is not needed and that the Kalk alone will keep up with demand without having to use the CA reactor and its CO2 .

To get things back in line I would do a few good size water changes with a good salt, then keep up with kalk.

 

[Doubledown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7906333#post7906333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rod Buehler
I would take that CA reactor off line and keep the kalk reactor going. I am betting that you will find out that the CA reactor is not needed and that the Kalk alone will keep up with demand without having to use the CA reactor and its CO2 .

To get things back in line I would do a few good size water changes with a good salt, then keep up with kalk.

Rod - you know I think of you as the master when it comes to coral care, but don't make me take off my toys !

Seriously, I worry about a drop in Ca (and other minerals that I can't test for) without the reactor. I know you do not run one, but are you running another form of suplimentation such as a liquid calcium or magnesium to keep levels in the desirable range? I used to use B-Ionic 2 part, but it became too expensive (comparatively) on this large of a system.

Water changes I can and will do.

 

[ostrow]

Chris: I just had to take my homemade 2-part dosing off line (large system explains the homemade), because kalk was doing fine on its own. Will monitor a bit but I think the kalk will hold CA and alk now. We'll see.

If you do a water change once a month you ought really to be fine on the trace elements.

Just my experience (and, I think, Rod's). Obviously, many, many folks use calcium reactors, and in conjunction with kalk, so it is really a YMMV situation.

 

[yznhmr]

what about balancing the PH?
I thought it was supposed to balance it out.. maybe I can fill my ca2 reactor with dolomite?

 

[Rod Buehler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7906652#post7906652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Doubledown
Rod - you know I think of you as the master when it comes to coral care, but don't make me take off my toys !

Seriously, I worry about a drop in Ca (and other minerals that I can't test for) without the reactor. I know you do not run one, but are you running another form of suplimentation such as a liquid calcium or magnesium to keep levels in the desirable range? I used to use B-Ionic 2 part, but it became too expensive (comparatively) on this large of a system.

Water changes I can and will do.

I have on occasion had to bump the alk, and once had to bump the mag, but for the most part, kalk does the trick (keeping in mind that I have a lot of evap). Its been atleast 6 months since adding a buffer (baking soda) and tests last week showed everything at NSW with only kalk additions.

Just my experience (and, I think, Rod's).

IMO, I think that others would have the same experience.

There are tanks out there that may have more of a demand than kalk can keep up with, but even when my tanks looked like menards (before I was part of DTs), I found that kalk did the job for me, and the reactor was a big waste of money and energy.

what about balancing the PH?

If youre not pumping co2 into the system, the pH will ballance itself.

 

[ostrow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7907728#post7907728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rod Buehler
but even when my tanks looked like menards

Good Lord I don't even know what to do with that one! So many options, so much opportunity to needle both of you. Best to just leave it alone!!!
:rollface:

 

[zonco]

Throw extra carbon in the tank that usaully lowers it.