How low can Alk go without dosing

[jarrett shark]

Well it's a stupid question but I can't believe my reading
Well I went on vacation for 7 days and of course all the worst happen
Calcium reactor stopped working and all Sps are gone!!
I have been having other issues in past 4 weeks that I can't seem to find out why I am losing one by one but this 7 days was the icing on the cake.

Alk was at 8.5 before I left and today it is at 5.6???
Very strange because some LPS and claims look ok but I never knew I could suck that much Alk with what Sps I have left....

How low have you seen or heard about?

Yes I checked it 4 times with 2 different test kits

Calcium also low at 370
Ph= 7.6

I just never had Alk drop that low in 7 days so that's why strange to me but I guess these claims are sucking it all up.. I just thought Alk always can't go below a certain reading since everything would be dead

 

[tunicata]

no way!!!
I'm sorry to hear about your SPS man.

I actually don't know how low alk can go. Someone here probably knows the ratio and can give opinion on the data you've given so far.

I am slightly surprised that your tank was able to go so low so fast though...if only in thinking about how many SPS you had in your tank the last time I was there. There were many frags but geez...

Was your tank set up to do it's own water changes or at least addition of fresh saltwater while you were away?


Also, the sps you have left. Do they have any tissue loss?
I am wondering about the effects of low alk. Particularly if low alk can lead to tissue death on the TIPS of the sps vs bottom.

I'm sure you'll get to replace the SPS after fixing it up again.

Next meet is in August!!

 

[jarrett shark]

well I found out my test kits are old so until new ones come in I think I might of got bad readings
still don't know why my SPS is going down hill....
Also started dosing instead of calcium reactor.. I always leaned on my reactor but I have been striking out with them so back to old fashion way

 

[trueblackpercula]

So sorry for your loss, let me know if there is anything I can do.

 

[oh207]

Sorry to hear about your losses. Good luck with getting things under control. On that note, I really do need to start testing.