reefgeezer
Active member
Hi all. I'd like to know everyone's definition of stable alkalinity and how they keep it so. Any help will be greatly appreciated as I think this is a deficiency in my tank.
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I Need Alkalinity Maintenance Advice
- Thread starter reefgeezer
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jroovers
New member
Stable alkalinity is getting reliable and valid measurements of alk over time... for example, testing every week or two weeks with a reliable test kit, following the directions carefully, and seeing the same numbers approximately with those tests (e.g. 8, 8.1, 7.9, 8.2, 8, etc. etc. etc.). I try and achieve stability with both alk and ca through the two-part dosing regimen on BRS dosers.
reefgeezer
Active member
So what is "approximately"... .1, .2, .5?
It took me about two weeks to get mine dialed in.I first slowy brought my Magnesium up 1350 then Measured it over a seven day period to find my daily usage then did the same with my alk and cal for seven days I use a marine magic three pump doser and I test my water every sunday to see if I needs a bump up and measure the dose to see how much im putting in the tank and keep log of it.
This is an interesting question and I'm tagging along to see if there is a consensus. I use a kalk reactor and a calcium reactor and average between 9-10 (making small tweeks when I fall outside that range). The real key for SPS health is less the range and more avoiding acute alk spikes or troughs (it is the speed f change that kills)
jroovers
New member
I said approximate because each test kit will have a % source of error. So if you measure 8.3, your alk may not actually be 8.3... it could be 8 or it could be 8.6 depending on your kit and how much error it may have.
Pick your target (e.g. 8 dkh), and then adjust your dosing regimen to achieve that target. When you start testing week to week and are consistently getting values between 7.7 to 8.3, safe to assume you are hitting your target of 8. I would do a bit of research regarding your chosen test kit to determine what the source of error is and in what direction it tends to lead. As noted above, the key is more about consistency and stability than .1 dkh accuracy on testing.
reefgeezer
Active member
Thanks all. That info helps a lot.
AquaReeferMan
Got Reef?
I would personally say stable Alk would be a constant reading with little or no movement. If your Alk is swinging more than .5 you have a problem.
Mine stays at 8.5 all the time thanks to a Bubble Magus dosing pump.
Mine stays at 8.5 all the time thanks to a Bubble Magus dosing pump.
I put together such an easy method for keeping Alk stable. Its really simple, and very cheap to do. 1) Measure your alk frequently over a 24 hr period to see what kind of swings you are getting. 2) Determine evaporation from your tank daily. 3) Baking soda.
What I did was use my ATO for dosing my alk. It worked perfectly. I never had bigger swings that .4 dkh in a 24 hr period.
What I did was use my ATO for dosing my alk. It worked perfectly. I never had bigger swings that .4 dkh in a 24 hr period.
WickedBlue28
New member
What's the best/most accurate ALK test kit?
stevedola
Master of my domain
when you add corals or they grow, the demands of your tank increase because new life requires more supplements. you need to test every couple weeks even when established. Not so much in larger systems but this is especially important in smaller systems where fluctuations are more dramatic.
stevedola
Master of my domain
I like Elos because they test their testkits against natural sea water in a lab however any known brand testkit will work as long as you use it as a bench mark and dont chase numbers. example: if the API Alk test results with a 10 DKH and the tank appears healthy and growing, use that mark as a benchmark and try and maintain that number...dont go and try and shoot for 8 because "So and So" runs their tank at that level. Find the sweet spot and stick with it. same goes for calc and mag.
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