I'm having trouble keeping up with Alk

[ezcompany]

This is in my 24 gallon sps nano.
I'm assuming its my 3 clams, so I'm looking to get rid of one. I have two clams over 4 inches long, and one smaller one. Am I right that the clams are sucking up all the carbonate or do the sps contribute significantly as well? Most of my sps are smallish frags.

I'm also thinking that the low alk has been causing me problems with black cyano, in which none of the clean up crew bother touching. (what really is the point of clean up crews seriously, they don't do anything)

I am currently adding around 10 ml of calcium and 20 ml of alk a day (ESV B-Ionic)

Thinking of switching to the ESV Kalk or calcium hydroxide?

Any suggestions on a equipment that can dose this stuff for me without too much of a hassle?

 

[golfish]

I don't think the kalk will help..I'd add more of which ever part of the B-ionic that raises alk.

What's your ALK and CA levels at right now?

 

[rscott76]

bake some baking soda in the oven and dissolve then drip that. i think i might have another drip bag somewhere you can use if you ever find the time to come pick it up.
dont make any changes too fast or youll lose your sps frags.

how are your params? if youre adding too much Ca then it will drive down your alk. check both params and post numbers for evaluation.

 

[ezcompany]

wow, i just tested and its the OPPOSITE WAY around now...
my alk is good at 9, but my CA has dropped to 350-370ish...unbelievable....
i'm going to get an Mg test kit, hit all levels, maybe that will help.
why would Kalk not help?

 

[orlenz]

Kalk can help maintain alk and cal levels but it's not the best way to raise them.

 

[rscott76]

kalk wouldnt help because it adds both Ca and alk in balance. what kit are you testing with? what results did you get earlier?


send me pics of the clams you want to get rid of =)

 

[ezcompany]

salifert test kit for the Calcium and tetra test kit for the alk.
earlier i was getting around 7ish alk and 410 Ca...
i'll send u a pic of the clam Ron, no problem

 

[rscott76]

the tetra test one is the one i use i think. this is the one in the box with a white tray and rectangular vial? ive gotten consistent results with it. try filling to the 10ml line with water so that each drop accounts for 0.5dkh instead of 1. that way you can check it with more precision.

 

[Pelagic1]

If your last test result (9 and 370) turns out to be accurate, then you are almost there. I'd go back to doing equal doses of the 2-part and move it up to (10 and 380). 380 is NSW and is compatible(stable) with high alkalinity. By using a 2-part you can focus on the alkalinity and the CA will simply follow along.

 

[Frankysreef]

get some turbo calc to raise your calc wo raising your alk... This is the problem with small tanks, very hard to maintain a balance.

I even struggle sometimes with my 225....

Corals grow fast... alk and calc out of balance
fish die .. alk out of balance
add more light .. alk and calc out of balance...
lessen light .. alk and calc out of balance

And it goes on...I can usually go 6 mos without messing with the balance on my tank... but then something usually happens to mess with it, then you are readjusting things all over again.

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