Problem keeping my ALK up

[tew47]

I am currently running a mixed 40breeder, 15 or so pieces of SPS - some pretty decent sized and a good amount of zoa's and other softies. My tank peramiters are spot on :

Nitrate: 0ppm
Calc : 480
salinity : 1.023

and heres my problem

Alk :7dkh

I have been using Reef Carbonate since my tank has been up, about a year. Only thing that has changed is iv been adding SPS - I have been using double or triple the recomended amount and it stays between 6-7dkh and dropped one day to 5.

All my SPS look happy other than a small Pink Milly that slowly died in the last week

Any ideas?

 

[tall_jason79]

what is your mag ? and also your ph?

 

[Aqua Man 07]

couldnt you use a kh buffer

 

[Ocean View]

I have to agree with tall jason79 by asking the question what is your Mag? With out mag stable it's hard to keep the other two Alk and Cal in line. For a Cal number of 480 Alk should be higher some were in the 9's if everything was in line.

 

[tall_jason79]

i am guessing mag is in the 1100-1200 range

 

[chadfarmer]

corals suck up more alk than calcium, keep dosing the alk

i know the magnesium is low if you havent tested for it

 

[7faces]

NSW i think is 1300 ... I was told to stay between 1300 and 1500 I think.
If your close to St.Charles, I'd be willing to test it for ya if you dont feel like running out and getting a kit...

 

[Hdhuntr01]

Any thoughts on using Kalkwasser in you makeup water / ATO? It will increase your Alk without negative side effects.

 

[spooda420]

maybe this is wrong... but I have always added baking soda to raise my ALK.

 

[tall_jason79]

thats what i am working with now. 2.5 cups of baking soda spread evenly over a cookie sheet.....baked for 1 hour at 300 degrees

 

[tew47]

I have no idea what my mag is at, never tested for it - I know, I should be. I will run to sea scape tomorrow and pick up a test kit.

 

[tew47]

Mag tested good at 1450ish - Just got some Brightwell Aquatics KH buffer in yesterday, going to give it a shot.

 

[Trademark]

Some would consider your calc and mag high, some have better luck with it lower, just trying to find the sweet spot can be a challenge sometimes.

 

[brandonb8]

I lose 3 dkh a day on my 125 if I wasn't running my calcium reactor. Just may be that much demand

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[chadfarmer]

i lose 3 dkh a day on my 125 if i wasn't running my calcium reactor. Just may be that much demand

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sps snob