Swinging Water Params

[balloonpilot]

Calcium/Mag/Alk/pH - Hard TImes

I'm still trying to find the right balance between these! I did a 10gal changes (using Seachem Reef Salt mixed to 1.026) on the 6th:

Right after that my numbers were:
CA - 525
MG - 1425
Alk - 7.85
pH - 8.01

So I added two doses (over a coule hrs) of Seachem Buffer the results were:
CA - 525
MG- 1425
Alk - 11.65
pH - 8.29

I figured I could live with these and that 'Buffer' had fixed the tank and everything was good, until the next day (24hrs later):

CA - 500
MG - 1380
Alk - 9.15
pH - 8.13

Several days after that (on the 13th):
CA - 470
MG - 1260
Alk - 8
pH 8.11

All readings taken at a temp of 80 and same time (4pm) with MH lights on...

So whats going on? Why is my Alk (and pH) swinging so much?

Do I just keep adding buffer every 24 to 48hrs?

Do I switch to using Alkwaser? Is anyone using this on a Nano tank and if so how much and how are you dosing?

pH is measured with a clean/calibrated probe as is the Salinity. Other nunmbers gained from Salifert test sets

 

[bertoni]

Most tanks require daily alkalinity and calcium supplementation. Kalkwasser (limewater) is a fine way to go for larger tanks. It's a bit inconvenient for a nano. A 2-part is also an easy way to get started. This article might help:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

 

[ReefWreak]

lol welcome to the world of coral growth, my new friend!

Most of us have to dose kalkwasser, 2 part, or run a calcium reactor to keep up with the growth in our tanks. You don't necessarily have to dose if you do frequent water changes, as the minerals get replenished to a small degree by those w/c. When I ran a 24g nanocube, I didn't need to dose because I did 20% water changes weekly. Nowadays I hardly do any, so i've got to dose heavily. I'm currently switching from calcium reactor to 2 part, just to try something new.

When my calcium reactor runs out of media, my levels will drop to hazardous levels within a week, and my corals will start losing tissue and flesh, and will start dieing off.

 

[balloonpilot]

I'm doing 10 gallon (out of 25) every 2 weeks and still have these issues.

Now if I had a lot of stuff and was seeing increadible growth - I would understand, but nothing is leaping out at me after 3 months!

I have 6 fish, 1 anenome, 2 zoos, 1 recordia, 1 acropora

 

[bertoni]

If there was a lot of growth, the parameters would be changing even more. You could try getting a second opinion on your alkalinity test kit, but those numbers all seem reasonable to me.

 

[Percula9]

Coralline algae growth your bio-filter and the neutralizing of organic acids produced in the substrate is responsible for the usage. The numbers posted are well within normal usage.

 

[tmz]

I agree . Those are quite normal and all are within acceptable ranges.