? Why's my ALK low?
- Thread starter Larah
- Start date
kau_cinta_ku
New member
low mag. high cal. coals using it up, coraline alage using it up. ect.
Alkalinity is one of those things that tends to be in demand in a reef tank .. as such you need to regularly add .. how much depends on the demand of your tank.
New tanks or heavily stocked tanks tend to be considered "dirty tanks" and tend to have a higher demand for alkalinity (acids generated by decomposing live rock of heavy bio load tend to consume/negate buffer).
New tanks or heavily stocked tanks tend to be considered "dirty tanks" and tend to have a higher demand for alkalinity (acids generated by decomposing live rock of heavy bio load tend to consume/negate buffer).
kau_cinta_ku
New member
9dkh is fine 7-11dkh is a good range.
kau_cinta_ku
New member
yeah cal. is low but you already know that 
otherwise looks like your fine.
otherwise looks like your fine.That dkh level s/b fine ... I tend to keep mine closer to 11 but I am kinda lasy and don't test often and want the extra cushion .. here's a link discussing water paramaters.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
Nothing magic about alk .. the commercial products are nothing other than inexpensive baking soda, washing soda and a bit of 20 mule team borax. You can get by with nothing other that baking soda.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
Nothing magic about alk .. the commercial products are nothing other than inexpensive baking soda, washing soda and a bit of 20 mule team borax. You can get by with nothing other that baking soda.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
The only reason I could see Alk getting out of balance from the Cal is if you aren't dosing the same amount of each -- which I doubt. Or if your salt mix is low on Alk, which would explain why you are seeing this.
Suggest you test the alk of a freshly ( mixing for 24 hours ) made up salt water.
Suggest you test the alk of a freshly ( mixing for 24 hours ) made up salt water.
Larah
New member
Yeah I do dose pretty much the same amounts of each every day and both the calcium and the alk are a bit on the low side...
I guess it's being used up by the corals and the coralline...
I'm using Reef Crystals in the 50 gallon bag.. I'll have to test a batch again.. I did test before a while ago and if I remebre right (which is dubious) it tested out fine.... I usually mix it up at an SG of 1.025...
