Alkalinity Question

[panayiote73]

I've been watching my alkalinity drop steadily from day to day ~ 2dKh. I started dosing Ca Carbonate and I stabilized it at 8dKH. That's too low obviously so I dosed a little more........well my measurements must've been way off because it peaked at 23dKH. Since then I've been testing daily, 3 days later it's down to 16dKh. I have lot's of SPS so it's no surprise. The part that confuses me is I have a Ca reactor running too. I fear I'm stressing my tank with this Alkalinity yo yo. To replenish 2dKH per day any suggestions on how to adjust reactor? I have a Korallin reactor with Aquarium plants regulator. Regulator is set to 9, and drip rate is ~70-80 drops per min.

 

[jason401]

23 dkh? i would think you would be seeing some losses in your tank?

 

[dcforester1]

Either your test is off, or I would have thought your SPS would be gone by now. I think your drip rate is a little fast. With my tank I have about 45-50 drips/min. I am not sure about the reg, but how many bubbles/blinks do you see a min? Remember you not only can set the rate, but also the size of the bubble.

Also you dont want to keep messing with it. Your tank isn't going to rise/fall instantly. So set the reactor and give it 24hrs and test again with a quality test kit. Once you find where you need it you should be all set. Dont try to to adjust the alk with the reactor. Sometimes I do, if its at 7.5 I might speed up the drip rate slightly.


Derek

 

[panayiote73]

Everything in the tank looks great it doesn't add up. Before I do anything I'm going to get a new test kit.
Thank you for helping me see the light!

 

[stingythingy45]

23 dkh?
I would be throwing out all the dead coral.
You better get a second opinion on that parameter.Something is not adding up here.

 

[stingythingy45]

Also,not sure why you are using Ca Carbonate.
I'm no chemist but shouldn't you be using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)?
This is what I use to raise dkh.
If Ca Carbonate is in fact lime water,not sure.
It has a dkh of like 28,but also has calcium in it.
I use this for my top off water,not to make adjustments,it's way too harsh for that.

Maybe I'm wrong,not sure.But using a solution made of baking soda will cause much less spikes.

*Calcium Hydroxide is limewater,just looked it up.

 

[newenglandreef]

calcium carbonate is calcium...sodium bicarbonate (or, after baking, sodium carbonate) is ALK.

Check your magnesium too. Mag, which is also used by coral, is a calc/alk stabilizer basically.

 

[stingythingy45]

Here's a good article on Ca Carbonite.
As we've mentioned,to raise alk alone you need to dose baking soda(sodium bicarbonate).

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/7/chemistry