Low Alk

[karoly0829]

Hi Everyone,

I've had my tank up and running for 3 months now and everything is doing very well and all my parameters are right within reason. Except my Alkalinity. It's around 5/6 DKH right now. I just started to use Tropic Marin All in One. Is that the right move or something else better to boost ALK?

Thanks

 

[Duds]

Hi Everyone,

I've had my tank up and running for 3 months now and everything is doing very well and all my parameters are right within reason. Except my Alkalinity. It's around 5/6 DKH right now. I just started to use Tropic Marin All in One. Is that the right move or something else better to boost ALK?

Thanks

I’ve never used that one myself but it sounds like it uses bacteria within the reef to break it down and release alk gradually. Other two/three parts on the market tend to bump up your alk right away. I can’t speak on which is better as I have not used both but hopefully someone can chime in with some more information for you. I use Red Sea liquid foundation abc (which I believe recently changed to abcd I think d being trace elements).

 

[TPhan]

Any corals in the tank?

 

[karoly0829]

Thanks duds. Yes, corals in tank and everyone doing really well

 

[TPhan]

Thanks duds. Yes, corals in tank and everyone doing really well

What type of corals?

 

[karoly0829]

4-5 LPS corals. no SPS at this time but planning to have a mixed reef.

 

[dz6t]

What brand of salt are you using?
What is the salinity?
IMO, a reef tank especially mix reef and soft coral/LPS dominated, always consume more alkalinity (bicarbonate) than calcium. Alk not only provides the carbonate for building skeletons, it is also an important carbon source for building coral flesh etc.
For example, the carbon that required by symbiosis algae to do photosynthesis is coming from Alk.
The so called 1:1 ratio of calcium vs alkalinity dosing schemes are fundamentally false.
So the best way to supplement calcium and alk is by testing and dosing individually.
I have seen many tanks that use all-in-one supplements like All-for-reef, have elevated calcium levels.

 

[karoly0829]

Hi Dong. Instant ocean reef crystals. 1.026/35 ppt and I’ve been testing every 2 days since the tank has cycled. Calcium continues to be at 440. Is there an Alk supplement you recommend? Thanks

 

[dz6t]

For Alk, I use soda ash from Amazon

https://a.co/d/86SQ5px

 

[dz6t]

Use this calculator to figure out the dosage

Reef Chemistry Calculator

For product, pick the sodium carbonate anhyd.

For premade solutions, I will choose ESV.

 

[karoly0829]

thank you!