Aren't mineral acids highly deadly though? I alway been afraid to put HCL in there for fear of how strong it would be. What is the dosage for a 55gal and how do you increase PH without skyrocketing alkalinity?
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Aren't mineral acids highly deadly though? I alway been afraid to put HCL in there for fear of how strong it would be. What is the dosage for a 55gal and how do you increase PH without skyrocketing alkalinity?
I’ve used HCL in my mixing container before on rare occasions, but didn’t think it was ok to dose it to the DT full of fish because it would drop pH as well.Seems an odd solution that I would not recommend as there are far simpler and cleaner methods. Tannic acid will bind trace metals and impact bioavailability, will potentially yellow the water, and may ultimately be metabolized, releasing some or all of the alkalinity back.
If one really wants to lower alkalinity in a running reef tank without doign water changes with a low alk mix, one way is to do them with a super low alk mix that you make yourself, or by very, very slowly adding a mineral acid to the tank. Sodium bisulfate (like Seachem acid buffer) or hydrochloric acid will permenently lower the alk and do little else besides lower pH when first added (which tannic acid will also lower pH to the same degree per unit of alk depleted).
I’ve used HCL in my mixing container before on rare occasions, but didn’t think it was ok to dose it to the DT full of fish because it would drop pH as well.
What dosage would you recommend starting at for a 220G tank with 65G sump? Maybe start low with a total of 2ml and see how that effects pH?
The tank runs 8.0-8.3 ph every day.
Hello All from the UK,
I am experiencing this issue and I suspect my Sand since I am using Marco Rock.. In my case I am using Aquamedic Bali Sand which is apparently made of 98% calcium carbonate.
I am at lost with this because my tank is 700Liters and the amount of water changes I have been doing is not only exhausting.. but very expensive! I am now using HCI to control it.. but this is not a long term solution.. I am new to the hobby the tank has been running for less than 8 months and I feel like I want to give up.. so any help would be appreciated.
This is the only forum where I have found so many people with the same issue as I have.. so at least I know now I am not losing my mind.
If I were to replace my sand, what is the best sand to use in order to avoid this problem? Aragonite is clearly an issue.. mine is also problematic, so what is the alternative?
What is the best way to change the sand? 1/3 per week?
Thanks in advance,
Raul from UK
I was facing similar issue. Could not figure out so went bare bottom. I was also using tropic eden (mesoflakes).I'm using Tropic Eden reef flakes. Tank is 1 1/2 yrs old. My alk has always avg'd about 8.6. Around the 21st I noticed it slowly starting to increase. after the 2nd or 3rd day I turned off my doser. It's continued to increase and is now at 9.2. The last two days that's the avg. I've not been dosing cal for several weeks and it too has been slowly increasing. Tank is all LPS. Randy have mentioned that in the sand the ph can be lower which could be causing this. Does anyone think it would help if I stirred the sand on a regular basis? I don't do many water changes and don't mess with the sand very much. I was actually looking at placing an order for some cleanup crew that would include some snails that would help stir it up.
I'm using Tropic Eden reef flakes. Tank is 1 1/2 yrs old. My alk has always avg'd about 8.6. Around the 21st I noticed it slowly starting to increase. after the 2nd or 3rd day I turned off my doser. It's continued to increase and is now at 9.2. The last two days that's the avg. I've not been dosing cal for several weeks and it too has been slowly increasing. Tank is all LPS. Randy have mentioned that in the sand the ph can be lower which could be causing this. Does anyone think it would help if I stirred the sand on a regular basis? I don't do many water changes and don't mess with the sand very much. I was actually looking at placing an order for some cleanup crew that would include some snails that would help stir it up.
Yes, nitrate is consistently around 25 using a Nyos test kit.Are you tracking nitrate? Dropping nitrate will also boost alk.
Stirring the sand might help, but is a pain and risks other issues like releasing hydrogen sulfide, if any is present.
Hi. I’m running the Donavans Nitrate Destroyer (see Poor Man's Nutrients Control - Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer).
notwithstanding him being a genius my version is full of ceramic rings/balls. Nitrates have dropped and having stopped dosing alkalinity its still increasing. Currently 11.6
Have sand in tank and sump so plan to remove sump first and complete a few water changes - use Pro Reef Salt which is normally 7.
Any other thoughts?
Since my post on the 28th my alk has slowly dropped and is now averaging about 8.6. Still not dosing and no water changes. The only change I've made is putting my filter roller back in the sump and every couple of days I'll stir a small section of sand.Yes, nitrate is consistently around 25 using a Nyos test kit.