Alk drop.

[reeferpat137]

Alright smart people. What could cause a 1.4 alk drop in the course of a day? Im using AFR in a fluval evo, tank is 15months. Been pretty steady at 19.3ml per day.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Test error perhaps? How much and offen you do a WC?

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I just started using AFR 3 days ago. Same tank, I made sure to bring up the cal and dkH to my preferred level using the ESV 2 part. I've only been dozing 2 ml the past few days and honestly my tank has been more stable in the past 2 days then it has been since it's been set up. I'll be watching it though for a few weeks to see where the system goes. Are you supplementing anything besides AFR, or are you using some two-part to bring up your calcium and dkH?

You've obviously got more experience than me using this product LOL and possibly I might be in for a surprise in a few more days.

I'm thinking you're overdosing and that's pushing your alkalinity down. From what tropic Marin calculator says you're dosing about 10 mL too much per day. Here's an example of what I entered into their calculator and this is what they recommend and also the maximum dose per day.

 

[reeferpat137]

I just started using AFR 3 days ago. Same tank, I made sure to bring up the cal and dkH to my preferred level using the ESV 2 part. I've only been dozing 2 ml the past few days and honestly my tank has been more stable in the past 2 days then it has been since it's been set up. I'll be watching it though for a few weeks to see where the system goes. Are you supplementing anything besides AFR, or are you using some two-part to bring up your calcium and dkH?

You've obviously got more experience than me using this product LOL and possibly I might be in for a surprise in a few more days.

I'm thinking you're overdosing and that's pushing your alkalinity down. From what tropic Marin calculator says you're dosing about 10 mL too much per day. Here's an example of what I entered into their calculator and this is what they recommend and also the maximum dose per day.

Check your alk daily... when i switched from ESV to AFR i used the recommended amount for my tank and thought id be golden... over the course of the week my alk went from 9.2 to the low 5's. And 100% youll notice an improvement in corals when switching to AFR in such a small tank. Since you no longer have to worry about salinity swings and stripping important elements every time you bring the salinity back down. But because its no a bicarbonate, youll lose the Ph boost that 2 part will give you

 

[reeferpat137]

Test error perhaps? How much and offen you do a WC?

Possible test error, but 2 different days? Also i chech my hanna against my alk standard, only .1 off... stoped doing weekly/biweekly water changes a while ago. Now i only do it when i notice unwanted algae

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Check your alk daily... when i switched from ESV to AFR i used the recommended amount for my tank and thought id be golden... over the course of the week my alk went from 9.2 to the low 5's. And 100% youll notice an improvement in corals when switching to AFR in such a small tank. Since you no longer have to worry about salinity swings and stripping important elements every time you bring the salinity back down. But because its no a bicarbonate, youll lose the Ph boost that 2 part will give you

There should be no net stripping effect when using ESV B-ionic two part. You do need to keep track of salintiy, but most folks do that anyway. :)