ALK droping - To let settle or try correcting-

Gadbery · Nov 15, 2022

Hey all! So iv read alot of threads and understand new tanks (like mine 1.5 month old) can have ALK drop due to ammonia being converted to nitrates by bacteria. I believe I am noticing this in my tank. My tank is 65 gallon Reefer 250 - with only 2 zoa frags in it currently and some clown fish/snails. I am seeing some heavy diatomes which im mostly leaving alone currently. Just starting to get small spotches of light green algae no coroline yet.
ALK 7 days ago was 10 it is now 8.6 so thats about a .2 DKH drop a day
I will say my nitrates were at 15 7 days ago and as of last night are at about 3ppm
So nitrates seam to be getting eaten up by the diatomes / algae growing as i only do 10% water change a week.
I am not running a skimmer yet or refugium

Should i look at dosing Randy's recipe #1 to level off alk or just let it ride till it balance itself out.

also is my nitrates getting this low a worry? I know im in the startup phase so excess nitrates will cause algae issues but lack of them will cause cynobacteria and dinos. Im sure its the beginner overthinking stuff but wanted some insight from yall, i feel like the more i read the more i get pulled into the though of "I need to do more or change this" which is probably the opposite of what i need to do.

Using RED SEA PRO salt though thinking of swapping to Fritz Blue Box (not sure on this though)

full test panel from last night
PH - 8.01-8.20 full day range
Salinity - 33 ppt
temp - 78
phosphate - 0.03 - ULR Hanna
nitrate - 3 ppm - NYOS
Mag - 1320 - Aqua Forest
Calcium - 400 - red sea test kit

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2022

There's no reason to allow alk to drop below your target level in any tank at any age, but 8.6 dKH is still plenty high and doesn't "require" any dosing.

Gadbery · Nov 15, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
There's no reason to allow alk to drop below your target level in any tank at any age, but 8.6 dKH is still plenty high and doesn't "require" any dosing.

okay awesome. yes 8.6dkh is great its if it continues this trend that will become an issue. Ill monitor it for a few more weeks and see if my water changes are keeping it from depleting lower or not. Will get to cooking some baking soda if not!