Alk slightly low

[DmitryB]

Did some readings on my IM 40 today for the first time in a couple of weeks. There's one fish (tiny Coral Beauty) and a lot of coral frags (LPS and Zoas, with one stray SPS.) all readings are basically fine (fighting big Phosphates still,) except Alk is slightly low. Should I do anything about this outside of water changes? (I'm going to swapping from RedSea salt to Nyos. There's just a little RedSea left. Incidentally, I've noticed an "oily" residue on the surface of the water. Like when oil and water separate. No idea what that is, but I don't like it!)

 

[Peer.Boerner]

If the tank looks good, and you’re happy, I’d just leave it. If you’d like to see more growth or if you think there may be some other observable stress, you could slowly increase Alk with small amounts of sodium bicarb. You could maybe bring down phosphate but there are no alarm bells going off that I can see. If yiu choose to make a change, make it slowly :)

 

[DmitryB]

If the tank looks good, and you’re happy, I’d just leave it. If you’d like to see more growth or if you think there may be some other observable stress, you could slowly increase Alk with small amounts of sodium bicarb. You could maybe bring down phosphate but there are no alarm bells going off that I can see. If yiu choose to make a change, make it slowly :)

I've been struggling with Phosphates. Have some rock that is leaching. Running some GFI, but it is slow going. Have not been dosing this tank with any anti-Phos chemicals but maybe I should? (I have also been adding Phyto, but not clear of that does anything for Phosphates.)

Edit: Actually just checked my Phosphates history and it was at .9, so this is a big reduction over time.

 

[docscorals]

Phyto can actually increase your phosphates. I don’t think you need to add any phosphate controlling chemicals like Phosphate E yet. I would try dosing some bacteria (BW Microbacter Purple is great for this). But you may want to increase your nitrates a little before you do. Neo Nitro is a great product, but GO SLOW with it. I would recommend trying to keep your nitrates between 5-10. Especially at your phosphate levels.

 

[strich]

I would definitely be worried about nitrates being so low. I would consider heavier feeds to get that up. That'll bring phos up too though. You can control both with the addition of vinegar which gives bacteria the carbon it needs to grow and consume nitrates and phosphates.

As everyone says, go very slow - quick swings in all these parameters typically causes the corals to shut up shop for awhile.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That alk is fine, but it is also fine to raise it if you prefer it higher. Baking soda is an easy and appropriate way to boost it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've been struggling with Phosphates. Have some rock that is leaching. Running some GFI, but it is slow going. Have not been dosing this tank with any anti-Phos chemicals but maybe I should? (I have also been adding Phyto, but not clear of that does anything for Phosphates.)

Edit: Actually just checked my Phosphates history and it was at .9, so this is a big reduction over time.

The phosphate is in my recommended range of 0.06 to 0.3 ppm. :)

 

[DmitryB]

I've been struggling with Phosphates. Have some rock that is leaching. Running some GFI, but it is slow going. Have not been dosing this tank with any anti-Phos chemicals but maybe I should? (I have also been adding Phyto, but not clear of that does anything for Phosphates.)

Edit: Actually just checked my Phosphates history and it was at .9, so this is a big reduction over time.

The phosphate is in my recommended range of 0.06 to 0.3 ppm. :)

Ohh! Good to know!

 

[DmitryB]

I would definitely be worried about nitrates being so low. I would consider heavier feeds to get that up. That'll bring phos up too though. You can control both with the addition of vinegar which gives bacteria the carbon it needs to grow and consume nitrates and phosphates.

As everyone says, go very slow - quick swings in all these parameters typically causes the corals to shut up shop for awhile.

I'm thought I was over feeding considering there's only one tiny fish in there and he's still largely hiding behind rocks! But adding more food isn't a problem. I was concerned about heavy green algae in the tank. The rocks are covered in green.

 

[DmitryB]

Question on dosing baked baking soda: I used BRS calculator to determine how much I need. But I assume I should not put that entire mixture dose in at once? Maybe spread that mixture over a few days? (I also assume it doesn't go bad!)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Question on dosing baked baking soda: I used BRS calculator to determine how much I need. But I assume I should not put that entire mixture dose in at once? Maybe spread that mixture over a few days? (I also assume it doesn't go bad!)

It does not go bad, though it may absorb some CO2 that you drove off in the baking.

Spreading out the dose is a good idea. Maybe 0.1 to 0.2 dKH worth via each manual dose.

 

[BryanM]

@DmitryB

I think alk is fine, could raise it if you want.

1 nitrate is low
.17 phos is certainly fine in my world.

As for the green algae, need to ID what it is, and probably add some clean up crew to deal with that.

 

[DmitryB]

@DmitryB

I think alk is fine, could raise it if you want.

1 nitrate is low
.17 phos is certainly fine in my world.

As for the green algae, need to ID what it is, and probably add some clean up crew to deal with that.

I think most of my snails are dead, killed by the hermits. (Which just autocorrected to "chemists.") Feels like one can only have one or the other. (Also seeing lots of aiptasia popping up. Was trying to avoid getting a Berghia because I hate condemning it (and not sure my psychotic Coral Banded Shrimp would let it live long), but this may be a desperate time.

I am thinking I may start dosing AFR and feels like I should raise Alk a bit before that?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have both snails and hermit crabs. Perhaps you have the wrong species of crab, or they are eating on already dead snails.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am thinking I may start dosing AFR and feels like I should raise Alk a bit before that?

No need to adjust alk before starting AFR. It will slowly come up and nothing else will rise noticeably.