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- Feb 2, 2018
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Hello!
As a disclaimer, I have Googled and searched my issue thoroughly. I just wanted to get a second opinion.
Tank was started with cured man-made live rock. Live meaning it had a healthy population of critters - mini bristleworms, stomatella snails, sponges etc. Two or theee weeks after adding our first corals, alkalinity began to drop. We started dosing, and determined that 2.5ml of ESV 2 part kept alkalinity stable.
Alkalinity demand increased after the addition of more corals, and our dose increased to 3.5ml to keep alkalinity stable.
A few weeks ago, we spent a night away from the house and as a result that tank did not receive a dosage of 2 part for 24 hours. We checked it before continuing our normal dosage, and found that it has dropped approximately 1 dKh. Corals were happy, did not seem stressed by the drop. We continued with our previous dosing amount.
We tested alk a few days later, and found that alk had gone up despite dosing the same amount as we had previously. Perhaps demand had changed. To rule out testing error, we dosed the same amount again and tested the following day. Alk continued to rise slightly. We determined that adjusting 1.75ml maintained alk steady.
We continued this amount for several days before seeing a drop. Again, we ruled out testing error by dosing the same amount again before adjusting. We then determined 2.5ml maintained steady alk.
Dosage remained at 2.5ml for several days before testing and finding that alk had again gone UP. To see how much it would drop, we did not dose for 24 hours. Alk remained unchanged. Another 24 hours, still unchanged. Last night, day 3 of not dosing, alk had INCREASED.
About the tank:
Our rock is man made, and I understand that artificial rock has the potential to leach and raise alkalinity. This was not an issue for several months, so I’m not sure why it would start to so long after the tank was set up.
We have never had nitrates over 5ppm or phosphates over 0.1 ppm. I understand that a sudden drop could cause alkalinity to increase, but I’m under the impression it would have to be a much larger drop.
I appreciate any input and feedback you folks might have!
As a disclaimer, I have Googled and searched my issue thoroughly. I just wanted to get a second opinion.
Tank was started with cured man-made live rock. Live meaning it had a healthy population of critters - mini bristleworms, stomatella snails, sponges etc. Two or theee weeks after adding our first corals, alkalinity began to drop. We started dosing, and determined that 2.5ml of ESV 2 part kept alkalinity stable.
Alkalinity demand increased after the addition of more corals, and our dose increased to 3.5ml to keep alkalinity stable.
A few weeks ago, we spent a night away from the house and as a result that tank did not receive a dosage of 2 part for 24 hours. We checked it before continuing our normal dosage, and found that it has dropped approximately 1 dKh. Corals were happy, did not seem stressed by the drop. We continued with our previous dosing amount.
We tested alk a few days later, and found that alk had gone up despite dosing the same amount as we had previously. Perhaps demand had changed. To rule out testing error, we dosed the same amount again and tested the following day. Alk continued to rise slightly. We determined that adjusting 1.75ml maintained alk steady.
We continued this amount for several days before seeing a drop. Again, we ruled out testing error by dosing the same amount again before adjusting. We then determined 2.5ml maintained steady alk.
Dosage remained at 2.5ml for several days before testing and finding that alk had again gone UP. To see how much it would drop, we did not dose for 24 hours. Alk remained unchanged. Another 24 hours, still unchanged. Last night, day 3 of not dosing, alk had INCREASED.
About the tank:
Our rock is man made, and I understand that artificial rock has the potential to leach and raise alkalinity. This was not an issue for several months, so I’m not sure why it would start to so long after the tank was set up.
We have never had nitrates over 5ppm or phosphates over 0.1 ppm. I understand that a sudden drop could cause alkalinity to increase, but I’m under the impression it would have to be a much larger drop.
I appreciate any input and feedback you folks might have!