Alkalinity issues

[DeSoDo]

Hello reefers! I have an issue. Yesterday afternoon, I noticed my Frammer is down to its skeleton, when Wednesday night, it was all full and fluffy. I checked alk last night, and it was at 7.7. Yesterday was also my scheduled dosing day of reef fusion 1 & 2, as well as seachem carbonate. So, I dosed last night. I dose Mondays and Thursdays. This morning, I checked alk, and it was 9.3. Idk what I'm doing wrong, but before I lose anymore corals, I'd love some advice as to how I can fix this problem.
I use an hob with activated charcoal and sponge. A 2nd hob with only rubble rock stacked to the top for more of a biological filtration. And finally, an internal protein skimmer that's supposed to do tanks up to 75 gallons. My tank is 65g. Any advice is welcomed. The hammer coral right beside it is fine. The others that are placed on a frag rack are fine as well.

 

[TX_REEF]

Almost 2 full Dkh alk swing in 24 hours is a lot I think, I would look to stabilize your approach there

 

[DeSoDo]

Almost 2 full Dkh alk swing in 24 hours is a lot I think, I would look to stabilize your approach there

That's what I'm trying to figure out, I just don't know exactly how to do so.

 

[BryanM]

First, did you do a 2nd test to verify the high reading? I always do another test when things look off.

I am not familiar with those products so I googled. They both seem to raise alk, is there a reason you're doing both?

Finally, how much do you dose of these products, you did not say.

 

[VintageReefer]

When you dose do you measure current dkh and then determine how much is needed to bring you back to normal? Or do you dose the same amount each time.

The only way you can over dose is by not calculating, measuring, or testing correctly

 

[VintageReefer]

Fusion 1 and Seachem carbonate both are for alkalinity

Fusion 2 is for calcium

So I agree with Bryan, why are you using two alkalinity products

 

[DeSoDo]

First, did you do a 2nd test to verify the high reading? I always do another test when things look off.

I am not familiar with those products so I googled. They both seem to raise alk, is there a reason you're doing both?

Finally, how much do you dose of these products, you did not say.

Reef fusion is supposed to be used as a 1 & 2 combo. 10ml of rf1 2x a week, 15ml of rf2 2x a week. 15ml of carbonate 2x a week. No, I didn't do a 2nd test, I guess that would make sense to do for verification reasons. I purchased the reef fusion (rf) 1 & 2 because it said that it would maintain alkalinity and calcium, but raises calcium. I also purchased the reef carbonate because it said it would raise alkalinity.

 

[DeSoDo]

Fusion 1 and Seachem carbonate both are for alkalinity

Fusion 2 is for calcium

So I agree with Bryan, why are you using two alkalinity products

Didn't know the rf1 raised alk. It just said that it maintains it. I don't have a problem cutting the carbonate from the weekly dosing.

 

[braaap]

Simplify what you are doing. Just buy some 2 part from BRS. It is cheap and easy. It is extremely hard to mess up. I don't understand why people buy these different products with a label. No reason for it.

When you dose you need to test first. Then go to the BRS calculator and figure out what you need to add for your tank consumption. You literally can't mess this up if you simplify it this way. Test and dose daily. You will eventually figure out your consumption if you can test 3-5 continuous days.

 

[BryanM]

So it also *sounds* like you may be dosing without knowing your consumption.

For what its worth I sort of did the same thing, but I have an automated tester that tests 6x a day, and doses. I just kept adjusting the dose until it maintained alk at a level I wanted. I dose AFR, and my alk consumption is pretty low right now, and I only dose 6ml 6x a day, so 36ml total, in to a 220 gallon system.

If you're not heavily stocked it sounds like you might very well be over dosing.

 

[DeSoDo]

Simplify what you are doing. Just buy some 2 part from BRS. It is cheap and easy. It is extremely hard to mess up. I don't understand why people buy these different products with a label. No reason for it.

When you dose you need to test first. Then go to the BRS calculator and figure out what you need to add for your tank consumption. You literally can't mess this up if you simplify it this way. Test and dose daily. You will eventually figure out your consumption if you can test 3-5 continuous days.

Checking into that now. Even though I do things on a budget, I've already spent too much on corals just because of the types of corals they are. So I definitely need to figure it out before falling off a cliff.

 

[DeSoDo]

So it also *sounds* like you may be dosing without knowing your consumption.

For what its worth I sort of did the same thing, but I have an automated tester that tests 6x a day, and doses. I just kept adjusting the dose until it maintained alk at a level I wanted. I dose AFR, and my alk consumption is pretty low right now, and I only dose 6ml 6x a day, so 36ml total, in to a 220 gallon system.

If you're not heavily stocked it sounds like you might very well be over dosing.

About to check on what braaap just suggested. But yeah, I'm not trying to throw all of my money away and the sooner I can get it situated, the sooner I have to stress less.

 

[VintageReefer]

Do not follow any bottles recommendation to add 5 or 10ml a day/week or any standard amount on a standard schedule.

You need to use a formula based on tank size, current dkh, and desired dkh, to determine how many ml to add

 

[DeSoDo]

Do not follow any bottles recommendation to add 5 or 10ml a day/week or any standard amount on a standard schedule.

You need to use a formula based on tank size, current dkh, and desired dkh, to determine how many ml to add

I'm just trying to keep it just above 8.5 steadily. I just had surgery on my foot Wednesday morning, and not being able to walk definitely isn't helping. I don't use an ato, because I have a rodi system connected in my bathroom with 100' tubing and can usually turn it on an off as needed. I'm sure since it wasn't topped off yesterday has something to do with it raising, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[braaap]

About to check on what braaap just suggested. But yeah, I'm not trying to throw all of my money away and the sooner I can get it situated, the sooner I have to stress less.

You can turn it around quickly by testing daily and then dosing the products you have. But I never recommend them because you don't truly know the concentrations unless the bottles specifically tell you. Do they tell you what say 10ml raises Alk or Cal by?

The BRS 2 part is extremely easy to use and they have calculators on their site that take the guesswork out of it. Well worth the $50. It is likely also enough for a year or more. I think I bought their bulk pack which was like $150 but it will last me 3-4 years.

 

[DeSoDo]

You can turn it around quickly by testing daily and then dosing the products you have. But I never recommend them because you don't truly know the concentrations unless the bottles specifically tell you. Do they tell you what say 10ml raises Alk or Cal by?

The BRS 2 part is extremely easy to use and they have calculators on their site that take the guesswork out of it. Well worth the $50. It is likely also enough for a year or more. I think I bought their bulk pack which was like $150 but it will last me 3-4 years.

It does say "if you need to do this, do that type of thing" I just found the seachem calculator, so I'll try that for a few days and see if I can get it situated. If not, I'm gonna go with the brs way you suggested.

 

[DeSoDo]

Numbers this morning/afternoon.

 

[BryanM]

Again, the only useful numbers for dosing alk is something like 10ml per 10 gallons raises alk .1, or something like that.

One way or another you need to know your alk consumption per day to figure out how much product to dose. The easiest way to do this is just test daily for several days, same time of day for the test as well, so the tests are consistent.

 

[DeSoDo]

Again, the only useful numbers for dosing alk is something like 10ml per 10 gallons raises alk .1, or something like that.

One way or another you need to know your alk consumption per day to figure out how much product to dose. The easiest way to do this is just test daily for several days, same time of day for the test as well, so the tests are consistent.

Will do. Thank you!