Alkalinity Problem

[mattr567]

My tank has been running for just over 2 months now so it is fully established. However, my alkalinity has been consistently under 7dkh for the whole time. I don’t know what to do as I have tried every single method to try and fix the issue. Tried the baking soda trick, increases salinity, even changes salt brands from aqua forest to Red Sea. I only have a small 5 gallon nano so I’ll only keep softies and zoas, however I’m scared to put any coral in before my alkalinity is right.

 

[19Mateo83]

Stability is more important than chasing a number. If your system wants to run ay 7 let it ride, especially if you don’t have any heavy alk consumers yet. Also, what is your magnesium reading at?

 

[mattr567]

Stability is more important than chasing a number. If your system wants to run ay 7 let it ride, especially if you don’t have any heavy alk consumers yet. Also, what is your magnesium reading at?

I haven’t tested magnesium, would it benefit to test?

 

[19Mateo83]

Yes, you need to be checking your magnesium periodically. It plays a role of your waters ability to hold alkalinity and calcium. Read through this guide from @Tidal Gardens , especially the part about magnesium.
https://tidalgardens.com/articles/c...r chemically,overall alkalinity of the water.

 

[Reef.]

You can’t say your tank is fully established after only 2 months, then go on to say there is an issue with your parameters, both can’t be true.

Alk can fluctuate on new tanks, changing salinity to correct alk is an extremely bad way to try and solve your alk issue, until your salinity was incorrect to start with.

I would test daily, if you don’t have any corals, you can wait until your alk is stable, adding baking soda is fine but not really necessary if your alk is 7.

Depending what salt you are using and what level you want to run your alk, it’s hard to say if you have much of an issue, sounds to me you are probably causing more issues trying to fix something that doesn’t need fixing.

 

[mattr567]

Yes, you need to be checking your magnesium periodically. It plays a role of your waters ability to hold alkalinity and calcium. Read through this guide from @Tidal Gardens , especially the part about magnesium.
https://tidalgardens.com/articles/c...r chemically,overall alkalinity of the water.

Thank you appreciate it. I also just picked up a mag and calcium test kit. My mag is sitting at 1350 and calcium is sitting at 450.

 

[19Mateo83]

Those numbers are where you want them to be. Maybe we can get @Randy Holmes-Farley to chime in on this.