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- Apr 20, 2019
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Ok so I have been trying to dial in my alkalinity over the past few weeks. Unfortunately I keep adding new SPS corals so it’s making thing difficult. The alkalinity test I routinely use is the Hanna. I also purchased a salifert one back in January to check my results.
In January when I tested with both kits my results were 8.3 on the Hanna and .42 or 8.9 on the salifert. GREAT. I felt that was within reason to be accurate. I still chise to daily test with the Hanna.
my tank is a 4x2x2 120 gallon tank with a 36 gallon sump and live rock. My total water volume is approximately 140 gallons.
Now on to yesterday. I’ve been trying to get my alkalinity to be consistent around 7.8-8.0. Since that day in January my alk has dropped a bit (7.4) with the new coral additions so I’ve been playing with my doser to get it adjusted back to my goal range. After testing my alkalinity, which read 7.4 I decided to up my alk doser to 22ml /day. The day before my alk was 7.5 at 20 ml/day.
Nows where it gets interesting. I decided to check my calibration on my doser (kamoer unit). I ran a 20 second check which filled my test cup 15ml. The doser read 43ml!!! WOAH! Ok so I reset it to 15ml and calculated 15ml being 35% of 43ml. So I adjusted my dosing to 35% of 22ml (my current dose) which came to approximately 8ml. I also added an adjustment dose of 7ml which bumped my alk up to 7.6
On to today. I go to test my alk today and of coarse my reagent ran out. I crack open a new bottle and test my alk. I get a reading of 8.4! Not crazy high but definitely off from the day before. I retest and get the same result. I pull out the salifert and I’m getting .33 10.4! Which is high! Now I’m confused because a month ago these tests were within .6 DKH, now they’re off by 2 DKH. I retested with the salifert and got the same result. I noticed minimal polyp extension today on my SPS and wonder if my alk spike caused this. Due to conflicting test results I’m super confused as what to trust. I’m currently mixing a fresh batch of saltwater (tropic Marin pro) and going to test that water and then do a water change. I shut my doser off for the night and will retest tomorrow seeing what the tank uses over night.
I know I set myself up for the perfect storm with the recalibration the doser and then a new reagent but any information or tips to help me out would be great. Don’t wanna lose my corals. Last time I had an alkalinity spike (8.5 to 9.5) my space invader pectinia, a trumpet coral and a few SPS frags all got burnt tips and still haven’t recovered!
my parameters are
Salinity 1.026
Nitrate 5
Phosphate .04
Alk ??????
Calcium 470
Mag 1400
In January when I tested with both kits my results were 8.3 on the Hanna and .42 or 8.9 on the salifert. GREAT. I felt that was within reason to be accurate. I still chise to daily test with the Hanna.
my tank is a 4x2x2 120 gallon tank with a 36 gallon sump and live rock. My total water volume is approximately 140 gallons.
Now on to yesterday. I’ve been trying to get my alkalinity to be consistent around 7.8-8.0. Since that day in January my alk has dropped a bit (7.4) with the new coral additions so I’ve been playing with my doser to get it adjusted back to my goal range. After testing my alkalinity, which read 7.4 I decided to up my alk doser to 22ml /day. The day before my alk was 7.5 at 20 ml/day.
Nows where it gets interesting. I decided to check my calibration on my doser (kamoer unit). I ran a 20 second check which filled my test cup 15ml. The doser read 43ml!!! WOAH! Ok so I reset it to 15ml and calculated 15ml being 35% of 43ml. So I adjusted my dosing to 35% of 22ml (my current dose) which came to approximately 8ml. I also added an adjustment dose of 7ml which bumped my alk up to 7.6
On to today. I go to test my alk today and of coarse my reagent ran out. I crack open a new bottle and test my alk. I get a reading of 8.4! Not crazy high but definitely off from the day before. I retest and get the same result. I pull out the salifert and I’m getting .33 10.4! Which is high! Now I’m confused because a month ago these tests were within .6 DKH, now they’re off by 2 DKH. I retested with the salifert and got the same result. I noticed minimal polyp extension today on my SPS and wonder if my alk spike caused this. Due to conflicting test results I’m super confused as what to trust. I’m currently mixing a fresh batch of saltwater (tropic Marin pro) and going to test that water and then do a water change. I shut my doser off for the night and will retest tomorrow seeing what the tank uses over night.
I know I set myself up for the perfect storm with the recalibration the doser and then a new reagent but any information or tips to help me out would be great. Don’t wanna lose my corals. Last time I had an alkalinity spike (8.5 to 9.5) my space invader pectinia, a trumpet coral and a few SPS frags all got burnt tips and still haven’t recovered!
my parameters are
Salinity 1.026
Nitrate 5
Phosphate .04
Alk ??????
Calcium 470
Mag 1400