Best way to lower Alk? Dose less or less often?

[baldislife]

I have a 25 gallon nano with softies and LPS. For the last several weeks my DkH has been holding steady at 10. Coral and fish look happy. I am currently dosing 5 ml of all for reef each day along with a cap of Red Sea mag each day. What is the best way to lower alkalinity to the 7-8 range? Should I drop dose to 2.5 ml and test or dose every other day?

 

[Rocks reef]

I would cut the down to 2.5ml like you said and then test again in a week, give the tank time to balance out.
On a side note, a capful of Mag each day is quite a bit. I dose mag once a week since I am dosing AFR. Are you able to test your mag? I know testing is very unreliable, but I'm interested how high your mag is.

 

[baldislife]

Thanks for the reply. My mag is at 1300. Before adding the mag it would sit at 1150 -1180. My lps look better with the higher mag

 

[baldislife]

Just to add the low mag maybe a product of the salt from my local LFS as a buddy of mine has to dose mag as well. Otherwise the saltwater has been great

 

[rishma]

I doubt you need to keep dosing mag. Even if it started low your AFR should maintain it

 

[baldislife]

thanks. I will try that as well

I doubt you need to keep dosing mag. Even if it started low your AFR should maintain it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree dose less and also test less. An alk test once a week should be fine. Daily dose jiggering is not needed

 

[rishma]

thanks. I will try that as well

Also suggest not trusting magnesium test kit. There is no logical reason for magnesium to decrease while dosing AFR by more than 1ppm for every 2.8 dKH dosed with AFR and it probably won’t go down at all.