Does Alkalinity Consumption Rate Change

Ocean’s Piece

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So I have been dosing for the past few months (no water changes) and I have never been able to identify and exact rate of Alk consumption in my tank. I’m unsure if this is just due to testing error or if this is because there’s not an exact rate of consumption. And note, this is with the same amount of corals and livestock.
Also, just to verify, does calcium consumption change? I have always had a weekly consumption of 10 ppm so I assume it doesn’t change, but while I’m on this thread, might as well verify.
 
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Ocean’s Piece

Ocean’s Piece

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If the consumers grow one would expect consumption to increase?
Ok that makes a lot more since. So basically yes to my question because it takes more as things grow, but no to the fact that consumption doesn’t just fluctuate for the hell of it
 

DrMMI

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My alk rises from 12am - 6 am despite not dosing, so not only are my corals not uptaking alk, something must be releasing it back into the water. I have a feeling it's due to the overnight ph drop despite a reverse light refugium, recirculating CO2 scrubber, and dosing sodium hydroxide.
 
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My alk rises from 12am - 6 am despite not dosing, so not only are my corals not uptaking alk, something must be releasing it back into the water. I have a feeling it's due to the overnight ph drop despite a reverse light refugium, recirculating CO2 scrubber, and dosing sodium hydroxide.
Yeah, I’m not a big chemistry buff, but mine does as well, which is normal. All my tests are done at the same time and temperature
 

ColoredRock

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I thought this was interesting from this thread:



High phosphate, like high magnesium and high organics and low alk and pH and calcium all contribute to lower likelihood of precipitating calcium carbonate.

Increasing nitrate (like in a cycling new tank) depletes alkalinity.
 
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Ocean’s Piece

Ocean’s Piece

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I thought this was interesting from this thread:

This just gave my head a massive brain freeze…..WHAT!!…NITRATE?!?
Chemistry is so weird.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Yeah, I’m not a big chemistry buff, but mine does as well, which is normal. All my tests are done at the same time and temperature

Most of the time, if folks see a rise in alk that repeats, it is due to even dosing and uneven demand as opposed to natural upswings in alk.

FWIW, alkalinity is consumed more during the daylight, and if you dose at night or 24/7, you may see alk fall during the day and rise at night (when dosing).
 
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