Help Can’t get KH up

[ATC]

Ok been trying to figure this out on my own but I can’t get my KH above 7 done several relatively large water changes daily for the last few days and still no change tried dosing seachem reef builder it just clumps as soon as it hits the water. Any help would be appreciated. Tank is 90 DT 40 gallon sump mostly zoas but I have a few lps. I am running a skimmer and a fuge.
Tank parameters are
Ph 8.2
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20
Ammonia 0
Ca 420
Mg1400
Phosphates 0.01

 

[flabydab123]

Try dissolving the reef builder in RODI water before adding it to the tank. What salt are you using and what is your salinity?

 

[Uncle99]

Ok been trying to figure this out on my own but I can’t get my KH above 7 done several relatively large water changes daily for the last few days and still no change tried dosing seachem reef builder it just clumps as soon as it hits the water. Any help would be appreciated. Tank is 90 DT 40 gallon sump mostly zoas but I have a few lps. I am running a skimmer and a fuge.
Tank parameters are
Ph 8.2
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20
Ammonia 0
Ca 420
Mg1400
Phosphates 0.01

I use the Seachem 2-part system.
I raise KH with Seachem Fusion 2.
I raises CA with Fusion 1
Your MG is fine so KH will increase.
If not, your product is either bad or incorrect.

 

[Greg P]

Everything looks good so makes me wonder ...
What Alk kit are you using?

How are you adding the Reef Builder? Mixing in RO first?

 

[ATC]

Salinity is 1.026. Red Sea coral pro salt and test kit is Red Sea reef pro using the same test kit and salt on my other tank and it’s perfect. Mixing reef pro into rodi I also have the 2 part system I just haven’t tried it yet trying not to do to change much to fast and not know what is causing the change

 

[Greg P]

and not know what is causing the change

Probably being taken up by the sand and dry rock

Pour the Reef Builder mix slowly into a high flow area to allow it to disperse, like a dust cloud

For future economy, look into making your own soda ash. Bake 594g/2.25 cups of baking soda on a tinfoil covered baking pan @ 300 degrees for one hour. Mix into RO/RODI until the total volume is 3,875ml. Then use the calculator with Randy's 2-part to find how much to dose.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Greg P]

At 1.026 your salt should be giving you about 12 dKH
Test a new batch of fresh RODI/Salt to confirm this

In the meantime, I recommend not doing any more WCs until you figure out what is going on. No need messing with your other params at this time.

 

[Greg P]

In the meantime, I recommend not doing any more WCs until you figure out what is going on. No need messing with your other params at this time.

That should read something like 'no more water correction WCs'

 

[ATC]

Just made a batch of water this am just went tested it it’s at 11.5.

 

[Dburr1014]

Probably being taken up by the sand and dry rock

What do you mean by this? Do you have any links to articles on this?
How can dry rock and live sand uptake alk and cal? Do you mean precipitate? Please explain this to me.

 

[Greg P]

What do you mean by this? Do you have any links to articles on this?
How can dry rock and live sand uptake alk and cal? Do you mean precipitate? Please explain this to me.

Not precipitate. Yes uptake, or rather bond with/equalize with
Give me a minute to find a thread

 

[Greg P]

Not sure this will answer your question, but it'll surely give you some reading.
Pay attention to what Randy Holmes-Farley posts. He's an accepted God with chems for saltwater tanks.

Poll: Alkalinity - Daily Demand

Yesterday we discussed stability. Many commented (and I agree) alkalinity is probably the most important of the parameters to maintain stability. (Yes salinity and temperature rank up there also). We did a poll a while ago that asked what your average dKH measures in your systems. The vast...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Greg P]

I can't currently find any supporting info for my statement, but can say for sure that dry rock and dead sand will suck up Alk and PO4, sometimes along with other elements

 

[Greg P]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Hopefully he will back me up with Alkalinity use in a Saltwater Tank in relation to Dry Rock and Dry Sand and a new/cycling tank

 

[Dburr1014]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Let me post Randy's link for him.
This article describes what you mean to say that it precipitates not that it uptakes. And here is the definition. To uptake something means it's actually using it, but precipitation is actually a reaction. Living things will update and inanimate objects will precipitate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Raw calcium carbonate can act as seed crystals for more precipitation of more calcium carbonate. it takes time for organics, bacteria, magnesium, and phosphate to land on it and block the surface from precipitation of calcium carbonate.

If you push hard (high alk, pH, etc.), you can reignite precipitation, and you are back to square one, needing to block the surface seed crystal sites again.