- Joined
- Oct 8, 2019
- Messages
- 439
- Reaction score
- 777
Thanks for the advice. Think I'll go the low alkalinity water change route.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
What do you think of the above mentioned issue? Thanks Randy!I think measuring nitrate and phosphate is a good next step, but it may not be a chemical issue at all.
Hey Randy, I am trying to see if you might have any idea of my high nitrates from the above mentioned data. I have done two 30gal water changes this week. Testing the Ocean source water for nitrates and they read nearly zero....My tank however is reading 80 or higher. I have an upflow ATS and Skimmer running...I would think my nitrate would be going down. My fish seem happy and corals are good, except sps of course all die. I'm just trying to see if its possibly high CO2 level in the home and if I added a Co2 scrubber to my skimmer if that would help adjust Ph and maybe lower my Nitrates?? Just confused about what my issue could be... Thanks.I think measuring nitrate and phosphate is a good next step, but it may not be a chemical issue at all.
I am no expert for sure, I am a noob. What I have read is the way to lower Nitrates is through water changes, feeding less food, cleaning up waste by siphoning the waste directly during water change. You may want to do 10% water changes each day until nitrates come down, and make sure there is nothing dying in your tank, dying fish or algae.Hey Randy, I am trying to see if you might have any idea of my high nitrates from the above mentioned data. I have done two 30gal water changes this week. Testing the Ocean source water for nitrates and they read nearly zero....My tank however is reading 80 or higher. I have an upflow ATS and Skimmer running...I would think my nitrate would be going down. My fish seem happy and corals are good, except sps of course all die. I'm just trying to see if its possibly high CO2 level in the home and if I added a Co2 scrubber to my skimmer if that would help adjust Ph and maybe lower my Nitrates?? Just confused about what my issue could be... Thanks.
precipitation of calcium carbonate on things like pumps, heaters, and sand? Is this a film or residue? Will this ruin the pumps? My alk stays around 14 and I would like to know if this is going to cause long term issues.There are a variety of things that high alkalinity does.
First, it increases the likelihood of precipitation of calcium carbonate on things like pumps, heaters, and sand.
Second, it spurs some hard corals and coralline algae to grow faster since getting enough carbonate can be a rate limiting step in calcification (skeletal growth).
Finally, some SPS corals in a very low nutrient environment with high alkalinity may suffer "burnt tips", which might be due to the tissue being unable to keep up with the skeletal growth, leaving very thin tissue which might be more susceptible to burning by high light/UV levels.
Corals that have issues with alk swings may be suffering from a temporary mismatch between their ability to take up bicarbonate and the internal demand for it.
Assuming your test is correct (at 14) - ic could cause multiple issues - including the ones you mentioned.precipitation of calcium carbonate on things like pumps, heaters, and sand? Is this a film or residue? Will this ruin the pumps? My alk stays around 14 and I would like to know if this is going to cause long term issues.
Cc is not only unsightly but can be of harm to reef system and inhabitants. High alk can damage your equipment such as heaters, pumps, and filters and stain glass. When calcium builds up on these parts due to the elevated numbers, the residue can burn out your motors. Additionally, when calcium builds up quickly on the equipment, it’s no longer available to the living organisms within the tank causing further issues with calcium reduction and ph swings.precipitation of calcium carbonate on things like pumps, heaters, and sand? Is this a film or residue? Will this ruin the pumps? My alk stays around 14 and I would like to know if this is going to cause long term issues.
precipitation of calcium carbonate on things like pumps, heaters, and sand? Is this a film or residue? Will this ruin the pumps? My alk stays around 14 and I would like to know if this is going to cause long term issues.
Alkalinity lowers phosphate? Interesting.Not usually.. It may encourage skeletal growth of corals by reducing phosphate and may increase precipitation of calcium carbonate on and near the GFO, but the changes in alk (and calcium) are usually low enough to not be a concern.
What a beast. LolNo problem. I've answered well over 100,000 reef chemistry questions in the past 20 years, so I'm used to it and have seen most possible questions already.
Alkalinity lowers phosphate? Interesting.
All calcium bicarbonate rock was removed yesterday -
Do you have a link to it? I suspect it is not calcium bicarbonate. That's a very unusual material.
Calcium carbonate is not typically a reason for alk to rise. It cannot dissolve into normal seawater unless the pH is very low (below about 7.7).
Calcium carbonate is not typically a reason for alk to rise. It cannot dissolve into normal seawater unless the pH is very low (below about 7.7).
Hopefully that link works, my work computer can be a pain.
Like i said before still new to the hobby and can't really give facts/ but can definitely say what happened in my tank! lol altho re-reading it says calcium carbonate - not bicarbonate. Prob mis-spoke on my end i apologize! Like i said - still new! lol