Alk dropped to 5dkh

[reeferfoxx]

So, i might have accidentally skipped a weekly water change. This is for my 1.7/yr old 20 gallon. The SPS colonies are growing large. I messed up and didn't think about its growth impacting parameters..(yet). Then I neglected a water change and in that week i noticed a zoanthid colony disintegrate. Parameters 2 weeks ago were:

SG 1.026
Calcium 410
Alk 5dkh from 7

Sorry, i didn't bother with ph or mag that week.
I then 'incorrectly'(i think) dosed Seachem reef fusion 2(alk) daily of 3ml per day, only. No part 1.

Alk was raised from 5dkh to 7 dkh in 3 days. I skipped a day of dosing but test 6.5dkh the next day. Didn't test calcium.

Thursday 7/7 - dkh 5.5-6.
Performed a 5 gallon water change. No dosing, yet.

Mix water 1.026sg was 8.0dkh, cal. 430, mag 1440

Tank water after water change

Sg 1.026
Cal. 420ish
Alk. 6 - 6.5

Yesterday 1 day later, friday 7/8
SG 1.026
Cal. 410
Alk. 5.5

I dosed 2ml Seachem part 1(calcium) and 3ml part 2(alk).

SG 1.026
Cal. 430
Alk. 6
Mag. 1500+ (maxed test kit)

Part 1 provides mag. as well, not too worried. However, had me curious. Anyway...

I need to reset this poor regiment. Should I perform a water change and chase numbers or should I let the calcium fall and allow alkalinity to raise back to 7-8, possibly? Have i messed up too much?

I think I've learned that I need to dose equal parts 1 and 2. Rather than raising alk alone?

Fwiw im only using seachem part 1 and 2 for now. It was easy to store for this particular urgent issue. I'll eventually be using kalk or brs 2 part. To early to know. For now we are speaking seachem. Thank you.

 

[twilliard]

In the ideal environment of the tank yes both parts are dosed in equal amounts.
What I do is adjust alkalinity to my target. Then I do the testing for a week to see daily consumption. That is the daily dose.
Then I adjust calcium to my target.
From that point this is my daily dose of each part based on alkalinity usage

 

[reeferfoxx]

Awesome! So i didn't completely mess up? I was attempting to raise alkalinity without dosing calcium. However, i was reading that if i dosed too much alk, my calcium would raise and then Alk would fall back down to 5, rapidly? At least i think thats was Randy was explaining? I'm trying to find other insight into this. Seems everyone else who had low Alk also had either low or high calcium, where as mine seems to be in normal range?

Btw good to see you twilliard! This 20 gallon was never suppose to get this far. I was saving dosing for the new tank lol.... ;)

 

[twilliard]

Awesome! So i didn't completely mess up? I was attempting to raise alkalinity without dosing calcium. However, i was reading that if i dosed too much alk, my calcium would raise and then Alk would fall back down to 5, rapidly? At least i think thats was Randy was explaining? I'm trying to find other insight into this. Seems everyone else who had low Alk also had either low or high calcium, where as mine seems to be in normal range?

Btw good to see you twilliard! This 20 gallon was never suppose to get this far. I was saving dosing for the new tank lol.... ;)

Good to see you too!
Concentrate on your alkalinity and keep it stable.
,to me it's a pain to first get into balance

 

[reeferfoxx]

Good to see you too!
Concentrate on your alkalinity and keep it stable.
,to me it's a pain to first get into balance

Sounds easy enough! Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Whether you dose matching calcium or not for a 2 dKH boost to alk is unimportant. The calcium would only rise from 420 ppm to about 434 ppm, both of which are perfectly fine.

 

[FL_Reefer]

Also, reeferfoxx I don't know if you keep a log book but I do. This helps tremendously with everything. It takes alittle time to fill it out but I feel it really helps me. I have so much going on in my life (work,wife,2kids,recovering from knee surgery,ect.) I fill out my log book everyday from what I add alk and cal, ect to when I do waterchanges, changing my bulbs ect. Maybe this will help you keep track. It's the last thing I do at night so I know if it isn't in my book, it didn't get done

 

[BCRIBS]

Do you run GFO? I just ran into a .75 dkh drop from switching that out along with carbon. It stabilized after bringing it back up. Has been fine since.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Also, reeferfoxx I don't know if you keep a log book but I do. This helps tremendously with everything. It takes alittle time to fill it out but I feel it really helps me. I have so much going on in my life (work,wife,2kids,recovering from knee surgery,ect.) I fill out my log book everyday from what I add alk and cal, ect to when I do waterchanges, changing my bulbs ect. Maybe this will help you keep track. It's the last thing I do at night so I know if it isn't in my book, it didn't get done

Great idea. Numbers are becoming more and more important now.

Do you run GFO? I just ran into a .75 dkh drop from switching that out along with carbon. It stabilized after bringing it back up. Has been fine since.

No. No carbon, gfo or skimmer. This is a naked 20.