Ideal dosing strategy

[scotty333]

Hey guys

So I’ve been dosing afr now for 3 months or so and icps come back 0 on most traces so I now dose a and k in addition to boost traces

I hooked up a ph monitor and was disappointed by the 8.0 result which is probably due to the vodka dosing because everything else to gain higher ph is done

So I see quite a few dose kalk in addition to their afr but I don’t want calcium going through the roof

Is soda ash a good alternative ?

Current stats are kh 9.3 , calcium 440 and mag 1300

I’m thinking of adding kalk/soda ash to raise it to 10 hoping I’ll get the boost but will this work?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not assume any changes you make now will make your tank thrive better.

Kalkwasser will not cause calcium to go through the roof. It has exactly the same calcium to alk ratio that you are using now with AFR.

 

[scotty333]

I would not assume any changes you make now will make your tank thrive better.

Kalkwasser will not cause calcium to go through the roof. It has exactly the same calcium to alk ratio that you are using now with AFR.

Understand boss but isn’t there evidence that ph 8.3 over 7.8 produces 50% more growth?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Understand boss but isn’t there evidence that ph 8.3 over 7.8 produces 50% more growth?

Hard corals can grow faster at higher pH and higher alk.

 

[Pod_01]

Understand boss but isn’t there evidence that ph 8.3 over 7.8 produces 50% more growth?

Out of curiosity, where did you get the 50% from?
I believe the consensus is hard corals can grow faster but I don’t believe there was actual %.
Also the statements are “can” it is not “they will “…

 

[scotty333]

Out of curiosity, where did you get the 50% from?
I believe the consensus is hard corals can grow faster but I don’t believe there was actual %.
Also the statements are “can” it is not “they will “…

Brs did an experiment at 7.8 and 8.3 on the same set ups same size corals same weight

 

[Pod_01]

Brs did an experiment at 7.8 and 8.3 on the same set ups same size corals same weight

Interesting, one tank or multiple tanks?

I don’t watch BRS videos…

 

[Lavey29]

Just put a small fan circulating air near your tank and PH will go up. I have one inside my cabinet over the sump too.

 

[scotty333]

Interesting, one tank or multiple tanks?

I don’t watch BRS videos…

Think it was 8 , 4 with 7.8 and 4 with 8.3 with different species

 

[scotty333]

Just put a small fan circulating air near your tank and PH will go up. I have one inside my cabinet over the sump too.

Already done it

 

[Lavey29]

Already done it

Do you run a fuge at night to help prevent PH drop overnight?

 

[scotty333]

Do you run a fuge at night to help prevent PH drop overnight?

Yes
Honestly I’ve done everything check in the book
I think it’s the vodka
I could check this by stoping it for a day but my nitrates will rocket

 

[Lavey29]

Yes
Honestly I’ve done everything check in the book
I think it’s the vodka
I could check this by stoping it for a day but my nitrates will rocket

A PH of 8 is not detrimental to your tank. There are fluctuations as you know so perhaps it was 8.3 earlier or later. This is not going to have any effect on your corals in the 8.0 range because it's within normal ranges.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just put a small fan circulating air near your tank and PH will go up. I have one inside my cabinet over the sump too.

Maybe. Might also make pH go down.

 

[scotty333]

Maybe. Might also make pH go down.

I thought the idea was as much surface agitation and fresh air supply was the key?

 

[scotty333]

Tomorrow I will perform an experiment, I’ll take 1ltr of tank water outside and stir it rapidly for 15 mins and if it improves the ph is down to hydrogen in the water
I’ll do the sand on sea water and see if that increases , I’ll check its level beforehand

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I thought the idea was as much surface agitation and fresh air supply was the key?

Fresh air is desirable, yes.

But aeration can lower pH if the water has less CO2 than the equivalent amount in the aerating air. That is frequently the case during the daytime high in pH, and may be true most or all of the time if home CO2 levels are elevated.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tomorrow I will perform an experiment, I’ll take 1ltr of tank water outside and stir it rapidly for 15 mins and if it improves the ph is down to hydrogen in the water
I’ll do the sand on sea water and see if that increases , I’ll check its level beforehand

CO2, not hydrogen. :)

 

[Lavey29]

Maybe. Might also make pH go down.

I think everyone's tank benefits from air circulation be it from a window or a fan. Particularly in the cabinet sump area where the the funky stuff grows.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think everyone's tank benefits from air circulation be it from a window or a fan. Particularly in the cabinet sump area where the the funky stuff grows.

That may be the case, but they may also lower pH. :)