Its it OK to dose my Alk buffer via ATO?

[Goodersgold]

Hi can you help? please see my numbers below, all checked using Hanna.

Alk is 6
PH is 7.2
Cal 520
Mg 1200

RedSea Max Nano mixed reef, LPS dominant

I want to dose SeaChem Alkalinity buffer (to raise Alk and PH) (was thinking of Limewater but my Calcium numbers are good) and wondered if anyone doses the SeaChem via ATO, what are your experiences and recommendation please? TIA

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, your pH of 7.2 is not accurate.

The Seachem product is not the best choice if you want a pH boost, but you can add it to an ATO.

 

[Goodersgold]

Thanks for the reply Randy. Firstly how can you be sure my pH value is inaccurate and secondly, what would you recommend instead of the SeaChem product?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the reply Randy. Firstly how can you be sure my pH value is inaccurate and secondly, what would you recommend instead of the SeaChem product?

pH of a reef tank does not ever drop to 7.2, and if it did, the rock and sand would dissolve.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Alkalinity additives can only be one fo these things:

1. Organic anions such as formate or acetate.
2. Bicarbonate
3. Carbonate
4. Hydroxide

They are listed in order of pH effect. The first two cause a small pH drop. Carbonate causes a substantial pH rise, and hydroxide causes twice the pH rise as carbonate.

All buffers that claim to mix to a specific pH (Seachem Marine buffer claims pH 8.3, Seachem Reef buffer claims 8.6) are a mixture of bicarbonate and carbonate, and hence have a smaller pH boost than a pure carbonate additive (such as sodium carbonate/baked baking soda/soda ash/washing soda)

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I wouldn't dose anything via an ATO.

An ATO is everything you don't want in a dosing system. They typically dose high quantities of solution in a short period of time. They're prone to sticking on, even if you get one of the expensive ones with multiple/redundant sensors. And since they're based on evaporation, the amount you dose will change throughout the year.

I strongly believe this is why so many people are scared of dosing calcium hydroxide, because the industry standard way to dose it is with an ATO. I use limewater, but I'd never put it in an ATO. I dose it on a schedule with a dosing pump. Great supplement, terrible delivery system.

was thinking of Limewater but my Calcium numbers are good

In the long term, your tank will use alkalinity and calcium at the same rate. So you will need a balanced additive like limewater or another two-part. I would simply begin dosing limewater or a two-part now. The calcium will trend down over time and your alkalinity and calcium will balance out.