KH Mystery

[arranms96]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for some advice on an issue I'm having with my Alkalinity. Roughly two weeks ago my heater died and killed 95% of the coral in my tank. (Thankfully it's only 6 months old and was very lightly stocked) Since then my Alk has been steadily raising and I cant figure out why.

I have paused dosing of KH, Mag and Cal.


Below is a screenshot from my Alkatronic, I have verified these results with both a Hanna checker and a Salifert test kit so I know its not just a case of false readings from my Alkatronic.



Some more info on my tank

• Redsea Reefer 750, running since August, was upgraded from a 350, coral and fish were moved but new rock and sand were used.
• Aquaforest AF Rock
• Caribsea Seaflor Special Grade
• Aquaforest Components 1,2 and 3 (dosing has been paused)
• Have doubled checked my RO water just encase that was causing an issue and its 0 tds
• Only a few pieces of coral, 4/5 small Mushrooms, small GPS frag and a very small Zoa garden
• I have moved my Alkatronic waste to a separate container rather than returning it to the tank.

I'm a little bit stumped, any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[hunterallen40]

Roughly two weeks ago my heater died and killed 95% of the coral in my tank.

This is probably why, but let's dig in a bit. Is this upward trend still ocurring (after pausing your dosing), or has it slowed / stopped?

The zoas, mushrooms, and GSP are all soft corals, so their comsumption of alkalinity is quite low...

Below is a screenshot from my Alkatronic, I have verified these results with both a Hanna checker and a Salifert test kit so I know its not just a case of false readings from my Alkatronic.

I can't really see the units here, so it's hard to see how much of an increase you have.

 

[arranms96]

This is probably why, but let's dig in a bit. Is this upward trend still ocurring (after pausing your dosing), or has it slowed / stopped?

The zoas, mushrooms, and GSP are all soft corals, so their comsumption of alkalinity is quite low...



I can't really see the units here, so it's hard to see how much of an increase you have.

Sorry I should have made the image clearer to understand, hopefully this makes more sense.

It's raised roughly .2 in the last 2 days, which doesn't sound like a lot but its raising very steadily and I'm worried it will keep raising!

 

[hunterallen40]

Sorry I should have made the image clearer to understand, hopefully this makes more sense.

It's raised roughly .2 in the last 2 days, which doesn't sound like a lot but its raising very steadily and I'm worried it will keep raising!

This is not really super concerning to me as it sits right now. I saw your readings in text, and they look pretty rock solid to me.

0.2 dkh is definitely within the relm of measurement error. Take hannah checker, for examlple: the stated accuracy is ±0.3dkh ±5% of the reading.

But, we can explore this a bit more if you're worried. Where is your calcium / magnesium sitting? If you were dosing 2-part, did you do so in a high flow area?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What is happening to nitrate in this time? Declining nitrate adds alk.

 

[arranms96]

What is happening to nitrate in this time? Declining nitrate adds alk.

This may actually be the cause, I have recently also increased my NoPox dosing, I didn't know that was even a possibility!

This is not really super concerning to me as it sits right now. I saw your readings in text, and they look pretty rock solid to me.

0.2 dkh is definitely within the relm of measurement error. Take hannah checker, for examlple: the stated accuracy is ±0.3dkh ±5% of the reading.

But, we can explore this a bit more if you're worried. Where is your calcium / magnesium sitting? If you were dosing 2-part, did you do so in a high flow area?

Cal and Mag are a little bit low, 400 and 1190