Low Alk

[2Flash1]

I have a 220 DT mixed reef. I do a 45 gallon WC every 2 weeks. I use 90 mls A4R a day. The last week or so my Alk has been dropping. I’m at 5.3 usually I’m 6.8-7.2. I have been using A4R on this tank for 12 months.

What should I do?

Thanks for the advice

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

How are Ca and Mg?

 

[thelonereefer1]

Do you buy it in liquid or powder form? If consumption has increased then you would need to up the dose. Up the potency if mixing yourself and diluting or consider supplementing/switching to another additive. What type of tank do you run? What’s your corals like - qty and size? How fast did it drop? Have you confirmed the accuracy and it wasn’t a possible misread test result? Etc

 

[2Flash1]

Ca 419
Mag 1307

I usually buy 3-4 tubes at a time. I have been using A4R for over 3 yrs if not longer. In this current tank I have been using for 12 months. It’s a 220 DT Sump is 50 gallon
I have a mixed reef. Mainly Sps.
Attached are a few pics.

 

[thelonereefer1]

How fast did it drop? Did you confirm the accuracy of whatever method of testing you are using? And also retest to confirm that the consumption rate continued and not a random spike

 

[Bucrob]

Mags a little low, calcium could be higher but I wouldnt worry about that. Try upping the dose of all for reef. Just means your corals are growing.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Tank looks nice! Are you having any issues other than the number? Since Ca and Mg look good, you may need to just add an alkalinity part additive to bring it slowly up to maybe 8 or 9. Once it's in line with the others, increase AFR dosing to hold the relationship.

 

[2Flash1]

This is what I was thinking I’d have to add. Just some ALK! What would you recommend?

Nope tank is doing great the last month or so corals have been exploding!

 

[Bucrob]

This is what I was thinking I’d have to add. Just some ALK! What would you recommend?

Nope tank is doing great the last month or so corals have been exploding!

I personally use the red sea reef foundation B liquid form, but I also don't have much experience in the coral department as I had a FOWLR tank originally, just turned it into a reef a couple months ago.

 

[Idech]

This is what I was thinking I’d have to add. Just some ALK! What would you recommend?

Nope tank is doing great the last month or so corals have been exploding!

Baking soda is cheap and works well. Use Randy’s reef calculator for how much to dose but start with about half of what it says.

 

[painter1982]

If your Alk is dropping and you are using All for Reef then you most likely should increase dosage. I use it in my 130 and have to dose 135ml per day to maintain consistent alkalinity.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I use Randy's homemade alk recipe #1, part B (baked baking soda) because my pH was also a bit low. (If your pH is high, use his Recipe #2):

https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/threads/a-homemade-two-part-calcium-and-alkalinity-additive-system.150219/

Use this calculator to determine dosage:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

but add it over as many days as needed so you don't exceed a 0.5 dKh rise per day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Assuming the alk measure is correct, I personally think adding more AFR is the preferred way to go. Slowly ramp up the dose until alk stabilizes where you want it. Calcium and magnesium are not going to get too high doing that. You won't be able to detect the mag change, and calcium will only rise a small amount.

If you boost the alk with a buffer (which is fine) you have not solved the problem that the AFR is insufficient, and will have to keep doing so in the future.

 

[2Flash1]

Thanks Randy and All.

Last night I bumped up my doser 15 mls.