Low alkaline

[Hannahmunt]

I’ve noticed my alkaline has been getting lower each day, past three days I have been adding 10ml of tropic Marin all-for-reef but still the alkaline readings are low or getting lower.

I only have soft corals as I’m new to marine keeping.

Here are my parameters from tonight:

nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Phosphate: 0.03
Alkaline: 6.3 was 7.7 yesterday
Ammonia: 0.15
Ph: 8.3

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve noticed my alkaline has been getting lower each day, past three days I have been adding 10ml of tropic Marin all-for-reef but still the alkaline readings are low or getting lower.

I only have soft corals as I’m new to marine keeping.

Here are my parameters from tonight:

nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Phosphate: 0.03
Alkaline: 6.3 was 7.7 yesterday
Ammonia: 0.15
Ph: 8.3

Check calcium as they work hand in hand

 

[gbroadbridge]

I’ve noticed my alkaline has been getting lower each day, past three days I have been adding 10ml of tropic Marin all-for-reef but still the alkaline readings are low or getting lower.

I only have soft corals as I’m new to marine keeping.

Here are my parameters from tonight:

nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Phosphate: 0.03
Alkaline: 6.3 was 7.7 yesterday
Ammonia: 0.15
Ph: 8.3

What kit are you using to test your Alkalinity?

A tank with soft corals is unlikly to drop that fast, so I'm assuming you have a testing error.
Have you tried doing the test again?

 

[nereefpat]

Is the tank cycling? Or really new?

 

[Totroc3]

In my experience with All For Reef, I need to use much more than the initial recommended amount but you have to go quite slow with increases. It took me several weeks to dial it in. I’ve now used it for about 8 months and the results are incredible. I now run it on all my tanks. My situation is different thought because I have mixed reefs. Just be patient.

 

[Rmckoy]

I’ve noticed my alkaline has been getting lower each day, past three days I have been adding 10ml of tropic Marin all-for-reef but still the alkaline readings are low or getting lower.

I only have soft corals as I’m new to marine keeping.

Here are my parameters from tonight:

nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Phosphate: 0.03
Alkaline: 6.3 was 7.7 yesterday
Ammonia: 0.15
Ph: 8.3

What’s your salinity level ?
How are you dosing alkalinity ?
It should be dosed slow or dripped to avoid precipitation . This is also why I asked what your salinity level is ?

while you’re at it , my as well test magnesium as they all depend on the other for balance .
As for consumption . Do you have any coralline algae ?

I would want to believe testing error compared to such a high rate of consumption

 

[Hannahmunt]

What kit are you using to test your Alkalinity?

A tank with soft corals is unlikly to drop that fast, so I'm assuming you have a testing error.
Have you tried doing the test again?

I’m using the hanna test

 

[Hannahmunt]

What’s your salinity level ?
How are you dosing alkalinity ?
It should be dosed slow or dripped to avoid precipitation . This is also why I asked what your salinity level is ?

while you’re at it , my as well test magnesium as they all depend on the other for balance .
As for consumption . Do you have any coralline algae ?

I would want to believe testing error compared to such a high rate of consumption

Salinity is 1025

I’m adding 10ml of all reef every morning.

I don’t have a magnesium test kit, will pick one up at the weekend.

I have some coralline algae on the live rock I bought a few weeks ago. I believe I’m still going through the ugly stage. My tank is cycled.

 

[Hannahmunt]

Is the tank cycling? Or really new?

Tank is just over a month old. I used colony when i set up, which apparently cycles the tank within three days

 

[Hannahmunt]

In my experience with All For Reef, I need to use much more than the initial recommended amount but you have to go quite slow with increases. It took me several weeks to dial it in. I’ve now used it for about 8 months and the results are incredible. I now run it on all my tanks. My situation is different thought because I have mixed reefs. Just be patient.

My corals are all soft. I’ve been adding 10ml a day although it says I should add 6ml. Maybe I’ll stick to 6ml and over the coming weeks increase

 

[gbroadbridge]

I’m using the hanna test

Your namesake :-)

I'd still run the test again as those testers are prone to error if the test cuvette is not super clean with no air bubbles inside. If you get the same result, test again in 3 days and see if it's still dropping.

It's not a good idea to make changes to dosing based on the outcome of a single test because you can end up going in circles. You're looking for a trend over time...

 

[Rmckoy]

Salinity is 1025

I’m adding 10ml of all reef every morning.

I don’t have a magnesium test kit, will pick one up at the weekend.

I have some coralline algae on the live rock I bought a few weeks ago. I believe I’m still going through the ugly stage. My tank is cycled.

Some additives are not as concentrated and could take extra to noticeably increase .
Don’t get caught in the chasing numbers and focus more on stability .
If the coralline algae is growing it will consume both alkalinity and calcium but the rate can vary depending on how much and how fast it grows .
Hope this helped