Low Alkalinity in empty tank

fishnoob~noclue

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Hi folks, undertaking tests and the alkalinity has dropped in a week.

Last week it was 10 dkh now testing at 6dkh, there is nothing in the tank that should absorb the alk.

My ammonia is at 0.1, nitrate 2ppm and nitrite 0.

I thought dinos were present so did a blackout for 4 days in the week.

Any help would be appreciated .
 

gbroadbridge

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Hi folks, undertaking tests and the alkalinity has dropped in a week.

Last week it was 10 dkh now testing at 6dkh, there is nothing in the tank that should absorb the alk.

My ammonia is at 0.1, nitrate 2ppm and nitrite 0.

I thought dinos were present so did a blackout for 4 days in the week.

Any help would be appreciated .
How are you checking salinity?

Which test kit are you using for Alk?
 
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fishnoob~noclue

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When you say there’s nothing in the tank that should use alk, what does that mean? There are many ways that alk is consumed.
Useful information my man, I have a couple of rocks, leather corals, some sorry zoas and a Halloween hermit crab.

Just wanted to make sure the tank was safe before relocating some fish to their new home.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Any coralline algae? It can be the main user in many tanks.

Leather corals can consume calcium and alk to make their internal spicules.

Rising nitrate consumes alk.

Simple abiotic precipitation if calcium carbonate consumes alk and calcium, even in a bucket of new salt water.
 
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fishnoob~noclue

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Any coralline algae? It can be the main user in many tanks.

Leather corals can consume calcium and alk to make their internal spicules.

Rising nitrate consumes alk.

Simple abiotic precipitation if calcium carbonate consumes alk and calcium, even in a bucket of new salt water.
Thanks mate, had no idea about the leather corals.
 

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