New Tank Low Nutrients, Alk Instability

[shimps1]

I recently set up my first tank since 2016. I remember back then it was all about keeping nutrients down. It's a 12 gallon all in one.

This tank first had water in it on 12/9, so it's about 8 weeks old. I used live sand, a couple live rock pieces from a local established tank, dry Marco rock, and Fritz TurboStart. I also have been dosing Hydrospace Prodibio and Deep Cycle.

I have a refugium with chaeto that does grow somewhat, but nothing crazy. I run filter floss, ChemiPure Blue, Maxspect Nano-Tech biospheres in the filter area.

Tank has some easy LPS (scans, button scolys, torches and hammers), as well as a couple montis and some zoathids. Two clown fish, sexy shrimp, small CUC and a cleaner shrimp.

I have been testing weekly, and after the cycle peaked at a nitrate of 10ppm or so, I can't keep any nutrients in this thing.

Current parameters:
1.025
79 degrees
7.9 pH
8 Alk
.3 ppm Nitrate
0.06 ppm phosphate
460 calcium
0 ammonia

All levels checked with Hannah checkers, except the ammonia was with API.

I have removed almost all of the chaeto, started feeding the fish and corals heavily.

I am in the middle of the diatom bloom, and hoping to get some algae growth going to get past this phase.

How can I keep Alk more stable, and how can I get more nutrients into this tank? I have a suspicion the Marco rock is sucking everything up, at what point will that end?

I have been doing 20% water changes every couple days to keep the tank close to acceptable alk levels.

 

[guntercb]

I would measure your alk daily and determine how much alk you need to add on a daily basis. I like BRS soda ash for my alk additive. Your 8 dkh for alk is a great target in my opinion. Sounds like you’re doing great. Keep it up.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

My experience with alk swings has always been tied to salinity swings due to my ato or in the past, my lack of one. Do you have an ATO and do you have salinity swings?

 

[shimps1]

I have an ATO on the tank.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

What are the ranges you are seeing for alk?

 

[shimps1]

What are the ranges you are seeing for alk?

I am using Aquaforest Reef Salt +, which mixes to about a 10 dkh. My tank is struggling to stay over 8. I did a 20% water change Wednesday night. Yesterday morning, it was 8.1, just now, it was 7.9. So dropping about 0.2 dkh per day, but there doesn't seem to be a floor, it just keeps dropping.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

An alk demand of 0.2 dKH per day is not unusual nor any big deal. Many things consume alk, such as binding to rock and sand, and the accumulation of nitrate.

8 dKH is perfectly fine.

7 dKH is perfectly fine. Even lower is fine.

Don't get tied up in trying to keep some random high alk number in a new tank.

Add a little baking soda if you want it higher.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

You could buy a BRS doser and dose all for reef to boost your alk. It was a game changer for me. Thus far, it keeps my parameters in perfect check. The hammer and torch will appreciate it!