New tank parameters with low Alk

[bristleworm]

New tank 6 weeks running fully cycled. Animals doing well:
1 tailspot blenny
6 small blue legged crabs
2 zoa patches
1 fireworks clover poylp
1 small green leather
2 Duncans

Water parameters
Ammonia 0.02
Nitrate 6.8
Phosphate 0.04
Alk 6.2
pH 8.15
salinity 1.0257

Using Red Sea blue bucket mixed with 0 tds RODI water
Did a water change last Sunday

My Alk has never been above 7 even on the first fill up. The highest I've ever tested it was 6.6.

Do I:
1. Leave it alone let the tank mature more
2. Gradually switch over to Red Sea Pro
3. Something else.

I really want to keep this tank simple and don't want to dose anything if I don't have to.

 

[get-salty]

Water parameters
Ammonia 0.02
Nitrate 6.8
Phosphate 0.04
Alk 6.2
pH 8.15
salinity 1.0257


What test kit are you using?

 

[bristleworm]

Water parameters
Ammonia 0.02
Nitrate 6.8
Phosphate 0.04
Alk 6.2
pH 8.15
salinity 1.0257


What test kit are you using?

Hanna checkers for everything but pH. pH is Salifert. Salinity is TM hydrometer.

 

[get-salty]

Hanna checkers for everything but pH. pH is Salifert. Salinity is TM hydrometer.

gotcha.. I use blue bucket as well
Are you testing during your mix? Not when its already in the tank

 

[bristleworm]

gotcha.. I use blue bucket as well
Are you testing during your mix? Not when its already in the tank

Testing from the tank. Im going to test the mix bucket shortly.

 

[bristleworm]

Tested mixing barrel
Alk is dead on at 8.0

 

[get-salty]

Tested mixing barrel
Alk is dead on at 8.0

Thats bout right right after the mix. I get 7.8-8
How big is your tank?

 

[bristleworm]

Tank is 25 gal IM Lagoon.
It was started with mostly dry rock but added some Gulf Live Sand and some rubble rock.

 

[bristleworm]

Ok update,
I stopped by the LRS.

They said my Alk is low because my Duncans are sucking it up!
I have two Duncan heads that look pretty healthy and are a nice bright green.
I questioned it and asked can two duncan heads really suck up that much alkalinity and both the guys there said ABSOLUTELY!

They sold me some Red Sea Alkalinity B(premixed) and said manually dose 5ml today, and measure tomorrow. If it's still at 6.2 they used it all.
They said to keep increasing by small amounts until you reach 8 or whatever value I want. Then drop back down to 5ml. daily. If it starts dropping increase the daily 5ml in small amounts until you get a stable value or what I want.

I'm holding off to see what R2R Pros say before going down this rabbit hole.
I'm a beginner and this scares the poo out of me for some reason!