I am having a problem with low Alkalinity as well as low nitrates. My tank is about 90 gal total with the sump included. It has been running for about 11/2 years. It is bare bottom and started with dry rock . I didn’t have allot of corals after it had cycled and until recently did not have to dose , just 10 gal biweekly water changes. Earlier this summer I added a number of frags and noticed they did not seem to be doing that well. Upon further testing I noticed nitrates were at zero ( Hanna checker). Along with that my alk hovered around 6. I started dosing Aqua Forest 123 at 26 ml per day . In addition, I started to dose potassium nitrate at 5 ml per day. I have now slowly increased the dosing but now have the following test numbers.
alk 6.3 - dosing 30 ml of soda ash
calcium over 500 -Aquaforest comp 1
mag 1500 - Aquaforest comp 3
nitrate 0.0- Hanna meter
phosphate .04 Hanna meter
temp 78
ph 7.8
Salt instant ocean
I know the levels are out of balance. I have stopped dosing the calcium and mg. Dosing a total of 56 ml alk, 30 ml of potassium nitrate. I still am having problems raising the levels ? I know the balling method wants you to dose equal portions but that seems to put some levels really high and small effect on alk. The corals do look a little better in color now but levels are not where I want them. Any hints and directions would be appreciated. I am at a loss with this tank. I have been in the hobby for over 20 years and this tank is sure testing me lol!
alk 6.3 - dosing 30 ml of soda ash
calcium over 500 -Aquaforest comp 1
mag 1500 - Aquaforest comp 3
nitrate 0.0- Hanna meter
phosphate .04 Hanna meter
temp 78
ph 7.8
Salt instant ocean
I know the levels are out of balance. I have stopped dosing the calcium and mg. Dosing a total of 56 ml alk, 30 ml of potassium nitrate. I still am having problems raising the levels ? I know the balling method wants you to dose equal portions but that seems to put some levels really high and small effect on alk. The corals do look a little better in color now but levels are not where I want them. Any hints and directions would be appreciated. I am at a loss with this tank. I have been in the hobby for over 20 years and this tank is sure testing me lol!