Super low ALK after ICP

[Grassy_Nole]

So, I just received my ATI results back and I am surprised at how low my ALK is.....4.17!

Not good. So, with that, what this the best way to recover from such low ALK? Surprised I am able to keep any SPS with that number honestly. This would also explain my low PH as well.

Thanks!!

 

[Brew12]

So, I just received my ATI results back and I am surprised at how low my ALK is.....4.17!

Not good. So, with that, what this the best way to recover from such low ALK? Surprised I am able to keep any SPS with that number honestly. This would also explain my low PH as well.

Thanks!!

Do you have a test kit that you use to check alk? If so, what does it read?

 

[madweazl]

So, I just received my ATI results back and I am surprised at how low my ALK is.....4.17!

Not good. So, with that, what this the best way to recover from such low ALK? Surprised I am able to keep any SPS with that number honestly. This would also explain my low PH as well.

Thanks!!

Can you share your ICP results?

 

[McPikie]

You can bump up alk by 1dkh per day safety to your desired level.

 

[Grassy_Nole]

Do you have a test kit that you use to check alk? If so, what does it read?

Just checked, and the Hanna is reading 4.3

 

[Grassy_Nole]

Can you share your ICP results?

https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/publicAnalysis/30624

There is the link to the results.

 

[Brew12]

Just checked, and the Hanna is reading 4.3

I would start raising it by doing more water changes. If you can't keep up doing that, I would do either Kalkwasser or a form of 2-part dosing.

 

[Grassy_Nole]

I would start raising it by doing more water changes. If you can't keep up doing that, I would do either Kalkwasser or a form of 2-part dosing.

Crazy thing is, I have a kalk stirrer currently hooked up to my ATO. I am going to start ATI essentials and have it mixed. Should I get my ALK correct before starting ATI?

 

[KrisReef]

I would consider adding baking soda to your top off water, and doing some small water changes to address the other trace elements imbalances at the same time as raising alk.

 

[Brew12]

Crazy thing is, I have a kalk stirrer currently hooked up to my ATO. I am going to start ATI essentials and have it mixed. Should I get my ALK correct before starting ATI?

I would do some water changes to try and bring it up slowly. You can start using the essentials to supplement it. I wouldn't raise it by more than 1dkh per day.

 

[madweazl]

https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/publicAnalysis/30624

There is the link to the results.

Are you adding a calcium supplement? If not, what salt are you using. Some larger water changes (50% range depending on salt mix) would be your best bet in my opinion as you have a number of items undetectable (also largely unknown how valuable most of them are).

 

[Grassy_Nole]

Are you adding a calcium supplement? If not, what salt are you using. Some larger water changes (50% range depending on salt mix) would be your best bet in my opinion as you have a number of items undetectable (also largely unknown how valuable most of them are).

Have been using Fritz Pro but just went back to IO. I just picked up some soda ash. Recommend water changes over that?

Not adding a thing other than Kalk via stirrer/ato

 

[madweazl]

Have been using Fritz Pro but just went back to IO. I just picked up some soda ash. Recommend water changes over that?

Not adding a thing other than Kalk via stirrer/ato

The only thing I'd be concerned with is the alkalinity; are you comfortable using something like muriatic acid to lower the alkalinity levels of the freshly mixed IO? How big is the tank?

 

[Grassy_Nole]

The only thing I'd be concerned with is the alkalinity; are you comfortable using something like muriatic acid to lower the alkalinity levels of the freshly mixed IO? How big is the tank?

Tank is 150g

I’ve got some acid on the shelf. Why would I want to lower?

Thanks for the help

 

[madweazl]

Tank is 150g

I’ve got some acid on the shelf. Why would I want to lower?

Thanks for the help

It is going to mix up at approx 10.5-11 dKh; if you did a 50% water change, you'd increase the alkalinity higher than generally accepted as a safe margin (most recommend about 1 dKh per day though there isnt any concrete evidence to support it). If you dropped the freshly mixed water down to around 7.0 you'd have a minor effect on the alkalinity but a pretty good bump to the rest of the macro/micro elements. You could follow this up a week later with another of similar size and your water should be in pretty good shape at that point (from an ICP analysis standpoint). After that (or slowly during), you could start to dial the alkalinity into a range you desire; I typically keep it at 7.0 but just got back home from a 10 day work trip and it's 5.9 dKh.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It is going to mix up at approx 10.5-11 dKh; if you did a 50% water change, you'd increase the alkalinity higher than generally accepted as a safe margin (most recommend about 1 dKh per day though there isnt any concrete evidence to support it). If you dropped the freshly mixed water down to around 7.0 you'd have a minor effect on the alkalinity but a pretty good bump to the rest of the macro/micro elements. You could follow this up a week later with another of similar size and your water should be in pretty good shape at that point (from an ICP analysis standpoint). After that (or slowly during), you could start to dial the alkalinity into a range you desire; I typically keep it at 7.0 but just got back home from a 10 day work trip and it's 5.9 dKh.

Why would you want to do a change that large in this situation?

 

[madweazl]

Why would you want to do a change that large in this situation?

Smaller changes wont be effective to increase the other elements that are depleted. I don't understand why you'd do anything less if you're trying to get everything back to square one.