SRQreefer
Community Member
Hey fellow reefers:
Although I've been in the hobby for over a decade, I am now, for the first time, starting a new tank from scratch (check my build thread!). All of my previous tanks (and tank upgrades) were "up and running" beforehand.
I am about three weeks into the cycling process, which I accelerated early on with Dr. Tim's. While everything seems to be going great with the ammonia/nitrate cycle, I am having real trouble maintaining consistent alkalinity and calcium levels. I've been buffering to around 8.5 - 9.0, only to see it drop 2.0 points over the following 48 hours. (For example, on Sunday at 12:37, I had alk at 8.54; now its at 6.7, where it seems to stabilize). During the drop periods, I am dosing about 55 ml of Foundation B daily and using Seachem Reef Buffer for the "big moves". I've watched this alk drop cycle happen several times over the past couple of weeks.
Although my calcium is, relatively speaking, a lot more stable, there is nothing in the tank except a ton of dry rock structure and live sand, and I'm having a heck of a time keeping the calcium level above the 350s, even with daily Foundation A dosing in the 40 ml range.
Is this normal? I've read plenty of threads that say I should not be chasing numbers at this stage, but I'm not sure if I should continue trying to push up alk at the same frequency, or if I should just let it roll for a bit?
My PH moves between 8.4 and 8.5, my temp is consistently 78 - 79, and my magnesium is a pretty consistent 1319. I am using an Apex and Trident (recently calibrated and accurate) for measurements. I haven't done a water change yet.
Any and all help is much appreciated.
Thanks!
Although I've been in the hobby for over a decade, I am now, for the first time, starting a new tank from scratch (check my build thread!). All of my previous tanks (and tank upgrades) were "up and running" beforehand.
I am about three weeks into the cycling process, which I accelerated early on with Dr. Tim's. While everything seems to be going great with the ammonia/nitrate cycle, I am having real trouble maintaining consistent alkalinity and calcium levels. I've been buffering to around 8.5 - 9.0, only to see it drop 2.0 points over the following 48 hours. (For example, on Sunday at 12:37, I had alk at 8.54; now its at 6.7, where it seems to stabilize). During the drop periods, I am dosing about 55 ml of Foundation B daily and using Seachem Reef Buffer for the "big moves". I've watched this alk drop cycle happen several times over the past couple of weeks.
Although my calcium is, relatively speaking, a lot more stable, there is nothing in the tank except a ton of dry rock structure and live sand, and I'm having a heck of a time keeping the calcium level above the 350s, even with daily Foundation A dosing in the 40 ml range.
Is this normal? I've read plenty of threads that say I should not be chasing numbers at this stage, but I'm not sure if I should continue trying to push up alk at the same frequency, or if I should just let it roll for a bit?
My PH moves between 8.4 and 8.5, my temp is consistently 78 - 79, and my magnesium is a pretty consistent 1319. I am using an Apex and Trident (recently calibrated and accurate) for measurements. I haven't done a water change yet.
Any and all help is much appreciated.
Thanks!
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