Water changes only increasing KH by 0.1

[Emma01]

Hi all.
I’ve done water changes over the course of a couple of days. Reason being, I usually keep my KH between 7.6-8.0. After adding corals I noticed that it started to go down to 7.0
When I’ve done 5L water changes (have 30 litre nano) the KH is only brought up to 7.1 from 7.0. (Ca= 380)
I’ve just recently changed to Redsea salt red bucket.
What is happening here?
I use Hanna checkers. Salt mixed at 25c 1026 salinity.
Should I dose up to 8.0 KH?
Anyone know?
Thanks
Emma.

 

[Mjrenz]

Hi all.
I’ve done water changes over the course of a couple of days. Reason being, I usually keep my KH between 7.6-8.0. After adding corals I noticed that it started to go down to 7.0
When I’ve done 5L water changes (have 30 litre nano) the KH is only brought up to 7.1 from 7.0. (Ca= 380)
I’ve just recently changed to Redsea salt red bucket.
What is happening here?
I use Hanna checkers. Salt mixed at 25c 1026 salinity.
Should I dose up to 8.0 KH?
Anyone know?
Thanks
Emma.

Your corals are consuming the alkalinity, you will need to start supplementing it. I use Kent marine superbuffer dkh and just mix it in with my top off water. As you add more coral and your existing coral gets bigger it will consume more. Just remember to make changes slowly

 

[Emma01]

Your corals are consuming the alkalinity, you will need to start supplementing it. I use Kent marine superbuffer dkh and just mix it in with my top off water. As you add more coral and your existing coral gets bigger it will consume more. Just remember to make changes slowly

Looks like I’ll have to start dosing
There’s only 3 SPS in there though and 1 Acan frag, as well as softies
They can consume this much KH?

Thanks
Emma

 

[Jamie Allbritton]

Looks like I’ll have to start dosing
There’s only 3 SPS in there though and 1 Acan frag, as well as softies
They can consume this much KH?

Thanks
Emma

Yes they can. What are all your water parameters?

 

[Emma01]

Yes they can. What are all your water parameters?

I’ll start this afternoon then
Ca-270-380
Ph-8.2
KH 7.1
Nitrates 5-10
Mg1230

 

[Tautog]

Start dosing 2-part, and watch Magnesium levels.
Do you have any Coraline ? It will consume a bunch.
Log all your testing, daily! And Log whatever you do, it’s been my biggest helper, and really a must to calculate consumption week after week..........think long term!

 

[Emma01]

Start dosing 2-part, and watch Magnesium levels.
Do you have any Coraline ? It will consume a bunch.
Log all your testing, daily! And Log whatever you do, it’s been my biggest helper, and really a must to calculate consumption week after week..........think long term!

I have no corraline algae (except for a very small amount on the powerhead)
I’ve been testing KH + Ca daily now for a week+
and I’m noticing that the KH is -ve 0.1/day and calcium -ve 10- 15ppm/day.

I’ve never used 2 part. But I’ve got the Redsea separate supplements (KH, Mg, Ca) which I’d prefer to use in equal parts (KH+CA), as I’d prefer more ‘control’ over the parameters. I will definitely be checking and dosing accordingly on a daily and weekly basis. I’ve not got this far (through all the absolute headaches!) to then get lazy and just dose ‘whatever’ and not test.
I’m surprised how much KH and Ca the tank has used since adding SPS corals about 3 weeks ago!
Ia it ok to use the separate solutions as opposed to 2-part??

Emma

 

[Mjrenz]

I have no corraline algae (except for a very small amount on the powerhead)
I’ve been testing KH + Ca daily now for a week+
and I’m noticing that the KH is -ve 0.1/day and calcium -ve 10- 15ppm/day.

I’ve never used 2 part. But I’ve got the Redsea separate supplements (KH, Mg, Ca) which I’d prefer to use in equal parts (KH+CA), as I’d prefer more ‘control’ over the parameters. I will definitely be checking and dosing accordingly on a daily and weekly basis. I’ve not got this far (through all the absolute headaches!) to then get lazy and just dose ‘whatever’ and not test.
I’m surprised how much KH and Ca the tank has used since adding SPS corals about 3 weeks ago!
Ia it ok to use the separate solutions as opposed to 2-part??

Emma

It should be fine, just make sure to test often but wait a while after dosing to test so you get accurate readings. If you get your magnesium up closer to 1400 your calcium should stay more stable as well.

 

[SDK]

Yes, two part is good as your calcium is very low as well....

With a tank that small I would also be doing a 10L water change weekly. One of the best parts of having a nano tank is you can simplify many other things by just doing larger regular water changes.

Dosing is good. Think of it as another step up the ladder of success. You only need to dose if your livestock is actually growing.

 

[SDK]

PS. KH of 7.1 is actually still OK, so bump it up slowly and keep it stable once you get to your desired reading.