Why does my alkalinity keep dropping?

StrombusEyes

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New reefer here. Had a mixed tank set up 3 months ago. It’s a 100L all in one ocean free Marine. Up until a month ago my parameters were stable with alkalinity at 8.0. For the past few weeks I can’t keep the alkalinity above 6. The only changes I’ve made in this period is feeding more often (frozen food 3x day). I have noticed an increase in coralline algae but really small amounts on the glass. The phosphate has dropped in this period but calcium and magnesium remain in the normal range. My corals haven’t really grown, sps was only added a month ago and has not grown so I don’t think it’s consuming anything. The nitrate has also dropped to 0 in this period.
I do once weekly 15% water changes
I tried adding alkalinity solution which increased it temporarily to 7.2 but it dropped to 6 the following day.
Can anyone shed light on what is using the alkalinity?
Also if I need to supplement- wouldn’t daily dosing keep swinging the alk around?

Have attached photo of my tank and spreadsheet of my readings
20260730_124441_39A6C26F-A4B9-4409-86FE-CD4687312287.png
 
Last edited:
20260730_131859_063D4C0A-C98D-42B7-9C16-DD0C03DEB370.png


New reefer here. Had a mixed tank set up 3 months ago. It’s a 100L all in one ocean free Marine. Up until a month ago my parameters were stable with alkalinity at 8.0. For the past few weeks I can’t keep the alkalinity above 6. The only changes I’ve made in this period is feeding more often (frozen food 3x day). I have noticed an increase in coralline algae but really small amounts on the glass. The phosphate has dropped in this period but calcium and magnesium remain in the normal range. My corals haven’t really grown, sps was only added a month ago and has not grown so I don’t think it’s consuming anything. The nitrate has also dropped to 0 in this period.
I do once weekly 15% water changes
I tried adding alkalinity solution which increased it temporarily to 7.2 but it dropped to 6 the following day.
Can anyone shed light on what is using the alkalinity?
Also if I need to supplement- wouldn’t daily dosing keep swinging the alk around?

Have attached photo of my tank and spreadsheet of my readings
20260730_124441_39A6C26F-A4B9-4409-86FE-CD4687312287.png
You may have an alk demand due to binding or consumption. Best bet is to measure the daily drop with a good test kit and start dosing. You can put your doser on a timer to dose small amounts every half hour to negate any swings.
Some all in one dosers have the timer built in. I use BRS dosers on kasa power strips and use the timer function through the app.
 

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