Alkalinity Dropping...

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:34 pm

Alright, I know Alk usually drops before Ca, but this is nuts, I can't seem to get my Alkalinity up and keep it up. For the last couple of weeks I have quit dosing the 2-part, and just adding alkalinity buffer. It was 3 dKH tonight.. Sheeeit! Ca is around 460.

My ph is pretty high I'm sure, from trying to keep up with it, so I don't know what to do to get it back up and keep it up. Is there a good alkalinity supplement that will not affect ph?

Everything seems to be doing fine, lots of corraline growth, frags are growing, etc... , but I know I need to get my Alkalinity back up there.

Probably time for a calcium reactor

Phisher · Post by **Phisher** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:40 pm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Good article. I use ReefBuilder by Seachem to raise alk without effecting Ca or ph much.

Joe

tbmoore · Post by **tbmoore** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:54 pm

I have used the reefbuilder also and it worked but very pricey.....I still use it to balance my water before my reactor takes over....The reactor in the long run is the cheapest way to go and more stable.....I think you are right when you said it was about time....any tank of 100gal or higher should be run with a reactor not only for stability but money...

Jahdiel · Post by **Jahdiel** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 10:19 pm

tbmoore wrote:I have used the reefbuilder also and it worked but very pricey.....I still use it to balance my water before my reactor takes over....The reactor in the long run is the cheapest way to go and more stable.....I think you are right when you said it was about time....any tank of 100gal or higher should be run with a reactor not only for stability but money...

That is interesting I did not think it was more benifical even with the $s.
I too battle with PH and ALK. My PH is always low, and to bump it up usually reqires the Alk going up, well the alk is up enough. so leaves you in a quandry.

tbmoore · Post by **tbmoore** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 10:32 pm

If your alk and cal is balanced then your ph will get in line and not bounce...A reactor puts in equal amounts of both chem that is needed to keep in line after the water is balanced. Then all you have to do is adjust the amount to keep it at the level you desire.

Here is a balancing table.
Alk/ dKH/ Calcium
0.00 0.00 360
0.50 1.40 370
1.00 2.80 380
1.50 4.20 390
2.00 5.60 400
2.50 7.00 410
3.00 8.40 420 (Near sea water)
3.50 9.80 430 (My average)
4.00 11.20 440 (My goal)
4.50 12.60 450
5.00 14.00 460
5.50 15.40 470
6.00 16.80 480 (My goal for my frag tank)
6.50 18.20 490
7.00 19.60 500
end of added info

Xster · Post by **Xster** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 1:12 am

Check your magnesium level, might be the cause of the unbalance.

tbmoore · Post by **tbmoore** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:35 am

xster is alive

KrazyPlace · Post by **KrazyPlace** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:01 am

Try someone else's test kit. Just a thought, but if you've had it for a while, it might not be as accurate as you think!

tbmoore · Post by **tbmoore** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:16 am

Salifert test kits are recomended.....

Xster · Post by **Xster** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 7:24 am

tbmoore wrote:xster is alive

Alive but not well.......

P.S. Purple Moster and California Tort are sold to a fellow reefer in New Orleans. Kinda broke even on the deal.

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 7:29 am

Just got in a new salifert test kit yesterday. retested after adding buffer, it showed a little higher , but is still too low. I thought of the magnesium, but, Mg is around 1500, as of testing yesterday. I'll order a new ph test kit also, just to see if the kit is reading too high.

Gonna order the seachem stuff, maybe I'll have better luck with that than the kent.

ps: my ph is always high

tbmoore · Post by **tbmoore** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 7:47 am

wish you would have told me about the tort....