Can't seem to keep my alk stable

[kschweer]

Hey guys. As the title states I can't for the life of me keep my alk stable. All other parameters fall in line. PH is 8.2 cal is 420 and mag is at 1200. I do weekly water changes and my water change water mixes to 9 dkh. I also dose brightwells code A and B. I am experiencing low alk no matter what I do. It's getting as low as 5 dkh in a matter of a day and I'm starting to get pretty frustrated.

Some other info about my tank. It's a 30g deep blue frag tank with a 15g sump. I estimate the total water volume to be about 40g. Reef octopus nwb-110 skimmer, BRS carbon reactor with rox carbon and a small amount of biopellets. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am at a total loss. Thanks in advance guys

 

[mnat]

First off have you tried different sources to test your alk?

How do your corals look?

 

[kschweer]

I have tried 2 different test kits. My SPS corals are not happy and my LPS and zoas are doing fine.

 

[kschweer]

I'm thinking it may be time to install some dosing pumps or maybe a calcium reactor.

 

[dirtycontour]

My guess would be the biopellets. The extra bacteria could be driving your alk down. I'm no chemist...just a thought.

 

[kschweer]

My guess would be the biopellets. The extra bacteria could be driving your alk down. I'm no chemist...just a thought.

I think that may have something to do with it. Im thinking about taking them offline. I'm only running just about half of the recommended dose.

 

[dirtycontour]

Another thought, is there any hidden detritus in the rocks, substrate, etc.?

 

[kschweer]

Another thought, is there any hidden detritus in the rocks, substrate, etc.?

The tank is bare bottom with a small amount of sand and rubble rock in the refugium.

 

[mnat]

How much of the two part do you dose? Have you tested daily at around the same time to see what your drop off is?

 

[kschweer]

I have been testing every night and the drop isn't very consistent. Some days it's drops from 9 dkh to 5dkh and others its 9 dkh to 7 dkh

 

[Hawkeye]

i hate almost all the alk test kits on the market. The one I love the most is LaMotte and it is pricey.

SO in a nutshell - either your testing is off, or your alk is off. If it's the former - consider getting a new kit. If the latter - there are a variety of items to consider -kalk reactor, calcium reactor etc. But let's confirm the test. Have you thought to bring some of the water to an LFS to confirm maybe?

 

[mnat]

So when you dose the A and B are you dosing them equally or staggering them. That is a big drop off of 2 or even 4 dkh a day.

 

[kschweer]

i hate almost all the alk test kits on the market. The one I love the most is LaMotte and it is pricey.

SO in a nutshell - either your testing is off, or your alk is off. If it's the former - consider getting a new kit. If the latter - there are a variety of items to consider -kalk reactor, calcium reactor etc. But let's confirm the test. Have you thought to bring some of the water to an LFS to confirm maybe?

I have thought about bringing some water to a lfs but the ones around me aren't the greatest.

 

[kschweer]

So when you dose the A and B are you dosing them equally or staggering them. That is a big drop off of 2 or even 4 dkh a day.

I dose more if the alk then of the cal.

 

[mnat]

When you dose them how do you dose them and how far apart do you dose them? Also does it raise your alk at all when you dose?

 

[kschweer]

I dose either into my overflow or into the sump as usually wait about 5-10 minutes in between. It brings it back to normal but drops very quickly.

 

[mnat]

I have a ton of BRS two part if you want to try something different. Maybe the bw stuff is old? It sounds like you are dosing correctly and testing correctly. Maybe switch what you are dosing and try it that way?

 

[kschweer]

Sounds like a plan mike. Thank you. I have some aquavitro additives that I may try switching to.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Do you have a clam or clams?


How much alk and calc are you dosing?


And your mag is a touch on the low side.


And as far as the chemistry of the alk portion, it is either sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate. It is very stable and accordingly will last forever. So it doesn't "go bad."

 

[kschweer]

Paul, I do not have any clams and I am dosing 10 code a and 12 ml code b.