Why is my alk drop so fast?

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by RHorton, Feb 8, 2009.

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  1. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    I have the two part and want to start using it but first I am trying to get my alk to stabilize,
    my mag is 1400
    cal is 450
    alk is 2.7
    I raise my alk to 3.6 then by the next day its back down to 2.7.
    is this normal?
     
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  3. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    Remember that Cal and Alk work against each other and Mag stablizes the two. Have you tested your Nh3 and No2 lately? Luna
     
  4. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    acually no, you mean ammonia and nitrites? I'll check them now.

    I did just check my No3's and finally after being 5 ppm they dropped to 0.
    Also I am adding almost half a gallon of ro/di water a day due to evap.
     
  5. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    Also, it depends on the dosing amount that you are using too. Are you dosing equally? Luna
     
  6. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    yes I am dosing 30m/l of each a day. something like .6 m/l per gallon.I just started it 2 days ago.
    I dosed this morning then about 5 hrs later I checked my alk and cal and it was at:
    cal 450
    alk 2.7.
     
  7. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    well my nitrites are .1 all I can figure is I just did a 15% wc and siphoned the crushed coral on the bottom which has caused a mini cycle.
     
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  9. Peredhil

    Peredhil Giant Squid

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    I added my first daily dose of the same thing today. It took me a week to get my numbers up and stable - after I initially added the first big dose to bring my numbers up it took it almost 5 days before they leveled out/showed a meaningful rise).

    My coral load is real light so I'm adding the .2ml/gallon in my top off water (3gallons of TOW at a time) more like every other day (currently takes about 2 days to need 3 gallons top off water) - still working on dialing it in.



    It is havoc on my skimmer. I had to raise the cup WAY up. hopefully the daily dose won't do the same thing. Keep an eye on that too.
     
  10. infamous

    infamous Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

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    You could try a buffer or a water change. Looks like you have improper ionic balance. Stop dosing calcium for a week and see if the alk. is still going down.
     
  11. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    I just checked my mag again, wow it's 1600 ,I screwed up somewhere in the testing before.
    I checked it twice and it is 1600.:(

    edit: ok its 1360, I had to use a different test tube due to the build up in the one I was originally using.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2009
  12. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    Get your Mag to 1500 and make sure your Cal is between 400-450. Then your Alk/Dkh should be between 8-12. Luna