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KH dropping during fishless cycle?


burtbollinger

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burtbollinger

Dosed the new tank with Ammonia and Bacteria supplied at LFS...watching the Ammonia level slowly drop from @ 4 to about 3 today. Noticing that during that time (@ 4 days), the KH has dropped from 11.2 to 9.2. (Hanna Kh Checker)

 

1.026 using Red Sea Coral Pro. Have not done water change and wont be until cycle complete.

 

Is this normal?

 

Also, I'm reading high levels of Nitrite and Nitrate already.

 

(using unknown KH top RO/DI top off water with normal levels of evaporation...)

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Yep......

 

Alk, which is either sodium bicarb (baking soda) or sodium carbonate (soda ash or heated baking soda) is the prime source of carbon building blocks in reef tanks. Bacteria and other primal organisms use up alk rapidly as their colonies increase.

 

You may see alk also dive before periods of algae blooms or during cyano outbreaks as well. Totally normal with new tanks. I wouldn't let it go below 7. Anything higher ride it out until you do a water change. It will stabilize just as fast.

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Yes, during the new stages of the tank your parameters will often fluctuate.

 

Its ok for alk to be 9. Its actually a good number. 11 is on the higher side and as it gets higher problems can occur.

 

Don't let it drop below 7.

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burtbollinger

the 11.2 is due to the Red Sea Coral Pro mixed to @ 1.026..it sounds like if I'm going to use this salt, thats about where I'll need to be maintaining the Kh. Planning on running a low starter dosage of Kalk via the Tunze Calcium Reactor inside my Tunze's ATO bucket.

 

Also, basic question...but would you rather 1.025 or 1.026?

 

Curious your opinion on the RSCP. Obviously, don't wanna be any higher than this.

 

Having a salt mix with a Kh this high is new to me...coming from using Tropic Marin Pro which I swear was having a Kh @ 6-7. Using the RSCP after reading mostly positives.

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I use rscp my alk is 9. I mix mine to 1.025

 

I was using reef crystals but the parameters were inconsistent. My mag was ridiculously low and anywhere between 1040-1140. I dosed but as soon as i did a water change, it dropped. Quite a waste of dosing and testing.

 

My mag being so low was causing issues with getting my ca and alk in a good balance.

 

 

I find my corals ar better with alk at 9 rather than when they were at 7. Same with magnesium being in ormsl ranges now

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