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Showing results for tags 'alk low'.
Found 5 results
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Hey guys and gals, I have a 5 gallon pico (link is in my signature) and have noticed that the Alk has been running a little on the low end. Coral consist of softies, LPS and a couple SPS frags. I recently switched to Tropic Marin Pro Reef. My Alk is testing in around 6.5-7.0 after water changes, which is a little lower than TMPR mixes up to. (~7.7) I was using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals with great success, but this is supposed to mix up at a much higher Alk and the batch I recently mixed and tested is only hitting high 7s in Alk. I don't like the inconsistency I am seeing in this batch. I also realize that if I continued using Reef Crystals for my usual one gallon water change, and it is mixing up at advertised 13 alk, my tank would jump from 6.4 to over 8 in a single water change, which I think is too much. Two weeks ago, I tested the Alk daily using a Hanna checker and found about .1 Alk drop every two days. Below is the testing results I performed this past week after a water change; it looks like the tank is using up about .1 Dkh Alk daily. All tests were done with the salifert, and I used a hanna checker a bunch of the days as well. Freshly Mixed Tropic Marin Pro Reef Levels: Alk - 7.7 Cal - 425 Mag 1305 3/29 - After 25% Water Change (~1 Gallon) Alk - 6.8 Cal - 395 Mag 1245 3/30 - Alk - 6.7 Cal - 395 Mag 1260 3/31 - Alk - 6.5/6.6 Hanna Alk - 6.7 Cal - 395 Mag 1260 4/01 - Alk - 6.5 Hanna Alk - 6.4 Cal - 395 Mag 1275 4/02 - Alk - 6.4 Hanna Alk - 6.3 Cal - 385 Mag 1245 4/03 - Alk - 6.4. Hanna Alk - 6.2 Cal - 395 Mag 1245 4/04 - After 25% Water Change (~1 Gallon) Alk - 6.55. Hanna Alk - 6.7 Cal - 395 Mag 1305 I don't think that water changes will keep up with this drop since after a water change I am still below 7 Dkh. My question is, should I be dosing this tank or just perform larger water changes to keep up with the demand? I already have the ESV B-Ionic two part system, so if I am dosing I will be using that. If so, should I be performing a couple larger water changes first to get parameters closer to what my salt mixes up to? Any advice or experience dosing such a small tank would be really great. Thanks!
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Hello, I'm struggling to understand the relationship between alkalinity and calcium levels in my tank. I’ve read a ton about it but I’m still confused. I have a high level of calcium (500) and low alkalinity (7) I’m not sure how to address this. I have B-Ionic calcium buffer system with component 1 alkalinity and component 2 calcium but I’ve never used it. Can someone help me out? Specifically can you tell me what you would do in my situation. I have a 13.5 gallon fluval evo tank. I also have a protein skimmer attached For coral I have some mushrooms and Xenia, a pink birds nest coral, zoas, and some leather corals. Additionally I have a coco worm (hard tube feather duster), a clownfish, 2 cardinalfish, and one tiny goby.
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I am wondering why my tank would have low alkalinity but normal calcium levels? My alkalinity is currently 6.5 and my calcium is 440. What’s the best way to fix this? Water changes? I’ve been reading about calcium and alkalinity online but I’m still somewhat confused with their relationship and so I’m not sure how to address this issue.
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Low alkalinity, what does this mean and what should I do?
Hannahhhh posted a topic in Water Chemistry
I have a pretty new tank and my alkalinity is low. I’m new to the hoby and I’m struggling to understand what exactly this means, why it happened, and how to fix it. Can you guys help me out? If you don’t have time to explain stuff, I would be thankful if you could include a link to a good explaination. The stuff I’m reading online just has me more confused. Temp: 80.2 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: ~15 Alkalinity: 6.5 dKH (0.5dKH resolution) pH: 8.2 I have a fluval evo 13.5 and a MAME design protein skimmer. I have a tiny clownfish and a small cardinalfish. One Mexican turbo snail, a few hermit crabs, and a pom pom crab. I also have a small Xenia and a small spotted mushroom coral. -
Alk really low Mg and CA high after one day after water -PLEASE ADVICE
Laurenscube posted a topic in Water Chemistry
Hi I hope someone can help me, I have: 12 gal nano tank Carbon and phosphate bag Nano ehiem surface skimmer Ai prime hd Light Xiena, Green star polyps, Button polyps, Recently added 2 montiporas, hammerhead, mushrooms Weekly 10 % water changes with Red sea coral pro Rarely supplement when needed ( normally when alk is seriously low) Attached photo of my water parameters - Alk seems to be swinging and magnesium - Cant understand whats going on. Really need some advice as dont know what to do and have a chalice coming next week. Recently added Also please have a look at my montipora seems like there are polyps on the far right - not sure if this means only that part is healthy ? also seems like the frag is smothered in purple coraline algae ...? Unsure if its doing well i think its very slowly growing PLEASE HELP Happy to upgrade my system to help solve for example start using 2 part etc etc
