Levels fluctuating

[tang daddy]

While ca is not bad to bump up quickly, I think long term you gotta figure out what your tank consumes weekly then adjust accordingly. I admit when I was setting up my doser Param's bounced quite abit as ca was low and same as mg,
But once my alk stabilized I've been testing weekly and it's rock solid for months.

I had lots of po4 built up in my tank which slowed the growth of sps and coraline, this played a big impact on how much of the big 3 gets consumed especially alk. Our tanks is a constant adjustment, this is what makes it fun. If there was nothing to tinker with one could get bored....

If you're testing a lot you must be going through test kits. Like Gary said if you can afford to or see one come up Fs in your area get the Hanna for phosporous and alk, I find them to be a lot more accurate.

Do you use a measuring cup or digital scale to measure the bulk Chems?

[iceman86]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

While ca is not bad to bump up quickly, I think long term you gotta figure out what your tank consumes weekly then adjust accordingly. I admit when I was setting up my doser Param's bounced quite abit as ca was low and same as mg,
But once my alk stabilized I've been testing weekly and it's rock solid for months.

I had lots of po4 built up in my tank which slowed the growth of sps and coraline, this played a big impact on how much of the big 3 gets consumed especially alk. Our tanks is a constant adjustment, this is what makes it fun. If there was nothing to tinker with one could get bored....

If you're testing a lot you must be going through test kits. Like Gary said if you can afford to or see one come up Fs in your area get the Hanna for phosporous and alk, I find them to be a lot more accurate.

Do you use a measuring cup or digital scale to measure the bulk Chems?

I actually have all the hanna testers. Alk cal 2 different phosphate testers but i just find the salifert a little quicker to use but hanna is probably a lot more accurate.
I make all the different chems using a a digital scale.

I'm looking into a calcium reactor, that might make this a lit easier to balance out. Probably doesn't help that my doser is a Jebao that gets jammed up every couple months.

Thanks everyone for all the help

[dino]

You should use Sodium bicarbonate for alk

[tang daddy]

Originally Posted by iceman86

I actually have all the hanna testers. Alk cal 2 different phosphate testers but i just find the salifert a little quicker to use but hanna is probably a lot more accurate.
I make all the different chems using a a digital scale.

I'm looking into a calcium reactor, that might make this a lit easier to balance out. Probably doesn't help that my doser is a Jebao that gets jammed up every couple months.

Thanks everyone for all the help

I am using a jebao aswell and it never jams up on me, although I make my own mixing measurements and not off the brs website. Roughly 8 tbsp sodium bicarbonate to 2.5 liters of water.

Originally Posted by dino

You should use Sodium bicarbonate for alk

Sodium bicarbonate is awesome to use as alittle amount can bump your alk up, only downside is ph rises quickly too!

[TimT]

I doubt it's a test kit issue if your using quality kits. Titration method testing is more accurate for Ca, Alk and Mag then the digital colorimeter tests. Info direct from Lamotte technical support.

My suspicion is it could be related to carbon dioxide levels in the house and consequently in the tank. How does your pH fluctuate during a day? Monitor it over a week long period, say every 3 or 4 hours. There may be a correlation between co2 levels in the tank(lower pH) and the alk issue. ie High co2 would cause the alk to be depleted in the tank.

Cheers,
Tim

[IronChefItaly]

Originally Posted by TimT

I doubt it's a test kit issue if your using quality kits. Titration method testing is more accurate for Ca, Alk and Mag then the digital colorimeter tests. Info direct from Lamotte technical support.

My suspicion is it could be related to carbon dioxide levels in the house and consequently in the tank. How does your pH fluctuate during a day? Monitor it over a week long period, say every 3 or 4 hours. There may be a correlation between co2 levels in the tank(lower pH) and the alk issue. ie High co2 would cause the alk to be depleted in the tank.

Cheers,
Tim

That is a very valid point regarding the relationship between CO₂ and alkalinity – see link below that illustrates this very well.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/

Before you toss your doser and head for a calcium reactor, have you ever calibrated your doser or checked the consistency of each dose? In any case, at 200+ ml of alkalinity and calcium solution a day I'd say you're definitely in the range where a calcium reactor will be more economical in the long term – and as others mentioned, it will keep your values ever so slightly more consistent.

[iceman86]

Hey guys, just back for an update. I stopped dosing calcium for a few days and just dosed alk until the levels dropped to cal 430, kh 8. In the meantime I picked up a calcium reactor and put it in. My levels have perfectly stable since then.

Thank you for all the help!!!

[dcw1sfu]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

Sodium bicarbonate is awesome to use as alittle amount can bump your alk up, only downside is ph rises quickly too!

Sodium Carbonate is what has a significant effect on PH sodium bicarbonate has little effect on PH.

I prefer to use sodium carbonate (soda ash) as I suffer from low PH.