Help me understand.

[rdnelson]

In the past I was using IO salt and semi-regular had to dose Fusion for Alk and Cal as well as Ions for Mag. A few months ago I switched to Red Sea Coral Pro and BRS 2 Part (actually 3 part but....). Soon after the switch to RSCP my Mag and Cal were way low but Alk was near where it should be. After dosing up the Mag and Cal, they have stayed very consistent with nothing more than water changes. But the Alk is constantly dropping off if I don't dose regular.


It is logical to me that what Cal and Mag my tank consumes is being replenished with water changes but why is it that the Alk drops so much quicker. From my reading, it appears that the mag is required for the coral to process the Cal and of course the Cal is required to build skeletons but what is causing the Alk to drop?

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Tagging along. I was using nothing but IO and switched to RSCP and my numbers are no where near what they advertise they should be. I have do dose WAY more using the RSCP than I did with IO.

 

[acroholic]

I picked up several Instant Ocean 200 gallon boxes from Rit a few months ago, and used these to set up my 465 gallon tank. I have always had to fight to keep KH up, but the last few weeks I have had extra high KH, like 11-11.5 dKH. I checked the KH of my last IO batch and it was 11.65. I've had my calcium reactor disconnected for the past few days so the alkilinity can level out on its own. Highest I've seen from IO.

 

[jbadd99]

After following a few threads here, I've decided to leave a window in the tank room open a bit each day. It's helped with both pH and Alk.

 

[mc524]

I was using IO but was constantly having to dose. I was going to switch to Red Sea. Then my trade background kicked in. I decided to give IORC a try. Figured, I will make a smaller change by just going to a different model than brand. So far, I havent had to dose, pH, and kH has been spot on at 8.3 and 9.

I am glad I decided to make the smaller step and just change to reef crystals vs. going to a different brand all together.

So, I am going to take a stab and say maybe switching brands has caused such a change. You may need to chase it until You can get it all to balance out.
Just a newbie guess, but in my line of work...making too many changes to a process at the same time can result in bigger fluctuations.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[rdnelson]

I am very happy with what I am getting out of RSCP. I was just trying to figure out why it is just the KH that I am having to maintain.

I just read an old thread on another forum that sparked a thought. The OP was having similar issues. He had a hard time maintaining PH also. One person posted tha the buffer was being sacrificed in order to maintain the PH. To me, that falls in line with the talk Jack Kent gave at the meeting a few months ago. In my case, my PH has always tested at 8.0. Never seems to change. I wonder if my buffer is not being sacrificed in order to maintain that PH. Guess maybe I should consider Jef4y's CO2 scrubber. Although, it may be just as easy to keep dosing the Alk. I just need to find an easy way to automate it without the need for all the expensive equipment I can't afford right now. LOL Or do a better job of keeping up with the manual dosing.

 

[eagle9252]

easiest way for ph is drill a hole for your PS and put a filter on it so it can get outside air.

 

[mc524]

rdnelson99;801409 wrote: I am very happy with what I am getting out of RSCP. I was just trying to figure out why it is just the KH that I am having to maintain.

I just read an old thread on another forum that sparked a thought. The OP was having similar issues. He had a hard time maintaining PH also. One person posted tha the buffer was being sacrificed in order to maintain the PH. To me, that falls in line with the talk Jack Kent gave at the meeting a few months ago. In my case, my PH has always tested at 8.0. Never seems to change. I wonder if my buffer is not being sacrificed in order to maintain that PH. Guess maybe I should consider Jef4y's CO2 scrubber. Although, it may be just as easy to keep dosing the Alk. I just need to find an easy way to automate it without the need for all the expensive equipment I can't afford right now. LOL Or do a better job of keeping up with the manual dosing.

Or, try switching back to IO but try Reef Crystals I too was looking at having to buy dosing equipment. Now I am back to enjoying instead of fiddling with the tank as my wife says I do too much.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[heathlindner25]

I just thought a up and running reef tank, used alk everyday.

 

[ichthyoid]

The buffer (carbonate+bicarbonate) does hold up (help maintain) pH Rich.

That's what 'to buffer' means-
'a solution of a weak base (or acid) and its salt, which is resistant to changes in pH'.

Each carbonate ion can 'capture' 2 acid ions (H+), forming a bicarbonate in the process.

Check this out, I will leave it to Randy to explain further-

 

[jbadd99]

rdnelson99;801409 wrote: I am very happy with what I am getting out of RSCP. I was just trying to figure out why it is just the KH that I am having to maintain.

I just read an old thread on another forum that sparked a thought. The OP was having similar issues. He had a hard time maintaining PH also. One person posted tha the buffer was being sacrificed in order to maintain the PH. To me, that falls in line with the talk Jack Kent gave at the meeting a few months ago. In my case, my PH has always tested at 8.0. Never seems to change. I wonder if my buffer is not being sacrificed in order to maintain that PH. Guess maybe I should consider Jef4y's CO2 scrubber. Although, it may be just as easy to keep dosing the Alk. I just need to find an easy way to automate it without the need for all the expensive equipment I can't afford right now. LOL Or do a better job of keeping up with the manual dosing.

Try opening a window for a few hours each day and tell me the difference you see

 

[snowmansnow]

? ?

 

[ralph atl]

they aren't "consumed" at the same rate, and you don't have "balanced" numbers anyway....

My tank always "consumed" more ALK in the beginning few years.......Now I'm using double the amount of Calcium.

So If I want 500 calcium, 9dkh, and 1300 mag, and after and between water changes something is off....just dose that part?....

as stated above, Total Alkalinity is what buffers the PH......

 

[ichthyoid]

rdnelson99;801409 wrote: I am very happy with what I am getting out of RSCP. I was just trying to figure out why it is just the KH that I am having to maintain.

I just read an old thread on another forum that sparked a thought. The OP was having similar issues. He had a hard time maintaining PH also. One person posted tha the buffer was being sacrificed in order to maintain the PH. To me, that falls in line with the talk Jack Kent gave at the meeting a few months ago. In my case, my PH has always tested at 8.0. Never seems to change. I wonder if my buffer is not being sacrificed in order to maintain that PH. Guess maybe I should consider Jef4y's CO2 scrubber. Although, it may be just as easy to keep dosing the Alk. I just need to find an easy way to automate it without the need for all the expensive equipment I can't afford right now. LOL Or do a better job of keeping up with the manual dosing.

Here ya go buddy...

You may remember a mod I posted a while back, using a Tom's Aqualifter pump.

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64146&highlight=aqualifter+mod">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64146&highlight=aqualifter+mod</a>

Use this, perhaps with a timer cycling it on a few times a day. I would start off slowly, then increase flow and/or 'on' time, until it almost does the job. That way, if your alk useage drops off for some reason, you're not as likely to overshoot.

An Aqualifter is only ~$15 new. Or, I have an extra that I will give you, if you will post your results for all to see (consultation included too, if needed ;)

 

[purplegorilla]

Acroholic;801403 wrote: I picked up several Instant Ocean 200 gallon boxes from Rit a few months ago, and used these to set up my 465 gallon tank. I have always had to fight to keep KH up, but the last few weeks I have had extra high KH, like 11-11.5 dKH. I checked the KH of my last IO batch and it was 11.65. I've had my calcium reactor disconnected for the past few days so the alkilinity can level out on its own. Highest I've seen from IO.

I thought I was the only one experiencing this. I have been dumping calcium and magnesium separately just to bring down the Alkalinity. :unsure:

 

[rdnelson]

ichthyoid;801511 wrote: Here ya go buddy...

You may remember a mod I posted a while back, using a Tom's Aqualifter pump.

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64146&highlight=aqualifter+mod">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64146&highlight=aqualifter+mod</a>

Use this, perhaps with a timer cycling it on a few times a day. I would start off slowly, then increase flow and/or 'on' time, until it almost does the job. That way, if your alk useage drops off for some reason, you're not as likely to overshoot.

An Aqualifter is only ~$15 new. Or, I have an extra that I will give you, if you will post your results for all to see (consultation included too, if needed ;)[/QUOTE]


I do remember it now. :-) I have an extra aqua lifter in the garage. May make a trip to HD today for a decent “Trustworthy” timer. I like that idea better than a gravity drip. To me, the pump option has more of a "Fail Safe" option that a gravity drip. Makes me feel a bit more warm and fuzzy. :yes: