Low Alkalinity

[joeyprice]

My dKH is kinda low - 7.2 to be exact. Water changes (20%) don't seem to move it and the system has only a single, small 3 head hammer in it for LPS, everything else is soft. I guess its OK for what is in it, but I'd like to add some more LPS to the fray.
Is there a reasonably easy way to dose by hand to get the number up until I'm ready to set up a doser? Its a 100g tank.

 

[bluesy1213]

Any two part dosing system should help. I use sechem but you may want to try something else. I think you could just add the alkalinity portion until then number gets to where you want it. Of course you can’t go too fast at raising the alkalinity or it can affect things. Be mindful that as you add alkalinity it affects the calcium and ph as well.
There’s a few things to learn about two part dosing and the BRS 52 weeks of reefing videos and on YouTube is a good place to start but there’s more resources if you need them online as well.

 

[Adam]

Your tank is still very new. During this stage the system will use more Alk as it matures and builds bacterial colonies. Do you know what your pH is?

 

[joeyprice]

Your tank is still very new. During this stage the system will use more Alk as it matures and builds bacterial colonies. Do you know what your pH is?

Unfortunately I don't have a meter, it looks slightly more purple than 8 based on the color test so 8-8.2

 

[MiggidyMike]

I take my water to Atlanta Aquarium. They test for alkalinity, calcium, and phosphate. Not like other places that do only basic. Being that I am new too. I do not have all the tests yet and need immediate guidance sometimes. So far, the best store I’ve been too. Other than that. Like the rest said BRS YouTube stuff and... BRS has a calculator for adding doses. If you do not have the BRS stuff to dose with. Maybe seachem and the rest have a calculator too. I’ll go check. Anyways, if everything looks good for now, don’t panic and be patient. Also, if you are not high class. But cheap LPS to trial. Haha I know some people cringe when I give this type of advice. I don’t care, cheap ones looks good too and if they do go bye bye. It would not hurt my pocket as much. Haha


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[MiggidyMike]

Oh yeah, get a refractometer. Saves you on time and money.


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[Adam]

Your Alk isn't too bad right now. But you don't want it falling much lower. I would mix up some baking soda with Rodi water and use that to make occasional adjustments.

I know you set up a 100 gallon display, do you know your total volume? You'll need a good estimate of the volume to know how much to dose. Then make very small adjustments to keep the alk above 7dkh. Shoot for 7.5 to 8dkh for the next few months. You'll see things start to stabilize over time and the demand for Alk start dropping. Once that happens the Alk & Cal will start dropping more evenly.

Just remember, small adjustments. .25 to .5dkh max per day. If you do too large an increase you'll open yourself up to precipitation and that's a worse problem than low Alk at this stage of your system.

 

[joeyprice]

Calcium is low too - 385

 

[jcook54]

I'm a big and growing fan of Tropic Marin's All-For-Reef(AFR). It's a single dose that provide Ca, Alk and a few other odds and ends corals need. I still use 2 part for adjustments but a daily dose of AFR keeps things more stable. Keep in mind that your levels aren't bad at all. I run all of my systems a little higher but there's no drastic action that needs to be taken.

 

[Adam]

Calcium is low too - 385

That's not low for your Alk level.

Your system is far too new to be full on dosing. Water changes will replace Cal and other elements just fine for the time being. With occasional alk adjustments between changes you'll be ok.