Using two part, Ca is rising and alk declining

[ogdogg]

I just started using BRS two part. My Ca is rising but my alk is the same if not declining. I have a 55g. I'm dosing 30ml daily of the two part. Also running kalk in my ATO, but my evaporation rate doesnt seem to be significant enough to keep up with my consumption

Parameters
1/31/13
mg 1400
ca 390
alk 9.8 dkh
2/2/13
mg 1400
ca 400
alk 9.8
2/5/13
mg 1400
ca 410
alk 9.0
2/10/13
mg 1400
ca 420
alk 9.0


Live stock
hammer - 2 heads
xenia 5 heads
mushroom-10
birdnest 1"
red and green cap monti 2"
rbta- softball
crocea clam -3-4"
Zoa -10-20 polyps
green star poly- 2"
candycane- baseball size
duncan - 3 heads

Not too worried about the parameters, but just noticed lately that some of the corals close unexpectedly for extended periods throughout the day. In particular, the duncan and mushrooms.
Should I be worried and how do I correct this problem?

 

[brisco15]

What are your Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate at?

 

[ogdogg]

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate .5 ppm
PO4 .03 ppm
ph 8.2
salinity 1.025
temp 78

system has been up for 2 years now, so can't imagine ammonia or nitrate just showing up. I also run GFO/GAC

 

[rdnelson]

Moved to Reef Discussion.

 

[ralph atl]

then you are not adding enough...........

 

[ogdogg]

mysterybox;837218 wrote: then you are not adding enough...........

This would make sense if both ca and alk were declining. Ca and alk is consumed at the same rate in a reef. My ca is rising and alk is declining, going in different directions.

I'm wondering why this is happening and secondly sound I just add alk in conjunction to what I'm doing already. If I just dose without knowing whats happening, I'm assuming in a few days I'll have the same problem.

 

[ralph atl]

My calcium and alk have never been consumed at the same rate, at least by the dilution that I currently use! The first few years alk was consumed at a much higher rate, the past 3-4 Calcium.....

Add more alk! You are not adding enough!

 

[ripped tide]

When I used BRS, I went through the alk a little faster than the CA and I had to add more of it to keep the ionic balance.

+1 Mysterybox

 

[phishfoodie]

Looking at your livestock and tank size. It would seem that dosing kalk would be enough. Have you tried increasing the amount of kalk added to your ato water?

 

[ogdogg]

phishfoodie;837307 wrote: Looking at your livestock and tank size. It would seem that dosing kalk would be enough. Have you tried increasing the amount of kalk added to your ato water?

You would think so but I have a chiller so it think it keeps evaporation rate down. I'm adding the max per gallon. There is always residue so the water is supersaturated.

 

[joseayes]

Overdosing Ca or Mg isn't such a big deal but an overdose of Alk will lead to a rapid decline in all of your corals health.