Need a Little dKH Help

[jmeader]

Alk slippage is normal. You just have to figure your rate of consumption and compensate for it with the buffer. Just don't suddenly bring it all the way up at once.

 

[Reef55]

Check your magnesium. If your magnesium is low, then that will cause exactly what you are talking about. HTH

 

[jdeets]

New65Reefer--Based on your method of maintaining biomineral levels, I'm not surprised your alk is slipping. Bionic is a balanced method of supplementation. It is designed to add Ca and alk components in the ratios that they are consumed.

If you're having to use Turbo Calcium to keep the calcium up, then that tells me that your system is utilizing Ca and carbonate faster than you're adding them with the Bionic. When you use CaCl2 to bump up the calcium, you're not bumping up the alkalinity. Although you're maintaining a given Ca level with this supplementation scheme, it's not keeping the alkalinity up. Why? Because you're abandoning your balanced approach and using CaCl2 to get the Ca up. The only alk supplementation you're using is from Bionic--which is balanced. You're tipping the balance in favor of Ca and your alk is suffering.

What you need to do is first get your system balanced. Since you've been using CaCl2, you'll need to use baking soda, or a commercial buffer (like superbuffer dkH). Get your alk up with the buffer. Then resign yourself to use ONLY the balanced supplementation method--Bionic. IF your Ca starts to slip, that means you need to increase your dosage. The label directions are a good start but stocking levels vary so much that the only way to do it is to see what results you get at a given dosage and then adjust the dosage accordingly.

So, in a nutshell, boost your alk with sodium bicarb to get a good balance of Ca and alk, STOP using the CaCl2 to "bump" your calcium, and increase the dosage of the Bionic to the extent necessary to keep your biomineral levels in an acceptable range.

HTH

 

[New65Reefer]

So after a scheduled 50% water change 5 days ago I have:

pH=8.15
Ca=390
dKH=7.4

All other typical parameters are at zero.

I typically use Turbo Calcium to get the Ca over 400 and then maintain it with B-Ioic additions every two to three days.

My problem is that while pH and Ca have been stable, the KH has been slipping over the last two months from 9.9 to presently 7.4.

Can anyone help me with this? I was considering adding some Kent dKH buffer. Be fore I do, I was wondering if someone with more knowledge might see a larger underlying problem.

Thanks

 

[Acropora]

Jdeets above has given you excellant advice.When all is settled you have to use more of the two part solution.In some tanks which are larger or with heavy SPS stock,this becomes expensive.At this point a calcium reactor is a good choice,Thats what I did. Anthony P.S. I don't thing scheduling 50% water changes is a good idea.(except maybe only once here to help re balance your water perameters)The occassional recommended 10-20% water change is best.

[ August 27, 2001: Message edited by: Reefexotic ]

 

[BReefCase]

What Jdeets said.

By the way, if you are finding it difficult or expensive to maintain Calcium levels using the B-Ionic, have you considered dripping good old Kalkwasser?

Kalk (Calcium Hydroxide) is the original balanced Calcium supplement, as it supplies Bicarbonate ions (Alkalinity) in a one-to-one ratio to Calcium ions, by definition. Dripping Kalk will raise or maintain (depending on how much you use) both your Calcium and Alk with no additional supplementation.

If even Kalk alone won't support the Calcium use rate in your tanks, you might try the Kalk plus Vinegar method -- there was an extensive thread on this around a week or so ago -- do a search for "Kalkwasser" posted by llowwelll.