Alkalinity Issues. HELP!

[stoneriff]

Hey Folks;
I've got a Tech 120 tank with a 5" sand bed and 100LBS. of Pukani rock from Bulk Reef Supply. It just cycled recently. It's been running since the beginning of March. I have a great Bermuda Skimmer. I'm running Carbon. I have 2 Ecotech MP40W ES'. I test approximately twice a week. My Alk is very low at 5.56. I dose ESV Part I and II daily. I change 15% of water weekly. I added 4 shrimp and a mated pair of Perculas, and my clean up crew. The shrimp and fish are fine, and eating.
My ALK refuses to go up. What can I do?
Parameters:
Alk 5.56
PH 8.2
Calcium 450
Mag 1300
Temp 77.8- 78.6
Salinity 1.025
No Ammonia
No Nitrites
Nitrates .02

 

[Jarrett]

how much are you dosing of the alk. and what are you testing with.

 

[strgazr27]

With the current bioload why are you dosing at all? Using ESV salt also?

 

[prattreef]

Hey Jesse,

The first thing I would do is confirm that your Alk. kit is reading correctly. If it is, then I would only dose part 1 ( or add another alkalinity buffer) for several days and see what happens. They balance kind of like a see-saw. As one goes up the other comes down. Once they reach that balance point, then you can figure out how much of each componant you need to maintain that balance. Magnesium also plays a role here-- 1300 ppm is ok, but you might want to bump it up a tiny bit.

 

[NewfiDog]

Check the test kit, the low alk should make your PH low and your PH isnt low, and from what you posted you have nothing to really use up the alk. To me the test kit seems fishy.

 

[stoneriff]

I am using ESV Salt. I have also used 3 separate Salifert test kits.

 

[mbg75]

Check the test kit on a batch of new saltwater.

 

[sunny]

If your pH is at 8.2 there is no way your ALK is at 5.56. What test kits are you using for pH and Alk respectively? I think it is more of a test kit issue than a chemistry situation..

Sunny

 

[stoneriff]

If your pH is at 8.2 there is no way your ALK is at 5.56. What test kits are you using for pH and Alk respectively? I think it is more of a test kit issue than a chemistry situation..

Sunny

I'm using Salifert test kits. I had two Alk kits, and went and bought a third just to make sure. Can't figure it out. I'm about to test a new 20 gallon batch of ESV salt water I mixed an hour ago. Let's see what happens???

 

[garys reef]

i here the water in las vegas is very hard might have something to do with it

 

[akma]

I've been having low alk problems too. When I check my esv water alk is roughly 9-10. Tried to find information online and one thread I ran across said if you use new sand it depletes your alk faster. My calc is steady around 420-450 whenever I check.nwhen I get home I'll try to find the article but you can find it by searching in google. Pia too look for things on the iPad lol.

 

[stoneriff]

i here the water in las vegas is very hard might have something to do with it

Possibly, but I have Typhoon III RO/DI filter with brand new filters in it. My TDS is zero.

 

[stoneriff]

I've been having low alk problems too. When I check my esv water alk is roughly 9-10. Tried to find information online and one thread I ran across said if you use new sand it depletes your alk faster. My calc is steady around 420-450 whenever I check.nwhen I get home I'll try to find the article but you can find it by searching in google. Pia too look for things on the iPad lol.

Please send me a link to that story if you find it. My deep sand bed is only 10 weeks old. That could be a possibility.

 

[stoneriff]

I just checked a batch of 20 gallons of ESV salt water i just mixed an hour ago, and it reads 9.9 ALK. FML!!!!! Any other ideas folks?

 

[House of Laughter]

Jesse,

Drop you other levels first - I think the Ca and Mga re figting the Alk downward - that and a newly established sand bed are likely soaking the life out of it.

Grab some IO salt and do a handful of water changes that way. once you get the balance back, go back to the better salt.

Hope that helps,

Jim

 

[stoneriff]

Jesse,

Drop you other levels first - I think the Ca and Mga re figting the Alk downward - that and a newly established sand bed are likely soaking the life out of it.

Grab some IO salt and do a handful of water changes that way. once you get the balance back, go back to the better salt.

Hope that helps,

Jim

Will do. I'm doing 20 gallons tonight.
Thanks Jim.

 

[stoneriff]

I just did a 20 gallon water change using ESV salt. I'll re-test in the morning.

 

[akma]

Probably going to have to keep dosing for a bit till everything stabilizes. I think it was called abiotic precipitation with alk and the sandbed.

 

[stoneriff]

Probably going to have to keep dosing for a bit till everything stabilizes. I think it was called abiotic precipitation with alk and the sandbed.

I agree. Thanks for your input. I'll test tomorrow, then dose accordingly.
I'll post my results tomorrow.