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Alk Dosing (1 Viewer)

AaronBliss

AaronBliss

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Jan 11, 2013
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Medina
I have been testing my alk weekly and bumping when needed.. I've noticed levels drop the same over one weeks time. I don't have any dosing equipment, so my question is, would it be ok to use my ATO system with my all solution already mixed in with my RO? Sorry if it's a dumb question I'm new to the hobby.
 
Yes you can. I myself would never do it this way though if your auto topoff is water level based only. You need good redundancy that consists of time based. You want to insure only x amount is dosed max per day.

Water level based goes with the assumption that all water lost is from evaporation. When running properly that is true but many tanks have been nuked with that assumption.

If you overdose Alk, you can crash many corals and if your using supplement that elevates pH could spell trouble as well.

So in short, yes you can but be really sure you have adequate redundancy in place to not add too much alk or too fast.

Now also be aware that calcium will also be going down as well but not near as quick to get to low values. You can't mix both calcium and alk additives together so you will still need to add calcium seperately. Only exception to this is if your going to use kalkwasser which adds both.
 
What would you recommend using to dose? And how much does the equipment cost?
 
Dosing pump is the way to go. However, I think a good chunk of reefers are dosing ALK within ATO. As DG indicated, this method required consistency and closed monitor. A good controller along the pH probe will give you a greater chance of succes when dosing ALK thr ATO.
 
Typically if your alkalinity is being consumed so quickly it signifies low pH. I would test your pH, and if lower then the norm, raise pH appropriately. I would recommend using Calcium hydroxide (kalkwasser: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/catalog/product/view/id/1787/) or sodium carbonate (Soda ash: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/catalog/product/view/id/1785/). Calcium hydroxide will raise your pH more rapidly the sodium carbonate however i would not run this if you calcium is high as it will contribute to tank concentration. Once you pH is in check, your alkalinity shouldn't diminish so rapidly.


AaronBliss said:
What would you recommend using to dose? And how much does the equipment cost?
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On a side note. By bumping alk shouldn't my Ph increase as well? I thought they go hand in hand with each other?
 
For reef alkalinity, yes it will increase pH, however as alkalinity is meant as a measurement of its a ability to neutralize acid and remain at a certain pH, you dont want to use alkalinity to solely raise your pH, especially if its lower then the norm.

If your alkalinity is diminishing that quickly its suggesting that your pH is lower then around 8.2 as alkalinity is used to keep that pH around that range but not made for increasing it.


AaronBliss said:
On a side note. By bumping alk shouldn't my Ph increase as well? I thought they go hand in hand with each other?
Click to expand...
 
Alkalinity is going to drop from calcification. I wouldn't go down the wild goose chase of pH issues. If pH is low it will be from 1 or 2 reasons, low alkalinity or elevated co2 in the atmosphere ( ie: closed up house for winter ). If pH is low the solution of high CO2 is not an easy one to tackle for most people during winter time. So keep you alkalinity at a reasonable level and don't worry about pH unless there is a valid reason to track it. IE: for redundancy in case of overdose.
 
Ok. My alk/kh has been pretty good over last month or so staying little over 8.2-8.6 range.it wasnt until today it dropped to 6.8.. Usually I find that it drops into the 7 range over week to 2 Weeks time.
 
Have you made any significant changes to your tank recently? Major water change, new livestock, etc?
 
Definitely wouldn’t listen to Grigor on this one. Alkalinity will drop primarily from top off, water changes, and as hydrogen is released from bacteria. Secondarily Alkalinity will be TEMPORARILY influenced from ions such as Calcium and Magnesium. Just because one member doesn’t measure their pH doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. It’s a quick test, and trust me, much safer to address and find out the real problem then just guess and assume that proper alkalinity levels will give you proper pH, which couldnt be farther from the truth.

David Grigor said:
Alkalinity is going to drop from calcification. I wouldn't go down the wild goose chase of pH issues. If pH is low it will be from 1 or 2 reasons, low alkalinity or elevated co2 in the atmosphere ( ie: closed up house for winter ). If pH is low the solution of high CO2 is not an easy one to tackle for most people during winter time. So keep you alkalinity at a reasonable level and don't worry about pH unless there is a valid reason to track it. IE: for redundancy in case of overdose.
Click to expand...
 
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In fact if you have proper pH levels your alkalinity range will last for a much longer period of time as at that point you only have the ions (Mg, Ca, etc) influencing it which are far less of a concern.
 
So my pH is constantly low right now at like 7.8 - 7.9. My alk is around 9. How do I find out what the real problem is from here?
 
Ok thanks for the info. Ph adjustments should be an easy fix. I'm sure it's not terribly low, I hope.
 
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