Normal?

Quis · #1 09/05/2007, 06:39 AM

Is it normal for my alkalinity to drop from 10dkh to7dkh everyday. My tank is about 70% sps with the other 30% being lps, and zoo's. My calcium only drop about 10-15ppm in the same time frame. I have to dose about 120mil of backing soda a day over a 5 hr period to bring it back up to 10 dkh. I'm using Tropic marin salt if that helps. Thanks for your help.

Cal - 420
Alk - 10dkh -7dkh
Nitrate - 0
Pos - 0
Sg - 1.026
Temp - 78-80

Quis · #2 09/05/2007, 08:36 AM

Bump

TomRep · #3 09/05/2007, 09:08 AM

I don't think it is normal to drop that far even with the coral load on the tank. What do you run your calcium at? Also, do you ever measure Magnesium? Magnesium, at the proper level, will help to hold the alk and CA stable.
tom

szwab · #4 09/05/2007, 09:37 AM

what is your magnesium level testing at? that may be effecting your ability to maintain balanced levels.

Quis · #5 09/06/2007, 12:42 PM

I have never check for Mg before so I'm not sure what level it's at.

Snowboarda42 · #6 09/06/2007, 02:57 PM

Yup it can. I forget the ratio but some tanks just have a bigger alk than ca demand. My tank used to drop from 10 to 6-7 each day, and wouldn't go farther down than that for a few days, even with a 432Ca. I think after things have matured a bit, it will even out. It now drops to about 8 each day with about a 10-20Ca drop.

Check your test kit too, sometimes those can be inaccurate.

Quis · #7 09/07/2007, 07:24 AM

Snowboarda42 my tank is a little over a year old, so I'm pretty sure that it's mature. The strange thing is that about a mounth or two ago it wasn't droping that fast, maybe 1.5-2 dkh day. Lately I have seen it drop 2dkh in about 8 hrs.

szwab · #8 09/07/2007, 07:30 AM

what do you have in the tank coral wise?

PrivateJoker64 · #9 09/07/2007, 07:45 AM

As was said before, definitely check your magnesium level.

RichConley · #10 09/07/2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Quis
Is it normal for my alkalinity to drop from 10dkh to7dkh everyday. My tank is about 70% sps with the other 30% being lps, and zoo's. My calcium only drop about 10-15ppm in the same time frame. I have to dose about 120mil of backing soda a day over a 5 hr period to bring it back up to 10 dkh. I'm using Tropic marin salt if that helps. Thanks for your help.

Cal - 420
Alk - 10dkh -7dkh
Nitrate - 0
Pos - 0
Sg - 1.026
Temp - 78-80

Your alk should drop 2.3dkh for every 20 ppm of calcium that drops. 3dkh drop with only 15 ppm drop tells me that you're having some Alk precipitate. Check your magnesium.

3dkh a day is high, but it isnt unheard of.

Quis · #11 09/07/2007, 11:14 AM

I will. Thank you.

ljosh · #12 09/07/2007, 12:41 PM

Do you run phophate removal media? If you are using a large amount it can drop your alk faster then normal.

moumda · #13 09/07/2007, 02:01 PM

If you check in the chemistry forum Randy had some supplements he recommended using. Once you calculated what your tank was using you added a balanced additive of cal and alk. Do check and read the articles, they are very informative.

Quis · #14 09/08/2007, 09:46 PM

I think i found the problem. My Mg was 1200, I brought it up to 1280 and my alk is not droping like it ues to.