Ryan Messick April 13, 2011 Author April 13, 2011 Ryan, Welcome to the boards and sorry the first time posting here was for an almost tank crash. Keep us posted on how the tank recovers. David, Thanks. Yeah, I haven't been too active on here (insert excuses about work, kids, etc...), but somehow it makes a difference to know that we are all in the same area... Yeah, it's been kind of stressful. Mike just picked up a fancy electronic alk tester from BRK, so I'll have that new toy thanks to this latest problem. By visual inspection, the sluffing is progressing, but maybe slower than before. I'll do another 20 gallon water change tonight... and advise of the results.
Ryan Messick April 13, 2011 Author April 13, 2011 (edited) Update: By visual inspection, things are looking better. The sluffing has stopped on the stony corals. The palys look better and the pocilipora has a better polyp extention. Things don't look great, but they've definitely stopped getting worse. Using the Hanna electrical alk tester, my reading is above range. Unit flashes 300, so the reading is above 300ppm, or 6.0mEq/l or 16.8dKH. Edited April 13, 2011 by Ryan Messick
Origami April 13, 2011 April 13, 2011 Ryan, I trust the Hanna Checker's reading. Assuming you use RO/DI to mix up your change water, I'd do a water change or two to start bringing that alk level down to below 13 as it's awfully high now. After you drop it some, you can wait for consumption to bring it back to target levels. During that time, run alkalinity tests at periodic intervals to determine what your consumption rate is and adjust your dosing regimen accordingly. I think that you got into this situation when you increased your dosage of sodium bicarbonate in conjunction with your increased dosing of calcium, when it may have been that your alk levels were fine.
Ryan Messick April 13, 2011 Author April 13, 2011 Ryan, I trust the Hanna Checker's reading. Assuming you use RO/DI to mix up your change water, I'd do a water change or two to start bringing that alk level down to below 13 as it's awfully high now. After you drop it some, you can wait for consumption to bring it back to target levels. During that time, run alkalinity tests at periodic intervals to determine what your consumption rate is and adjust your dosing regimen accordingly. I think that you got into this situation when you increased your dosage of sodium bicarbonate in conjunction with your increased dosing of calcium, when it may have been that your alk levels were fine. Tom, totally agree on all points -- many thanks!
Ryan Messick April 14, 2011 Author April 14, 2011 Okay, after a 20 gallon water change today, my alkalinity is now in detectable levels! Now it's 260ppm or 5.2mEq/l or 14.6dKH. For reference my calc is 400ppm.
Origami April 14, 2011 April 14, 2011 Ryan, you don't dose a carbon source or run biopellets, do you? If so, you'll want to pull that alk level down below even the 13 dKH level that I suggested earlier. Congratulations on getting in-range on the Hanna Checker. 14.6 is way better than 19, or wherever it was.
Ryan Messick April 14, 2011 Author April 14, 2011 Tom, I do run carbon (I add a small amount every 2 weeks). I don't understand why carbon would inhibit the gradual decrease of alk as the stony corals grow. Yes, it's nice to *really* know what my alk is. I'm guessing that two more 20 gallon water changes will get me somewhere around 10dKH.
Origami April 14, 2011 April 14, 2011 Tom, I do run carbon (I add a small amount every 2 weeks). I don't understand why carbon would inhibit the gradual decrease of alk as the stony corals grow. Yes, it's nice to *really* know what my alk is. I'm guessing that two more 20 gallon water changes will get me somewhere around 10dKH. No, it's not running (granular activated) carbon that I'm talking about, but adding a carbon source for bacterial consumption. For example, dosing vodka, running biopellets, using Prodibio, or other sources of organic carbon, or even using zeolites, to promote a ULNS (ultra low nutrient system). Hobbyist reports have tied burnt SPS tips to dosing carbon sources and higher alk levels (above 8). If you are dosing a carbon source like I've mentioned (again, that doesn't mean running GAC - which is inorganic carbon), then you may need to lower your alk levels through water changes even below the 13 that I suggested earlier.
Ryan Messick April 15, 2011 Author April 15, 2011 Tom, thanks for the explanation. Okay, so then the right answer to your question is "no". I'll do a WC today and advise of the results.
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