Low Alk?

[drew2007]

I'm having a lil alk issue. Tanks has been cycled about 4 weeks. Current livestock is 2 clowns and a blue hippo just added a few days ago. Mixed reef. Some lps, mushrooms, zoas and yellow polyps. Here is my current parameters...

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - <5.0
Temp - 79
Salinity - 1.025
pH - 8.0
Ca - 430
Mg - 1260
alk - 1.94
phos - 0

Why is my alk so low? 60lbs of rock is new. about 50-60lbs added from my old setup. Shallow sand bed about 1"-1.25". What do i need to do? I will add that my salifert alk kit is a lil outdated(November 2011) Maybe this is the problem?

[avilamillar]

Yeah I think your test kit might be the problem. That happened to me with a Salifert Calcium kit. Try comparing it with a reading from a different test.

[bertoni]

Is that 1.94 meq/L? That's a bit low, if so. I'd dose it up with some baking soda. This calculator will help pick a dose:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

Over the long haul, many tanks require daily dosing of alkalinity. Coralline algae and stony corals can consume 1 meq/L fairly easily. A 2-part is an easy way to get started. This article might help:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

[frugalreefer]

Question regarding low alk and raising it to ideal levels. Since raising alk inceases ph levels, at what rate can you add alk supplement without shocking the tank inhabitants? For example, if the alk reads low at 6dkh and i want to raise it to 8dkh, can it be raised in a matter of 1day?

[disc1]

I'd check with a new kit. If that kit is that old and has gone bad it would produce a low reading.

[bertoni]

The pH effect of adding alkalinity varies with the supplement. For a 2 dKH change, baking soda would be fine, and wouldn't affect the pH appreciably.

[drew2007]

Is that 1.94 meq/L? That's a bit low, if so. I'd dose it up with some baking soda. This calculator will help pick a dose:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

Over the long haul, many tanks require daily dosing of alkalinity. Coralline algae and stony corals can consume 1 meq/L fairly easily. A 2-part is an easy way to get started. This article might help:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

Yea thats 1.94 meq/L. Im gonna get newer test kit before i start to add any baking soda. I do have a 2 part. Seachem reef fusion 1&2 that i was using on my old setup. I can dose that in the meantime. Will using a 2 part now increase my calcium too much?

[bertoni]

The two-part will be fine. It's generally a good way to get started. :) The calcium rise will be very small, but you can just dose the alkalinity part if you'd like.

[drew2007]

^^ Thanks! :thumbsup:

[debben69]

I wouldn't raise you alk more than 1 dkh a day. I use two part recipe #1 from brs, and dose after the lights go off because the ph drops at night anyway.

[Hangman187]

+1 i tend to dose at night to help keep the PH in balance

[drew2007]

I always dose after lights out. Im only dosing 15ml of each part. Raising slow. I figure my total volume is about 90 gallons.