Finally getting Alk in line, here's how

[rocketeer]

I haven't had my 240 reef in balance since 2006. My calcium has always been ok around 420 but my Alk has always been around 2.0, give or take a little. Of course ph has been a little low too. I use a calcium reactor, although maybe a little small.

Here's what I found out. According th this:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Calcification uses 20 ppm Ca for 1.0 meq/L Alk. This is the same as what my Ca reactor should be contributing. So together, they're a wash.

For years, I tried to increase my Alk by doing many (expensive) water changes (20% every two weeks) and doing a little supplementation with Reef Buffer (maybe 1 tsp every two days). But, according to:

http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages....lysis_0208.pdf

My Kent salt mix contributes 425 ppm Ca and 2.0 meq/L Alk. Hey that sounds familiar.

My water changes have been undoing any benefit of my supplements.

The solution? I cut back on water changes and have been dosing Reef Buffer about 1.5 tsp/day and my Alk went up quickly. One water change in two months and 45 tsp of Reef Buffer over that time and my Alk went from 2.1 meq/L to 3.0 meq/L, and my Ca stayed at 410 to 420. Mg still at 1275 or a little more and NO3 is 0.

Finally!

[Pennies2Cents]

This is great! Glad you found the solution! Very informational too. Thanks for sharing..

[kkiel02]

That link is a very nice addition. Thanks

[CoryDude]

If you have an ATO, you can add a spoonful of two to your makeup reservoir to help maintain your levels also.

I think this is one problem that many long term tanks experience and I'm glad you've found a regimen to keep those see-saw levels in balance.

[rocketeer]

My ATO comes from one of those pressurized holding tanks so I need to stir my additives in a bucket and drip it in. Maybe pumping the ATO water from a holding tank would give me a place to mix in additives but then would I need an ATO for my ATO?

How do most guys fill their ATO water tanks without walking off and forgetting it and flooding the place?