can't maintain alkalinity

[fishface]

Originally Posted by SuperFudge

I noticed in another thread you are currently using the blu coral method..
Correct me if im wrong, but this requires that you feed quite heavily.
If the skimmer is not keeping up to the additional bioload, the alk will drop considerably as a result...while the Ca remains normal.
Has a low alk only been a problem since the new feeding method ?

I bet between the salt and heavy feedings, this is whats giving you the skewed parameters.

Can you wet skim with your current skimmer ?

If you are set on using the current salt, and want to try and get a bit more out of the reactor, I would increase effluent until ph has raised to 6.6-6.7 in the reactor.....probably closer to an effluent rate of a drop per second.
If ph is still climing beyond within the reactor (after a day or two) then add only co2 until this comes back down to 6.6-6.7.
When this stabilizes..48 hrs after last tweaking ,test.
Adjust again the same way if more is needed...monitor calcium to make sure this isnt increasing too much.

Marc.

hey Marc,

interesting questions here, unfortunately i started doing the blu coral thing pretty much when i started using the salt and when i got the reactor!! all new ideas and toys on the new tank.

this being said, i am running an RS-250 and skimming very wet...this on a total volume of around 145g's would be sufficient i would guess. should be safe with that. no? also, not that i test often but my nitrates and phosphates have be negligible when tested even after dosing the blu coral way. i'll check first thing in the am and post.

i did shut down the co2 around noon today to see if my numbers would fall a touch before restarting and then i'll try your tweaks to see if i can get it worked out.

thanks again!

[fishface]

well, after a week of testing on a daily basis and having some good concrete targets to shoot for, i've finally ironed out my issues with ca and alk imbalance.

i've been meticulous with testing and recording results: this is what i ended up with that works for my tank:
drip rate 185 dpm
bubble count 55 bpm
effluent ph 6.5

resulting ca, stable at 430
resulting alk, stable at 8.2 dKH

hopefully i'll be able to maintain these numbers and they don't go outta wack by tomorrow!

thanks agian for your help Marc and Marie!! patience is the key.
how's your battle there J? making any headway?

[michika]

Were you able to maintain everything?

[fishface]

yup, able to maintain those parameters...but now i'm battling a slight drop in pH. could still be salt. anyhow it's not too bad but it's dropped to 7.9-8ish so i started dripping kalk to see if it'll stabilize that problem.

if it isn't one thing it's gotta be another huh?

[michika]

What salt brand are you using?
I'm glad you were able to stabilize everything for the most part.

[fishface]

michika, i've been using oceanpure pro until last week but i'm really not happy with it and have since switched to reef crystals. only time will tell how that's gonna be, on a brighter note, the kalk seems to be working wonders at keeping my pH at bay, hopefully it'll bump that up a few points and i'll be laughin'.

[michika]

How about another update?

I'm following along because I suspect a similar problem is on the horizon for myself.