Chronic low Alk?

"Ric Seyler" wrote in message news
Thanks for the reply Boomer.
I'm using LaMotte CAL & Alk kits.
I tested yesterday and my CAL was 425
and my Alk was around 6.5.

6.5 mEq/l or 6.5 dH ?

"Boomer" wrote in message ...
That is not low at all but what NSW is

6.5 / 2.8 = 2.32 meq / land NSW is about 2. 25 meq/ l

Seachem recomends keeping alkalinity at higher levels than NSW.
I am not sure, but it is to fight higher level of polution with acids
normally occuring in our closed systems in our fish tanks.
I am not able to keep alkalinity high neither and I am also
fighting with chronic too much algae.

My test for alkalinity counts drops to change color and it
reads 5-6 drops, which translates to 2.5-3 mEq/l, so
higher than NSW but I have a lot of hair algae with
NO3 at the level of 10-15mg/l. Also looking for some tips
to rise alkalinity or other ways to keep algae under control.

Doing frequent water changes does not help much. NO3
quickly stabilizes at 10-15mg/l level ans somehow gets
to balance at this level.

I control Ca levels with SeaLabs #28 and it is at high
450-480mg/l all the time. Tried SeaLabs #15 with no
visible results.

"I am not sure, but it is to fight higher level of pollution with acids
normally occurring in our closed systems in our fish tanks.
I am not able to keep alkalinity high neither and I am also
fighting with chronic too much algae"

Yes we usually recommend levels of 3.5-4.5 meq / l. If your alk is going down to things
are happening. The load is high and using it up and/or corals need it to make CaCO3. It is
normal for many systems to have/get a lower Alk for these reasons. Alk will drop much
faster than Ca on normal conditions in some tanks, as there is much, much, more Ca in
relation to Alk. In other words if your corals removed all the Alk your system had to
0Alk, to make CaCO3, where the Ca was 400 mg/ l , the Ca would only drop to about 375 mg /
l Ca

Get some Baking Soda to raise the Alk up to 3.5

--
Boomer

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"Pszemol" wrote in message ...
: "Boomer" wrote in message
...
: That is not low at all but what NSW is
:
: 6.5 / 2.8 = 2.32 meq / land NSW is about 2. 25 meq/ l
:
: Seachem recomends keeping alkalinity at higher levels than NSW.
: I am not sure, but it is to fight higher level of polution with acids
: normally occuring in our closed systems in our fish tanks.
: I am not able to keep alkalinity high neither and I am also
: fighting with chronic too much algae.
:
: My test for alkalinity counts drops to change color and it
: reads 5-6 drops, which translates to 2.5-3 mEq/l, so
: higher than NSW but I have a lot of hair algae with
: NO3 at the level of 10-15mg/l. Also looking for some tips
: to rise alkalinity or other ways to keep algae under control.
:
: Doing frequent water changes does not help much. NO3
: quickly stabilizes at 10-15mg/l level ans somehow gets
: to balance at this level.
:
: I control Ca levels with SeaLabs #28 and it is at high
: 450-480mg/l all the time. Tried SeaLabs #15 with no
: visible results.

"Boomer" wrote in message ...
"I am not sure, but it is to fight higher level of pollution with acids
normally occurring in our closed systems in our fish tanks.
I am not able to keep alkalinity high neither and I am also
fighting with chronic too much algae"

Yes we usually recommend levels of 3.5-4.5 meq / l. If your alk is going down to things
are happening. The load is high and using it up and/or corals need it to make CaCO3. It is
normal for many systems to have/get a lower Alk for these reasons. Alk will drop much
faster than Ca on normal conditions in some tanks, as there is much, much, more Ca in
relation to Alk. In other words if your corals removed all the Alk your system had to
0Alk, to make CaCO3, where the Ca was 400 mg/ l , the Ca would only drop to about 375 mg /
l Ca

Get some Baking Soda to raise the Alk up to 3.5

The thing is in my case I do not have too much corals, no hard ones in a matter of fact,
but I have heavy load of fish: quite a big tang and three other small fish in 30 g tank.
How should I keep up with rising alk in my case? Will baking soda work for me?

Baking Soda should be fine or a combination of baking soda and soda ash ( washing soda,
NaCO3), at a ratio of 5:1

--
Boomer

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If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
"Pszemol" wrote in message ...
: "Boomer" wrote in message
...
: "I am not sure, but it is to fight higher level of pollution with acids
: normally occurring in our closed systems in our fish tanks.
: I am not able to keep alkalinity high neither and I am also
: fighting with chronic too much algae"
:
: Yes we usually recommend levels of 3.5-4.5 meq / l. If your alk is going down to
things
: are happening. The load is high and using it up and/or corals need it to make CaCO3.
It is
: normal for many systems to have/get a lower Alk for these reasons. Alk will drop much
: faster than Ca on normal conditions in some tanks, as there is much, much, more Ca in
: relation to Alk. In other words if your corals removed all the Alk your system had to
: 0Alk, to make CaCO3, where the Ca was 400 mg/ l , the Ca would only drop to about 375
mg /
: l Ca
:
: Get some Baking Soda to raise the Alk up to 3.5
:
: The thing is in my case I do not have too much corals, no hard ones in a matter of fact,
: but I have heavy load of fish: quite a big tang and three other small fish in 30 g tank.
: How should I keep up with rising alk in my case? Will baking soda work for me?

also if you are dealing with mostly just fish and Ca is of no concern then SeaChem labs
Marine Buffer, but not for a reef tank where there is a Ca demand

--
Boomer

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If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
"Boomer" wrote in message
...
: Baking Soda should be fine or a combination of baking soda and soda ash ( washing soda,
: NaCO3), at a ratio of 5:1
:
: --
: Boomer
:
: Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
: http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php
:
: Want to See More ?
: Please Join Our Growing Membership
: www.coralrealm.com
:
: If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
: "Pszemol" wrote in message ...
: : "Boomer" wrote in message
: ...
: : "I am not sure, but it is to fight higher level of pollution with acids
: : normally occurring in our closed systems in our fish tanks.
: : I am not able to keep alkalinity high neither and I am also
: : fighting with chronic too much algae"
: :
: : Yes we usually recommend levels of 3.5-4.5 meq / l. If your alk is going down to
: things
: : are happening. The load is high and using it up and/or corals need it to make CaCO3.
: It is
: : normal for many systems to have/get a lower Alk for these reasons. Alk will drop
much
: : faster than Ca on normal conditions in some tanks, as there is much, much, more Ca
in
: : relation to Alk. In other words if your corals removed all the Alk your system had
to
: : 0Alk, to make CaCO3, where the Ca was 400 mg/ l , the Ca would only drop to about
375
: mg /
: : l Ca
: :
: : Get some Baking Soda to raise the Alk up to 3.5
: :
: : The thing is in my case I do not have too much corals, no hard ones in a matter of
fact,
: : but I have heavy load of fish: quite a big tang and three other small fish in 30 g
tank.
: : How should I keep up with rising alk in my case? Will baking soda work for me?
:
:

"Boomer" wrote in message ...
also if you are dealing with mostly just fish and Ca is of no concern then
SeaChem labs Marine Buffer, but not for a reef tank where there is a Ca demand

I have small Ca demand since I have live rock, many snails, coraline algae etc.
I do not have any stony corals.

Ok, no Marine Buffer

--
Boomer

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If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
"Pszemol" wrote in message ...
: "Boomer" wrote in message
...
: also if you are dealing with mostly just fish and Ca is of no concern then
: SeaChem labs Marine Buffer, but not for a reef tank where there is a Ca demand
:
: I have small Ca demand since I have live rock, many snails, coraline algae etc.
: I do not have any stony corals.

the rate at which you add baking soda is about 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons per
day until desired level is reached, diluting the baking soda in salt or
freshwater before adding to your tank. What is your PH. if it is high,
then you may have a problem with your CO2 outtake, sometimes translating
into poor circulaiton. thats just one scenario. You need to stabilize your
PH to get your ALK to stabilize.
WH
"Boomer" wrote in message
...
Ok, no Marine Buffer

--
Boomer

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If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
: "Boomer" wrote in message
...
: also if you are dealing with mostly just fish and Ca is of no concern
then
: SeaChem labs Marine Buffer, but not for a reef tank where there is a
Ca demand
:
: I have small Ca demand since I have live rock, many snails, coraline
algae etc.
: I do not have any stony corals.

"What is your PH. if it is high,
then you may have a problem with your CO2 outtake, sometimes translating
into poor circulaiton. thats just one scenario. You need to stabilize your
PH to get your ALK to stabilize."

This makes no sense. CO2 doe not cause high pH but low pH. pH could care less what the Alk
is, as Alk is not affected by CO2 but CO2 does affect the pH. The ratio of Alk to CO2
gives an X pH


--
Boomer

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If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
"wolfhedd" wrote in message
ink.net...
: the rate at which you add baking soda is about 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons per
: day until desired level is reached, diluting the baking soda in salt or
: freshwater before adding to your tank. What is your PH. if it is high,
: then you may have a problem with your CO2 outtake, sometimes translating
: into poor circulaiton. thats just one scenario. You need to stabilize your
: PH to get your ALK to stabilize.
: WH
: "Boomer" wrote in message
: ...
: Ok, no Marine Buffer
:
: --
: Boomer
:
: Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
: http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php
:
: Want to See More ?
: Please Join Our Growing Membership
: www.coralrealm.com
:
: If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
: "Pszemol" wrote in message
: ...
: : "Boomer" wrote in message
: ...
: : also if you are dealing with mostly just fish and Ca is of no concern
: then
: : SeaChem labs Marine Buffer, but not for a reef tank where there is a
: Ca demand
: :
: : I have small Ca demand since I have live rock, many snails, coraline
: algae etc.
: : I do not have any stony corals.
:
:
:
: