phastroh
Do Not Listen To Me!!!
My Alk is always low. I have to dose 2LF Alk like 2-3 times a week to keep it over the 8dKh range.
My calcium is always off the chart though with just water changes. It is basically 450 or higher just from that.
I honestly have almost not even checked the Ammonia or the Nitrite in like a month. Not saying anyone should do that but I was sick of checking because it is always 0 as well as my Nitrates.
Here is a little story of how this came to be.
I used to check every weekend, everything in the tank. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH, Alk, Mag, Phosphate and Salinity. As time went on I began to have more corals than fish and added a Carbon Reactor and a great Skimmer oh and an Auto Top Off(very helpful)
So after all that my water started being perfect consistently. No Nitrates was the last thing to fall in place but I always had high Calcium and high Magnesium all day, every day all the time but my Alk was always in the ditch at 7.2-7.4. I want it no less than 8.5 and really want it at 9.0-9.5.
I noticed my PH was always lagging at 7.6-7.8 until I raised the Alk and it went up with it to 8.2 Woot Toot!!
While these numbers are acceptable by most I feel like it is a slippery slope that is easy to slide down when you are this close to the edge of good numbers.
So I started using the 2 Little Fishes C-Balance. Of course I only need the 1 part. I actually have the Calcium part I used 1 time until I realized I only needed the one.
I dose the maximum dose every 2-3 days. While it may raise the Alk a little faster than it is recommended I worked my way up to that through many little doses over time during a month or so.
This has raised my Alk to where I want it at 9dKH but if I wait more than 2-3 days it flies down. Scratches head...I guess it is just this tanks way to stay.
Recently after my water change on the 26th I did not dose my Alk and I checked it on December 1st and it was 151PPM or 8.4-8.5dKH. so that is like the first time it has sustained its amount in a long time. I do know however what it was the day after the change. It could have been 10dKH for all I know.
I am nearing the 1/2 way point in my 2 Little Fishes 1 Gal bottle and I was going to buy more but I also purchased a large box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for the same thing. I do find it easier to dump 1/2 cup of 2LF Alk in the sump but it is like $37 for a gallon.
I read you have to bake the baking soda on a sheet and I also read you just mix it straight into some tank water.
Who uses it and knows how to administer it correctly? I will have to find a dosing chart and start over again to see how much actually does what. Those charts are close but not perfect for everyone.
My calcium is always off the chart though with just water changes. It is basically 450 or higher just from that.
I honestly have almost not even checked the Ammonia or the Nitrite in like a month. Not saying anyone should do that but I was sick of checking because it is always 0 as well as my Nitrates.
Here is a little story of how this came to be.
I used to check every weekend, everything in the tank. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH, Alk, Mag, Phosphate and Salinity. As time went on I began to have more corals than fish and added a Carbon Reactor and a great Skimmer oh and an Auto Top Off(very helpful)
So after all that my water started being perfect consistently. No Nitrates was the last thing to fall in place but I always had high Calcium and high Magnesium all day, every day all the time but my Alk was always in the ditch at 7.2-7.4. I want it no less than 8.5 and really want it at 9.0-9.5.
I noticed my PH was always lagging at 7.6-7.8 until I raised the Alk and it went up with it to 8.2 Woot Toot!!
While these numbers are acceptable by most I feel like it is a slippery slope that is easy to slide down when you are this close to the edge of good numbers.
So I started using the 2 Little Fishes C-Balance. Of course I only need the 1 part. I actually have the Calcium part I used 1 time until I realized I only needed the one.
I dose the maximum dose every 2-3 days. While it may raise the Alk a little faster than it is recommended I worked my way up to that through many little doses over time during a month or so.
This has raised my Alk to where I want it at 9dKH but if I wait more than 2-3 days it flies down. Scratches head...I guess it is just this tanks way to stay.
Recently after my water change on the 26th I did not dose my Alk and I checked it on December 1st and it was 151PPM or 8.4-8.5dKH. so that is like the first time it has sustained its amount in a long time. I do know however what it was the day after the change. It could have been 10dKH for all I know.
I am nearing the 1/2 way point in my 2 Little Fishes 1 Gal bottle and I was going to buy more but I also purchased a large box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for the same thing. I do find it easier to dump 1/2 cup of 2LF Alk in the sump but it is like $37 for a gallon.
I read you have to bake the baking soda on a sheet and I also read you just mix it straight into some tank water.
Who uses it and knows how to administer it correctly? I will have to find a dosing chart and start over again to see how much actually does what. Those charts are close but not perfect for everyone.
