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05/20/2018, 06:52 AM | #1 |
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3000 gallon frag system... Alkalinity?
Hello, I perform regular maintenance on a 3000 gallon frag system with many 100 gallon troughs and one 800 gallon trough with tangs. I dose a kalkwasser-vinegar solution; and use 6 large filter socks as our only source of filtration. As of late the alkalinity has been slowly rising to now about 11.2 from about 8.2 over the last 2-3 weeks. No methods of maintenance have changed and all other parameters remain the same except a slow build-up of nitrates which water changes usually take care of:
Calc: 460-480 Mag: 1350 Phosphate: <0.03 Salinity: 35 Temp: 78-80 PH: 8-8.2 Nitrates: Usually <5 have risen to 25 on occasion. ..I hope to install a large protein skimmer when the funds are available but that doesn't seem to be the near future. Anyway if anyone can think of any reason the alkalinity would be rising any advice is welcome, also I have stopped dosing kalk in the last few days because calc and alk are so high. To no avail. |
05/20/2018, 07:25 AM | #2 |
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Location: Miller Place, NY
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Check the salt mix.
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250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps. |
05/20/2018, 08:22 AM | #3 |
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It sounds like a clear case of too much kalk...
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05/20/2018, 12:38 PM | #4 |
Acros & Wrasses
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Location: Central KY
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+1 Even if the amount you've been dosing has been steady, rate of consumption can change quickly.
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Josh My 80g: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2677031 |
05/21/2018, 07:54 AM | #5 |
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Agreed, Too much Kalk. If the funds are not available for a skimmer, I would recommend trying to make one yourself. With a system that large I bet you have plenty of parts to tinker with.
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05/21/2018, 08:54 AM | #6 | |
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Location: Austin, Tx
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Quote:
My bad. I pushed the wrong button with fat fingers. If your frags are growing, your calcium and your alkalinity will come down. No worries. Without knowing more of system specifics, let me make some comments about using vinegar. It is an organic carbon which is primary food for bacteria. Inorganic carbon dioxide gas grows coral. Dana Riddle article at Advanced Aquaria describes the processes very well. https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2016/9/aafeature
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Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout Last edited by Subsea; 05/21/2018 at 09:12 AM. |
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05/24/2018, 06:53 PM | #7 |
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Thanks I did stop on the kalk and numbers are setting down:
Today, Alk: 10.5 Ca: 450 Mag: 1260 |
05/25/2018, 07:59 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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If this is a greenhouse/outdoor system and the kalk is part of your ATO system that could be the culprit. Rising temps will cause more evap so you'll in effect be dosing more.
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