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01/16/2018, 07:01 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 356
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Recovering from a doser malfunction
Hi all, I need your collective help. I was on vacation over new years and asked a friend to watch my tank. He did a great job with what I asked of him, but when I returned I discovered that my doser had popped it's discharge tube due to a blockage down the line and as much as 7 days of b-ionic alkalinity dripped onto the floor. What a mess, but more importantly my alkalinity dropped from 8.3 to under 6 in a very short period of time. I know stability is key when keeping sps but I also know that 6 is too low given my high light high nutrient system. My question therefore is how quickly should I bring things back to my ideal parameters? Is it more harmful to leave things too low or to bounce back too quickly?
Thanks in advance. Andrew
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350G display, 700G system loaded with all kinds of neat stuff! Current Tank Info: 350G DT, 700G system including in-line mantis, anemone and frag tanks |
01/16/2018, 10:14 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Elverta
Posts: 635
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Turn it back to normal and then hand dose daily 20-25%more til you get to your set point. Should be all good as long as you go slow. Been there done that.
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01/17/2018, 10:32 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Thanks. That's what I've been doing and so far things are still looking OK. I know it takes a while before the effects of such swings are visible though.
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350G display, 700G system loaded with all kinds of neat stuff! Current Tank Info: 350G DT, 700G system including in-line mantis, anemone and frag tanks |
01/20/2018, 04:37 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield, UK
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In my opinion, I would not return to normal alkalinity quickly, providing that pH is not affected too negatively as alkalinity's buffering effect of pH diminishes in low alkalinity. Instead, I would do so over at least 10 days.
On three occasions, my alkalinity dropped down to 5.5 dKH from 6.85 dKH for similar reasons. Nothing happened to my Acroporids. I think upward swing affect them more than the downward swing. In my case, I use a kalkstirrer. So, pH is regulated well even in low alkalinity levels.
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01/20/2018, 12:37 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
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01/21/2018, 01:06 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 356
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Thanks everyone. I am taking it slowly, having decided to not adjust the settings but rather supplement with a manual dose every day. This should take about 2 weeks to get back to normal (for me) levels given the amount I have to dose daily. As for the comment re. lower levels being preferred, I have high nutrients so usually run my alk a little higher. Will post an update in a few weeks. thanks again.
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350G display, 700G system loaded with all kinds of neat stuff! Current Tank Info: 350G DT, 700G system including in-line mantis, anemone and frag tanks |
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