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12-15-2007, 08:00 PM
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#1
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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Sudden Decrease in Alkalinity
My Alk will normally drop from 9.6 to 9.0 dKh in 2 to 3 days. Today I tested after 3 days and I dropped to 7.0. What would cause a sudden drop like that?
Other parameters:
Calcium dropped from 420 to 410
Mg stayed steady at 1260
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12-15-2007, 09:31 PM
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#2
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Candy Pirate
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: I see white stuff
Posts: 3,769
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what's the pH?
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12-15-2007, 09:33 PM
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#3
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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8.04
Actually that is a bit high for my tank this time of year. Normally stays right at 7.9.
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12-15-2007, 09:34 PM
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#4
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Candy Pirate
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: I see white stuff
Posts: 3,769
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my thought is that with the pH going up your alk is going down
did you hook up the CA reactor yet?
__________________
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
"I think so, Brain, but can the Gummi Worms really live in peace with the Marshmallow Chicks?"
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12-15-2007, 09:36 PM
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#5
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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Quote:
Originally Posted by know-it-all
my thought is that with the pH going up your alk is going down
did you hook up the CA reactor yet?
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Haven't had time to hook it up yet. I'm hoping to the week after Christmas.
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12-16-2007, 12:09 AM
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#6
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 7,927
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What do you use for dosing? Did you change anything?
If there arent any other symptoms, I'd probably say a bad/old test kit would cause that.
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Tank thread
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12-16-2007, 12:23 AM
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#7
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Enjoy it now
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 4,087
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Did you verify that reading with a second test by chance?
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12-16-2007, 09:23 AM
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#8
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crvz
What do you use for dosing? Did you change anything?
If there arent any other symptoms, I'd probably say a bad/old test kit would cause that.
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Same test kit I used 3 days prior. I did test a second time with a different kit. same results.
I have added a PhosBan Reactor in the last week and increased skimming a bit.
I use baking soda to make alk changes.
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12-16-2007, 09:30 AM
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#9
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 7,927
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Alright, so I imagine you dose every 2-3 days, right?
When I first pulled the sandbed out of my tank, the alkalinity drop was pretty amazing. Something like 2-3 dkh per day. But I doubt you're experiencing the same thing. It could be related to the season change, with the drop in pH and temp, adding with that the increased demand in your tank from coral and coralline growth. I'm pretty dumb with all those relationships, though. I bet Tom would have better input!
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Me fail english? That's unpossible!
Tank thread
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12-16-2007, 09:32 AM
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#10
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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I added a bunch of new acros last week too. It could be that they are just now starting to consume resources.
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12-16-2007, 09:33 AM
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#11
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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I dose every 2 or 3 day.
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12-16-2007, 09:34 AM
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#12
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Candy Pirate
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: I see white stuff
Posts: 3,769
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get the CA reactor set up
all will fall back to normal
__________________
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
"I think so, Brain, but can the Gummi Worms really live in peace with the Marshmallow Chicks?"
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12-16-2007, 09:36 AM
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#13
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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Quote:
Originally Posted by know-it-all
get the CA reactor set up
all will fall back to normal
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I'm getting there, I promise. I may go get it out of the basement later today. Maybe while that one sided football game is on. 
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12-16-2007, 09:39 AM
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#14
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 7,927
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScruffyRubicon
I added a bunch of new acros last week too. It could be that they are just now starting to consume resources.
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I'd be surprised if they're that much of a sap on resources, but they could be. But a more important question... have I seen pictures of these new acros?
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Me fail english? That's unpossible!
Tank thread
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12-16-2007, 09:40 AM
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#15
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,572
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crvz
I'd be surprised if they're that much of a sap on resources, but they could be. But a more important question... have I seen pictures of these new acros?
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There was a thread last week. I'll see if I can find it.
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