Ay Carumba! 5.1dkh!

[Tom Toro]

I don't know how I let this get so out of whack, but I did. Lazy. My alk is at 5.1dkh, Mg way above 1500, Ca above 500, ph 8.28, sg 1026, temp 79

I jumped on the CR calculator and it told me I need 660ml of my Bionic alk part. Do they want me to dump this per day (I understand, very slowly), but each day I put in 660ml? I'm trying to just get up to 7.1dhk. I'm dosing vodka/b7, so I'm supposed to keep it low to avoid burning the tips (from what I've read).

Any advice would be appreciated very much. I can't imagine dumping in that much in one day.

[BeakerBob]

Are you dosing daily Bionic supplements? If so, you have two options:

1) dose the stated 660ml of my Bionic alk over a three to 4 day period so as to not stress the tank, or;

2) just dose the ALK for the next week with no Ca dosing.

Typically, when I get off-balance like this from dosing my DIY supplements, I choose option #2.

[MizTanks]

I'm following along here and I hope you don't mind me asking a question of BeakerBod. Concerning Tom's ca. Being that it's high 500+ wouldn't dosing the ca only raise it even more? I ask because I'm sort of in the same boat as Tom

[BeakerBob]

My bad. I made a mistake by stating CA when it should be ALK.

I have edited my original reply to reflect the correct info. Good Catch!!

[Tom Toro]

Thanks Bob! I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by BeakerBob

Are you dosing daily Bionic supplements? If so, you have two options:

1) dose the stated 660ml of my Bionic alk over a three to 4 day period so as to not stress the tank, or;

2) just dose the ALK for the next week with no Ca dosing.

Typically, when I get off-balance like this from dosing my DIY supplements, I choose option #2.

[slapshot]

Tom if your alk goes below 7 most sps will stop taking up calcium. That is why your calcium is so high. Same for mag I think. Being it up slooooowly to 8. Your corals will be very happy. Your lucky they did not RTN on you.

[Tom Toro]

Originally Posted by slapshot

Tom if your alk goes below 7 most sps will stop taking up calcium. That is why your calcium is so high. Same for mag I think. Being it up slooooowly to 8. Your corals will be very happy. Your lucky they did not RTN on you.

I will go slow. Maybe over a week at least. Things weren't rtn'ing, but sure don't look great and not much growth at all. I've had disasters before trying to raise alk too quickly.

[dentdominator]

I would start dosing .2 -.3mls of Alk and Cal 1:1 ratio per total tank water volume and start testing every 2 to 3 days. Then add 3mls of Mag for every 20mls of Alk/Cal.

[Tom Toro]

I've been dosing 40 ml per day, very slowly and am up to 6.1. Going to keep going until I hit 8dkh and then cut in half to maintain and test in a week and adjust up or down?

Also bought a new Salifert to double check my findings.

[slapshot]

Just watch your corals for any sign in stress. Take a few days off if you sense something.