65 gallon tank
- Thread starter MichaelB
- Start date
MichaelB
Supporting Member
I'd try with a different meter or a test kit. I wouldn't go out of your way to spend a bunch of money on testing it, but as @Arvin R said those numbers seem erroneous. Particularly with your alk numbers, it seems impossible.
It does seem promising your 65 had a higher number than your other tank, so hopefully that's directionally correct.
Also if you raise your alk, make sure to do it very slowly. At least in my experience, alk swings are a great way to get euphylia to start bailing polyps.
MichaelB
Supporting Member
I split the alk dose in half.
It was a cheap Amazon ph tester so I wouldn't argue on quality or accuracy. I figured it was better than nothing at all for a general idea of ph.
I've used those two. Nothing wrong with trying! I got mine in a two pack with a TDS meter (maybe that exact same one). From what I've read the cheap ones aren't very good with saltwater.
MichaelB
Supporting Member
I only did a corrective dose, I didn't continue to add it afterwards being there is only hammers and nems in this tank.
Arvin R
Sponsor
Being that there are hammers and nems in the tank means there should be alk consumption and that you should monitor daily to figure out your alk consumption and then set to dose back daily what is used to keep it stable.
Also noting that you should aim to try and do alkalinity testing around the same time each day for maximum accuracy.
pH fluctuates throughout the day and night as a function of photosynthesis in the tank (and in your refugium, if you have one). pH also affects alkalinity. It's likely to not be a *major* swing, but the anal retentive bench scientist in me would be remiss if I didn't tell you that.
MichaelB
Supporting Member
I wonder if AFR would work in this tank as well. I only worried about the calcium getting to high with only the hammers and nems. I know hammers take in calcium but if i'm not mistaken not as much as sps. I'm probably overthinking things lol. I will be sure to try to keep it up as i do in my main tank.
I will also be changing 15 gallons of water with higher alk so it should help as well. I will try to figure out tbe dosing amount first preference is all for reef, other wise will find another or go with esv.
MichaelB
Supporting Member
I made a fuge section in the tank but i doubt trying to set it up now would be anything but dumb on my part. Considering the lower and unstable p04. Running a fuge may come back in the picture in the future when things level out. Would love to do one with the burning bush. I will keep the testing time in mind thanks.
AFR would work, since it doses all three simultaneously (alk, calcium, and magnesium). The one thing I would be cautious about is that, due to how AFR works, you don't get an instant reading change.
With normal two-part, you add alkalinity, it circulates through the tank, and raises your alkalinity. Due to the chemical formula of AFR, it's slowly broken down over the course of (IIRC) 3-4 hours, so be careful of overdosing.
Also, many people use it just fine, but I've heard some reports about STN on SPS with people using AFR. Not likely something to worry too much about, but just keep an eye on your coral when you use it.