Tanks Alk consumption has increased 30% over the last 15 days

[Blaise006]

Sand appears fine. I couldn’t find any cement spots.

https://imgur.com/a/YrbFGTZ

 

[xCry0x]

Cool cool. That was something that happened to me which was surprising and really frustrating.

Had no idea it was even possible.

 

[Chromis]

@Blaise006 Wait is your dKH swing 0.5 or 5? Your first post stated 5 but then you said it swings .5-.8 which isn’t really concerning.

 

[Blaise006]

@Blaise006 Wait is your dKH swing 0.5 or 5? Your first post stated 5 but then you said it swings .5-.8 which isn’t really concerning.

Apologies, if there was confusion. I am referring consumption over 24 hours. 5dkh over 24 hours based on dosing amount.

 

[iani]

To me something seems off if you have to dose that much when the lights are out. Are you using the trident to control the dosing? Are the outputs of the Alk and Calcium near each other? How much Ca are you dosing?

 

[Blaise006]

To me something seems off if you have to dose that much when the lights are out. Are you using the trident to control the dosing? Are the outputs of the Alk and Calcium near each other? How much Ca are you dosing?

Trident controls dosing at 10%. Outputs are in different sections of the sump. Calcium is dosed in equal amounts.
Alk and cal are confirmed multiple times a week via Hanna for alk and Red Sea titration for calcium.

 

[JVU]

Did you look in your sump where the dosing tubes actually drop the Alk and Ca? One time my consumption rates started increasing more than I could explain and when I looked in that part of the sump (had to kinda climb in there to see it well), I found that it was forming a little calcium carbonate island stuck to the wall and immediately precipitating out like 30% of the dosed liquid before it could get to the water and disperse.

 

[Blaise006]

Did you look in your sump where the dosing tubes actually drop the Alk and Ca? One time my consumption rates started increasing more than I could explain and when I looked in that part of the sump (had to kinda climb in there to see it well), I found that it was forming a little calcium carbonate island stuck to the wall and immediately precipitating out like 30% of the dosed liquid before it could get to the water and disperse.

I checked last night. Didn’t see any precipitation like that. Maybe I just got a weak batch of ESV.

 

[Ibn]

Is your coralline growing like mad in the tank? Also do you have a clam or added a clam recently?

 

[Blaise006]

Is your coralline growing like mad in the tank? Also do you have a clam or added a clam recently?

I feel coralline is fairly healthy and I’ve had a clam for about a year. Maybe about 6 inches now.

 

[Blaise006]

Reviving this thread cause I need to figure out a solution.

This Alk consumption has gotten out of control to the point that it is raising salinity by .1ppt daily.

The dosing amount has gotten up to 180mls daily in less than 65 gallons of water. Net water is probably only 55ish. That equates to close to 6dkh daily and it only seems to be getting worse.

The dosing lines are placed above a power head.

I am not seeing any cementing of sand.

There is precipitation on my Nero 5s which need to be dipped in vinegar about once a week. However I don’t see the usual white precipitation. They just randomly seize up.

My simplicity pump stopped working last week. Replaced it, the pump was 1.25 years old. Hard to say if connected.
Heaters do have some white precipitation, but it doesn’t seem excessive.

SPS growth is strong,

I am not sure what to do, but it is a challenge to stay in pace with alk demand. Any suggestions or thoughts?

 

[Ibn]

What's the alk level of your solution? Wonder if you've ever measure it before.

 

[Coral reefer]

How’s the ca and mg dosing rates and levels?

 

[Blaise006]

What's the alk level of your solution? Wonder if you've ever measure it before.

Of my ESV-B Ionic?

 

[Blaise006]

How’s the ca and mg dosing rates and levels?

Calcium is dosed at the exact same amount as alk. Stable at 475 +/-15. Trident reads high but is stable.

MG stable at 1350

 

[Ibn]

Yes, of the ESV-B Ionic.

It's conceivable that the amount of 2-part seems high but it might actually be what your tank is using. I remember talking to Alan when he had a 12" squamosa in his 100 gallon cube with no hard corals and he was dosing 400 mL/day just to keep up with it. With roughly 30 frags, plus a 6" clam, plus the amount of coralline in the tank, it's plausible that 180 mL is needed. You might even need to dose more depending on how much the alk is swinging daily when your lights are on.

 

[H2OPlayar]

I had a rugby ball sized chalice which was almost eating 100mg/day by itself of brs alk solution, so it isn't out of the question.

 

[Blaise006]

Yes, of the ESV-B Ionic.

It's conceivable that the amount of 2-part seems high but it might actually be what your tank is using. I remember talking to Alan when he had a 12" squamosa in his 100 gallon cube with no hard corals and he was dosing 400 mL/day just to keep up with it. With roughly 30 frags, plus a 6" clam, plus the amount of coralline in the tank, it's plausible that 180 mL is needed. You might even need to dose more depending on how much the alk is swinging daily when your lights are on.

I’ll dilute some to see if I can get it within range for a Hanna checker to double check.

 

[Blaise006]

I had a rugby ball sized chalice which was almost eating 100mg/day by itself of brs alk solution, so it isn't out of the question.

How many gallons was the tank?

 

[H2OPlayar]

How many gallons was the tank?

My 168 I have now