doseing

Hi all.

I have always had low alk, 6-7, but recently my corals seem to be a bit worse for wear and some of my hammerhead has died off, i dose using baking soda to raise the alk, 2 and half teaspoons raises it by 1, but after a day or so its back to normal, is the skimmer simply takeing it out the water aswell as the corals, should i dose every day?, my calcium is currently at 390 and my mag as not moved for months 1400, is this right?

How does this sound, what if i dose with baking soda every day until my alk gets to say 12, then dose calcium, keeping a eye on alk until it gets to 420?

ph-8
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-0
temp-80
phos-0.003


Cheers for any advice.

 

Yes, that is a plan. That way you can see the fall off rate after you get to 12 DKH and develop a dosing schedule. I personally use Reef Builder. It does a better job than Baking Soda, which I used to use.

 

Thanks for the quick reply, does the reef builder actually raise calcium and alk or does it just keep it at the desired level?, How did you find using baking soda, did you have to dise it often?

 

I really only dosed Baking Soda (1 Teaspoon per each 20 gal.) once a week and after water changes to maintain PH. Right now, in my 55 gal. I was dosing Reef Builder at 1 1/2 Teaspoons 3 times a week but have since cut down to 2 and Alk stays at 11-12 DKH and PH at 8.2, however I am using Sea-Lab #14 to keep PH at 8.2-8.3.

 

ok, cheers will give it a go..