Blue Staghorn Acropora

i keep my alk round 10 to 11...thats cause i keep my cal way up also...i would refrag it before it goes any higher...plus how is ur iodine in ur tank...

this may sound weird but try it please...bout half hour after lights off if u have any turn ur fans on for 1 hr...that also helps...i do it to both my tank and sump at night ....it just gives it alittle air flow to help with gas exchange...

good to know. I'll open up the doors and keep the fan on the fuge, see if it helps.

Okay all you superior geeks, how do I go about using baking soda to raise my ALK?

take a couple teaspoons, dillute them in RO, dump em in your sump - wait a couple hours, test, and see how it worked

at least thats who I do it - hahaha Im sure there is a nerdier way tho!

Some one said something about baking it, and that just didn't sound right.

some people bake it - its a step in Randy's 2-part recipe.. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I believe the idea behind baking it is to reduce the water and carbon dioxide content of the baking soda, to reduce PH swings .... You don't have to use all parts of "randy's recipe", so feel free to follow his instructions on the alkalinity part, and skip the calcium part for your application

Originally Posted by estanoche

some people bake it - its a step in Randy's 2-part recipe.. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I believe the idea behind baking it is to reduce the water and carbon dioxide content of the baking soda, to reduce PH swings .... You don't have to use all parts of "randy's recipe", so feel free to follow his instructions on the alkalinity part, and skip the calcium part for your application

You are vast wealth of info, thx.

I'll start with the most recent question and work backwards...lol.

Baking the baking soda will depend on your tank's average pH. Baking it drives out moisture, and is appropriate for tanks that generally have a pH of below 8.3. If your tank is generally at 8.3 or above, no need to bake the baking soda. Baking the baking soda is the normal procedure. Very few tanks have an average pH of 8.3 or above.

Next, Interceptor and Redbugs. Redbugs are a problem and should be treated, as you've done, however, Redbugs aren't going to cause the issues you had that you started this thread over. Redbugs will cause a coral to not extend it's polyps, sometimes. However, redbugs will not cause the tissue recession you've been dealing with. BTW, you mentioned concern over your anemone, with an Interceptor treatment. No worries at all. Corals, Fish, Anemone, Clams, usually snails, will all be fine. Shrimp and Crabs will suffer.

As Joanne mentioned, do the Interceptor treatment, each week, for 3 weeks.

IMPORTANT...remove the air from your skimmer. You want water to circulate through your skimmer, to kill any possible red bugs in the skimmer, BUT you don't want your skimmer to skim as it'll remove the medication, through skimming. Also, you mentioned Carbon. I assume you meant for AFTER the treatment. Don't use carbon during the treatment, as it'll remove the medication from the water.

Alkalinity is most likely the problem. Your alk, at 7, is too low. One of the most common effects of low OR Extremely high Alk, is tissue loss.