All of a sudden in the last month in a nine month old mixed reef 25 gallon tank, I started needing to dose Alkalinity (KH) and Calcium (Ca) in addition to the Kalkwasser I was already using with my ATO (~5 gallons week super saturated). I have been using 2-Part Bionic in my attempts to maintain the appropriate target levels of 8.5 dKH and 450 ppm Ca. Magnesium has been at 1300 – 1500 ppm with pH range between 7.96 and 8.34 (calibrated PinPoint pH Probe). Salinity has been in range of 1.024 to 1.025 sg. I am using new ELOS KH, Ca, and Mg test kits.

The Bionic bottles indicate I should not be dosing more than 25 ml per day of each which has not been enough to keep my KH and Ca levels at target levels. I have been finding I need to slowly dose 30 ml in the morning and then another 30 ml at night.

I did switch from Tropic Marine Pro salt to Reef Crystals salt, started using the ZEOvit Reactor, and I am noticing some good growth from my corals when I started seeing instability with my KH levels. I wonder what I am experiencing is normal or an underlining problem with something I am doing.

More Information:
Reef Tank Log

UPDATE: Tank has stabilized at 60 ml/day of each Alk/Ca. I started using two Drew’s Peristaltic Dosing pumps along with my ReefKeeper Elite to evenly and alternately dose both throughout the day.

UPDATE: Tank has stabilized once Ca levels dropped below 600 ppm and was able to discontinue dosing Alk and Ca. It appears the high levels was giving false perception needing to dose large amounts of Alk and set a cycle in place until the Ca dropped to appropriate levels.

References