Does coralline eat baking soda?

[sen5241b]

My coralline has had a significant die back especially where the light is strongest and my alkalinity has been chronically low. I have been dosing with unbaked baking soda to keep alkalinity high. According to reefkeeping mag, coralline will suck a lot of alk out of the water. Alk can consists of different things. Will keeping alk high with baking soda help my coralline grow?

 

[SeaBee]

I just use Reef a and b twice a week, and sometimes put in an extra dose of the B. Coraline is doing well so far.

 

[ccCapt]

Yes, coralline algae (actually anything that uses the calcification process) will use alk, calcium and mag in a set ratio of aprox 1 meq/l alk, 18 ppm calcium, 2 ppm mag.

 

[sen5241b]

Yes, coralline algae (actually anything that uses the calcification process) will use alk, calcium and mag in a set ratio of aprox 1 meq/l alk, 18 ppm calcium, 2 ppm mag.

Yeah, but do they particular types of carbonates from baking soda cause coralline to grow? I had the impression that alk can consists of many different things and perhaps not all cause coralline growth, true?

 

[ccCapt]

I think your over thinking the process. It's complex enough. ;)
Just keep your alk in the 8-12 dKH range by whatever buffers/additives you want, calcium around 400 and mag around 1300.

Here's an indepth article on alk if you want to get down to chemistry equations.
Chemistry and the Aquarium: What is Alkalinity?

 

[winyfrog]

I you keep it on the lower side of the scale you will get better coralline growth. the higher end will actually slow your growth.

I have a couple maintenance contract that are acrylic tanks that we keep the alk higher so there won't be so much to scrape off tank.