15 Alk too high?

[GpixL_]

What kind of fish

I want to add a pair of clownfish to help cycling

 

[Willb25]

What kind of fish

Fish are more tolerable of a wide range of parameters and survive

 

[GpixL_]

Fish are more tolerable of a wide range of parameters and survive

Yeah I read up on clownfish and they seem to be ok. Just wanted to make sure that the alk would be ok for them

 

[Willb25]

I want to add a pair of clownfish to help cycling

Ki

Ok, and the fish?

 

[GpixL_]

Ki

?

 

[Willb25]

I wouldn't see a problem adding them in next week or when the alkalinity is in range.

 

[GpixL_]

I wouldn't see a problem adding them in next week or when the alkalinity is in range.

Ok, I was going to order them for tuesday but I prob wont do that now. Unless the alkalinity is perfect tmrw

 

[Willb25]

Ok, I was going to order them for tuesday but I prob wont do that now. Unless the alkalinity is perfect tmrw

Yeah, don't rush putting things in your tank and don't try to dramatically change levels over night because you can kill fish and coral and just be wasting money

 

[GpixL_]

Yeah, don't rush putting things in your tank and don't try to dramatically change levels over night because you can kill fish and coral and just be wasting money

Yeah fs. I just checked again for the hell of it and it went up even more to 16. What could be causing this?

 

[Willb25]

When did you set it up

 

[GpixL_]

When did you set it up

Few days ago

 

[Willb25]

Few days ago

Leave alone tonight and check it tomorrow.

 

[GpixL_]

Leave alone tonight and check it tomorrow.

Ok thanks

 

[Willb25]

Ok thanks

If it's still high in the morning. Then decrease the surface agitation some more and check it after a couple of hours.

 

[Willb25]

Ok thanks

What kind of powerheads do u have

 

[homer1475]

Lol relatable. So just to make sure, good alkalinity creates oxygen exchange so I dont need nor should point powerheads at surface?

What?

Surface agitation has nothing to do with alkalinity. Agitating the surface, less or more, will not effect alkalinity one bit. Will it effect PH, sure, but it will not effect alk one bit.

 

[Dbichler]

Stop testing for alk and calcium you should be checking your nitrogen cycle. Ammonia then nitrite then nitrate when ammonia hits 0 Do a 100% water change and none of the previous matters so long as it’s not your salt. Test your salt before adding it to the tank. Problem solved.

 

[homer1475]

Stop testing for alk and calcium you should be checking your nitrogen cycle. Ammonia then nitrite then nitrate when ammonia hits 0 Do a 100% water change and none of the previous matters so long as it’s not your salt. Test your salt before adding it to the tank. Problem solved.

+1

I was going to post something similar, but felt the need to address the other glaring issue in this thread before someone else reads it, and decided it's good info.

 

[Rmckoy]

How long after mixing are you waiting before testing ?

high alk in a very new system is common .
let it run and cycle .
you will need some sort of ammonia source to get it started .
I wouldn’t worry too much about alkalinity or calcium at this point .

making sure the system can process ammonia is the first and most important step .
do not add any livestock until you are sure it’s cycled .
As the system matures it alkalinity and calcium will stabilize
In the mean time . I would calibrate your hydrometer to measure salinity accurately .

when mixing salt water add salt In measured amounts not to add too much salt .

the best advice : take your time !
nothing good happens fast

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Lol relatable. So just to make sure, good alkalinity creates oxygen exchange so I dont need nor should point powerheads at surface?

Yeah agitation on the surface is good! Wow your getting some off advice here, you have a testing error your salinity level is to low to get that high of alk with out either dosing something adding it or you testing wrong. It can't be 15dkh at 1.023sg no commercial salts mix to that.