Alk Crash?

[MichaelReefer]

Good morning.

Over the last few days I seem to be experiencing an alkalinity crash. I'm not quite sure why, but I went from 8.1 to 7.0 in two days. I dont consider my tank to be very heavily stocked, and normally 10 Teaspoons of Kalkwasser mixed into five gallons of ATO water keeps me stable, around 8.0-8.3. I tried adding some Fusion pt 2 and noticed that when I add it, it turns into a solid, like white flakes? Not sure if that has anything to do with it. I rarely ever have to use it and dont recall it ever doing that... Appreciate any help.

 

[dank reefer]

Have you tested your Alk with another test kit?

 

[Uncle99]

Is your MG on point?
Should be 1320-1420ppm.

 

[Uncle99]

On a low MG, when you added Fusion, some is coming together soon as you dose.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Have you tested your Alk with another test kit?

Yes. My hanna actually showed 6.7. So not sure what one to trust.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Is your MG on point?
Should be 1320-1420ppm.

A tad high. 1530.

 

[Screwgunner]

Barebotton or sand

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Did you recently open windows? That will up pH which ups demand.

Check the reagents for the alk measuring device to be sure it is not running out.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Did you recently open windows? That will up pH which ups demand.

Check the reagents for the alk measuring device to be sure it is not running out.

Negative. I'm in Commiefornia, its been over 95 every day here.

Reagents were replaced a week ago.

 

[Screwgunner]

If you are running barebottom you will have alk swings mine drops non stop . Substriaght seems to help alk .

 

[MichaelReefer]

If you are running barebottom you will have alk swings mine drops non stop . Substriaght seems to help alk .

Its sand. tank is over a year.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Randy, I may have made a mistake. When I was home for lunch I added a few tablespoons of baking soda and now my alk jumped to 10.26, do I need to leave work and take care of it or do you think the coral and fish will be ok?

 

[dvgyfresh]

Randy, I may have made a mistake. When I was home for lunch I added a few tablespoons of baking soda and now my alk jumped to 10.26, do I need to leave work and take care of it or do you think the coral and fish will be ok?

I would say what’s done is done, maybe just auto top off with regular water until alk drops back down

 

[MichaelReefer]

I would say what’s done is done, maybe just auto top off with regular water until alk drops back down

My main worry is will my tank be ok? Or do I need to bail from work?

 

[ScottB]

My main worry is will my tank be ok? Or do I need to bail from work?

You should be OK. I once butt-dialed 1/2 liter of ALK into 80G and had no mortality. Fish certainly won't care.

 

[dvgyfresh]

My main worry is will my tank be ok? Or do I need to bail from work?

The alkalinity isn’t an issue that high , the issue is raising it too much too fast but that has already happened, at this point I’m not sure what being home would accomplish , I would just let the tank be with no to little changes. You can do a water change with slightly lower alk

 

[dank reefer]

And like @Randy Holmes-Farley said, a .5 swing is not life threatening by any means.

 

[MichaelReefer]

And like @Randy Holmes-Farley said, a .5 swing is not life threatening by any means.

So just go back to normal RODI for my ATO until its back into the 8s?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So just go back to normal RODI for my ATO until its back into the 8s?

That's what I would do.

Trying to more rapidly lower alk is hard work.