Alk too high

[ravedood]

I was setting up my first dosing pump from Neptune systems. I know I am supposed to check the alk and cal on a daily basis but I got distracted with other things. I finally got a chance to check the alk and it is 14.7. Ph is at 8.5 How can I quickly lower the alk without hurting my corals? I di see some of them are already turning white. Please help!

 

[Spare time]

Water change or just letting it drop

 

[Hemmdog]

What was your alk stable at before? I would do a water change.

 

[Copingwithpods]

I know everyone says to not drop it too fast as it's just as bad but I've been there alk above 14 and everything in my tank looked like it wanted to jump ship so the question is, yes dropping it too fast is also bad but leaving it this high is basically poison so what I did was do a 90% water change with water I know to be a 9dkh.everything survived except my coraline algae it all bleached and died. Small price to pay for such drastic changes.

My advice, drop alk as fast as you can with water changes, the bigger the better.

 

[Spare time]

Water change or just letting it drop

The reason I said that it may be ok to drop is that some salts like reef crystal has an alk of around 13. A small water change could easily bring your alk back into a healthy range.

 

[Deezill]

Actually you can buffer that alk with a teaspoon of white vinegar. Just saying salt can be expensive pending your brand. No reason to change other parameters if ALk is the only sky-high issue. White Vinegar.

 

[NormanB]

I agree with the white vinegar...just go slow...

 

[jim_fitz]

i have a 3000 litre tank and couldnt do enough water changes

so in the end i poured in acid

felt so wrong but it worked did it very slowly though

 

[Deezill]

Yep. Vinegar is an acid. You got it right. Quick Buffer.

 

[JD2716]

What would be a good ratio per gallon for white vinegar? I overdosed my salt water mix and limited on salt because of this virus.

 

[Deezill]

how big is your tank? I Know I dosed mine 10 - 20 to bring mine down to what i need I think it was like 20ML bought mine down by 0.5ppm if i remember correctly.