Alkalinity just spiked!

[RussC]

Well, reprogramed my dosing pumps and did it wrong. My alkalinity went from 8.2 to 12.6 in three hours. Preparing for a water change but it will take me some time to make the water. Any suggestions on what to do? Tank inhabitants look and are acting okay. First time something like this has happened. Thoughts? Input?

 

[Crabs McJones]

If everything is acting ok, i'd let the alk come down on its own. If you swing up, and then swing down to fast you may cause your corals to STN or even RTN. If you do want to do water changes, make them small so you're not swinging back down to fast.

 

[snowbanked]

Personally I would do a large water change, but I have a nano tank so it's easy. Otherwise maybe keep the tank under close observation.

 

[RussC]

This was such a bonehead mistake. I missed one line of code in Apex and now this. Uhhh. So glad I caught it, even if it was three hours later.

I'm surprised things are not visibly affected. This is the highest ALK my tank has ever been. Not to mention, the largest swing ever.

I just did a water change. So my next change is in two weeks. I may just let this play out, let the ALK come down on its own.

 

[dwest]

This was such a bonehead mistake. I missed one line of code in Apex and now this. Uhhh. So glad I caught it, even if it was three hours later.

I'm surprised things are not visibly affected. This is the highest ALK my tank has ever been. Not to mention, the largest swing ever.

I just did a water change. So my next change is in two weeks. I may just let this play out, let the ALK come down on its own.

If I were heavy sps AND my salt mix alkalinity was closer to 8 than 12, I would do a couple extra changes between now and my next change. Otherwise, I would let it ride like Crabs said...Nice job catching it!

 

[RussC]

Went ahead and did a water change. First change since the spike. My new water does have a lower alk than the spike, so I hope to see a reduction. Plan to give it 24 hours and see how things have progressed.

 

[RussC]

After 20% water change, it dropped the tank 1 dkh to 11.6. So far, critters looking good. Corals looking good. Tank looks great. I've since learned more about STN and RTN. I was told I'd likely begin seeing RTN in the first 24-28 hours. So far, no indication of RTN! Getting water together for another change. This time, though, thinking of using Muriatic Acid in my new water to reduce the ALK several DKH. From what I've read, doesn't take much to make a reduction. But it will also affect PH when doing this. So to counter that, I need to aerate with oxygen and stone. Any experience with that folks?