Hello, so about a week ago I used chemiclean to remove some cyano I was getting my 3 month old 36g bow front. I followed the directions exactly including doing a water change 48 hrs after use. It removed most of the cyano but I started to notice my SPS were not opening and then my monti cap began to bleach. I tested my parameters and realized the Red Sea alkinity teat was coming back as overdose (I am not dosing anything). When I add the reagent the water turns yellow instead of the blue that it should. I immediately thought it was an issue with my test kit but I used another kit and got the same result. I then did a 5g wc and tested to new water to again check the kits and got a reading of 9.8. My SPS are remaing closed and the monti is almost completely bleached, please help! Thanks in advance!
Alkalinity Spike?
- Thread starter Zach0918
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sbash
Valuable Member
I used Chemiclean once, and it wiped out half my SPS... I have a thread here somewhere, but I also did plenty of reading on this product.
Basically, it strips the water column of oxygen; which is why the instructions say to keep the skimmer going and to add an airstone. Anyway, I would theorise, the Chemiclean did its job, but used up too much of the oxygen in the process and affected your SPS. So your alkalinity is spiking because your corals aren't consuming as much nutrients as they would when they are in top health.
Test your water daily until the levels are where you want them, and dose daily as needed. 9.8 alk isn't high per se, but if you normally keep your alk at 7, then a sudden rise up to 9+ could cause some damage.
Basically, it strips the water column of oxygen; which is why the instructions say to keep the skimmer going and to add an airstone. Anyway, I would theorise, the Chemiclean did its job, but used up too much of the oxygen in the process and affected your SPS. So your alkalinity is spiking because your corals aren't consuming as much nutrients as they would when they are in top health.
Test your water daily until the levels are where you want them, and dose daily as needed. 9.8 alk isn't high per se, but if you normally keep your alk at 7, then a sudden rise up to 9+ could cause some damage.
Agreed.
madweazl
2500 Club Member
If Zach0918 wasn't dosing anything, there would be no way for the alkalinity to climb in that scenario.
What level does the test kit max out at? If your freshly mixed water is at 9.8 dKh, that would be a range acceptable for the corals but if you dont know what the current tank levels are, you could be dropping it at a rate that could further stress the corals if you did larger water changes. Try to find out the current tank levels and then use water changes to bring the alkalinity of the tank down gradually if it's over about 11 dKh.
You may want to double check salinity as well.
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GoVols
Cobb / Webb - 1989
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Check your nitrates.
There's a connection between nitrates and alkalinity, that can lead to alk swings.
The higher the alk the more you need to feed your reef to keep up organics, so your sps don't bleach.
I dose Reef Energy all the time in-case I get an alk spike.
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GoVols
Cobb / Webb - 1989
Reef Squad Leader
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Reef Tank 365
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I dose both Red Sea Reef Energy A and B.
Don't know if it will help your current situation, but hoping for the best.
10ppm is really good in my book for nitrates.
