Brs 2 part and my crabs

[jozer1]

Hello all,

Here's my question. I just started dosing BRS 2 part two days ago. I did the calculator and started to dose just half of the soda ash to raise alkalinity. Ph was good, magnesium is good. 1st day tank alkalinity did go up and I'm happy about that. The weird part is that I noticed one of my emerald crabs was dead. I figured it was just his time. I dosed half the 2nd day, now I go to check on the tank and my large arrow crab that I had is also dead. I know it's been hot and the temp went up to 81 degrees. Other than that nothing has really changed. Could the fact that I'm dosing cause something to my crabs? Anyone know what would be a primary reason for crabs dying? Can my fish be next? Please advise, thank you.

 

[homer1475]

How fast are you raising the ALK? While the actual product shouldn't harm the inhabitants, the amount you raise your ALK in a single dose could have detrimental effects on the inverts.

 

[ScottR]

Can you post before and after parameters? Before dosing and after dosing

 

[jozer1]

Can you post before and after parameters? Before dosing and after dosing

 

[Phyber]

How fast are you raising the ALK? While the actual product shouldn't harm the inhabitants, the amount you raise your ALK in a single dose could have detrimental effects on the inverts.

this... BRS advises not raising more than 1.4dkh in a single adjustment. I've accidentally gone higher once though, but would not repeat it.

 

[jozer1]

this... BRS advises not raising more than 1.4dkh in a single adjustment. I've accidentally gone higher once though, but would not repeat it.

Yes I saw that too and wondered if that's what could have caused it. I just tested now with Hanna and got 6.88 dKH

 

[jozer1]

I'm also thinking my PH meter is not working right. I bought one on amazon but the reading doesnt seem to change much. I thought if the Alk. Went up so would the Ph . Mine didnt really go up.

 

[Phyber]

Yes I saw that too and wondered if that's what could have caused it. I just tested now with Hanna and got 6.88 dKH

I'm also thinking my PH meter is not working right. I bought one on amazon but the reading doesnt seem to change much. I thought if the Alk. Went up so would the Ph . Mine didnt really go up.

You got that 6dk AFTER dosing?? like immediately? something's wrong there...

As for the pH, that swing is temporary...You can see in my graph below where I OD'd one time and shot the ph up. It stayed that high for about 10 minutes then started coming down... I would double check that you made the solution correctly and are testing correctly.

 

[jozer1]

3rd crab just died but this time it was the crab from the small tank. This time the alkalinity stayed stable. Since it's the small tank I did a quick water change. I think I'm just going to stop dosing and do more research as to why this is happening. I have not changed anything other than the alk dosing.