dKh now at 16.2! Should I be concerned?

beesnreefs · Oct 2, 2020

This is a new build - JBJ 65 started cycling a few weeks back with LFS pre-mixed water, AF dry rock, AF bio sand, ammonium chloride to 4 ppm, Turbo Start 900, and the Pro Bio-S that came with the bio sand. Went through nitrifying cycle and now showing 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 6 ppm nitrate. Getting ready to put my first fish in.

Tested water at home using a combo of Salifert and Hanna checkers. dKh was at 6.4 so took a sample to the LFS to confirm on their API Aquaspin system. Confirmed. Planning on using the AF 1+2+3+ dosing system so went to their online calculator and put in dKh currently at 6.4, want to get it to 8.0. The calculator said to add 128 mL of Component 2+ (I set it at 55 gallons to account for my rock and sand and to be conservative).

Added that amount yesterday all at once (tank has no livestock in it right now). Tested with Hanna checker this morning and dKh now shows as 16.2!

Should I be concerned? Anything I should do?

Reefer302 · Oct 2, 2020

If You don't have any live stock than you might want to change it just don't go to fast with the changes 16 is to high you might want to check again to see if its accurate

Eleni18 · Oct 2, 2020

Hi. With Aquaforest 1+ 2+ 3+ you should dose equal amounts of all three components. They are supposed to interract in order to balance your parameters

Miller535 · Oct 2, 2020

I have yet to try it yet, but @Randy Holmes-Farley recommended seachem acid buffer for lowering alk. He said it will temporarily lower ph, but if you aerate it well for a day or two the ph will rise back and your alk will be lower.

Rhoads238 · Oct 2, 2020

If both your salifert and Hanna checker readings are high then I would say that the reading is accurate. Since you don’t have livestock I would probably do a 30-50% water change and then test again and see where you’re at. Then maybe follow up with another one if it’s still too high but give it a few days maybe a week. I don’t think this would upset the bacteria in the tank but you never know. I wouldn’t recommend adding any livestock until you get it around where you want it to be. Once it’s there do any remaining adjustments slowly and you’ll be fine.

beesnreefs · Oct 3, 2020

Thanks everyone for the quick responses! I took a deep breath and re-tested twice. Both times the Hanna checker read all at 7.9.

I must have just messed up the original test. I'll mark it down to a newb freak out