The local fish store told me my pH was too low and so I added buffer to raise it for about three days. for some reason I thought pH and alkalinity he were about the same thing and only tested my pH my alkalinity level is now at more than 105 dkh! I did a 10 gallon water change yesterday and today I tested and there is not enough room for to measure what it actually maybe. I added some calcium for the first time and it was at 380ppm. What should I do? The blasts aren't liking it but most everything else is alive.. how soon will that last?? Thanks again
Dkh over 100???? Help please!
- Thread starter LandenB
- Start date
- Tagged users None
How much buffer did you add? What's the volume of water?
I'm thinking testing error or something, your tank would look like a snow globe from precipitation before your alkalinity got that high...
How much experience do you have with that test kit?
Edit to add, the vial you are showing in the picture has already reached /passed the end point. The test is complete at the first hint of orange that you cannot swish away. It is NOT going to match the card
I'm thinking testing error or something, your tank would look like a snow globe from precipitation before your alkalinity got that high...
How much experience do you have with that test kit?
Edit to add, the vial you are showing in the picture has already reached /passed the end point. The test is complete at the first hint of orange that you cannot swish away. It is NOT going to match the card
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Man, I feel for you! I would recommend never adding buffer to a DT. Maybe a QT or FW for a dip, but never to a DT.The local fish store told me my pH was too low and so I added buffer to raise it for about three days. for some reason I thought pH and alkalinity he were about the same thing and only tested my pH my alkalinity level is now at more than 105 dkh! I did a 10 gallon water change yesterday and today I tested and there is not enough room for to measure what it actually maybe. I added some calcium for the first time and it was at 380ppm. What should I do? The blasts aren't liking it but most everything else is alive.. how soon will that last?? Thanks again
Geek Alert! Science Ahead!
Carbonate, Bi-Carbonate and Carbonic Acid all exist in a balance in an aquarium CO3 <--> HCO3 <--> H2CO3. If you add Carbonate, it shifts the equation to the left and pH goes up (Total Alk goes up too). If you add CO2, the equation shifts right and pH goes down (Total Alk does not change).
In order to raise pH without raising Alkalinity, the only method is to reduce the amount of CO2 dissolved in the water. This is typically done by opening windows in the house or running an airline for the skimmer intake outside. You can also add a CO2 scrubber to your skimmer if running the airline outside isn't an option.
kschweer
Moderator
I suspect the same. You are looking for a color change not the exact color on the card. That vile looks extremly full I'm guessing it's reagent. Run the test again just looking for the color change and report your results.
As a side note try not to chase ph numbers. I have seen people do far more harm than good doing so.
msderganc
Active Member
There's no way you're at 105 dKh. I don't think it's actually possible to get that high. @Randy Holmes-Farley
Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
This is a redsea test kit it should turn blue not orange, well......... that is in the redsea test kits I've been using over the last 10 years.
EDIT!! Oops my bad I'm talking CAL and MAG for ALK I'm using Hanna only.
EDIT!! Oops my bad I'm talking CAL and MAG for ALK I'm using Hanna only.
Last edited:
Leslie Tabor
Valuable Member
I have that same test kit, the card says it is supposed to turn a completely different color but it is an error. The end color is that orange color, it does not change to the color on the card. Run your test and as soon as the blue color turns to the orange color that is the end of the test.
John Carroll
Active Member
Just like the card shows, it should be blue first. As soon as it turns orange, you are done. It will NOT match the color on the card. Blue-add more- orange-done
Leslie Tabor
Valuable Member
For some reason some of the tests came out with off color cards, it states the end color is red but it actually turns orange. I even called Red Sea just to be sure.
Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
You are right on the color, my bad.
I did edit my post for further confusing.
Yet with 105 DKH you should be looking at a crashed tank as we speak.
Either error here or a expired test kit.
Leslie Tabor
Valuable Member
I was thinking dead tank if it were 105...I killed a lot of LPS/birdnests being dumb with buffer and my dkh was only at 10...sigh
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Yup, 105 just can't happen. It would be snowing in the tank. Unfortunately, even with a reasonable alk spike, it can take a day or two for the coral to start showing rtn.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Unfortunately, the spike has happened. You probably can't do much about it at this point. Your best bet is just to let it come down on its own. Just test and keep your calcium levels up where you want them while your alk drops.
First thing is get a valid alk test result. Red sea has videos on YouTube of how to do this test, the vial will start blue and change to orange. Without a test result, I would do nothing and either have your lfs run an alk test or get another kit.
