Help! Alk at 17.1 dKH

Grissino · May 13, 2015

So I began testing my water today in my well-established 125 gallon reef, which I only do once a month. My Alk is 17.1...I usually have it around 10, Mg is 1600 which always runs this high, and Ca at 400. What should I do? Should I do my weekly 5 gallon water change today? Should I let it slowly come down?

Downbeach · May 13, 2015

Are you using any type of pH buffer? Are you sure of your test kit accuracy? It might be prudent to get a second opinion. What is the condition of your coral?

Grissino · May 13, 2015

The coral looks great other that I notice a couple of zoas melting. I'm using a Red Sea test kit and it has always been accurate. I'll take a sample to the LFS but I'm pretty sure it's accurate. I also tested it twice with the same results

Downbeach · May 13, 2015

Check the elements in your make up water, if you still get high readings there are a few things that might cause it: bad test kit, bad salt mix, salt mix needs to be mixed. There is some evidence that these elements can separate into their elemental grain sized during shipping, and if not mixed before use, could give you a disproportionate amount of one or the other when you make up your water for WC's

chaoha · May 17, 2015

I would check the water again. If the alk is that high you should have cloudy water from calcium precipitation.

Grissino · May 17, 2015

I did not have cloudy water but it has come down steadily over the past week about 1 point per day.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 18, 2015

We need to know what additives you have used (if any).

If you've used none, it is also possible you just have an inaccurate test result for some reason as alkalinity does not rise on its own.

Chameleon · May 18, 2015

Sounds like a bad kit to me. Double check it with another kit. If it really is that high then I'd do a couple 10% water changes over the next couple days and make sure I am not dosing and alkalinity to the tank.