Help with Alkalinity levels

[Cdime712]

Okay so when I tested my Alk level it was over 20dkh and I did a water change . I came down to 12.5 dkh . My question is I'm I good or in the bad spot with this. Any help or guidance would be deeply appreciated. Below I post pictures you can see what's in my tank now.

 

[dwest]

Those are some big numbers! What test kit are you using? Are you dosing anything? What salt mix?

To answer your question, the 12ish number is ok if you can stabilize it.

 

[Cdime712]

Those are some big numbers! What test kit are you using? Are you dosing anything? What salt mix?

To answer your question, the 12ish number is ok if you can stabilize it.

It on 12 for the pass week. It's a digital test kit I spend $60 on. It blue plastic reading. You put salt first than pour a green liquid in it and then push a button and it'll tell you what you got.

 

[Cdime712]

Tester I use

 

[magicwhistle]

Woah.

Have you calibrated the HANNA checker? Make sure the vials are clean and try to put them in to the checker fingerprint free on the sides and always in the same orientation. This will ensure consistent results.

Assuming the numbers are correct are you dosing? How could your alk go up to 20?

12 will be fine but you’ll want to stabilize it at a level acceptable to you. IE. I’m trying to stabilize mine right now around 8.5.

 

[E_reefer]

Make sure you change it slowly.

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

That’s a good tester, Hanna checkers are like the gold standard in manual testing, your DKH shouldn’t ever be that high so something is making it climb. I like mine around 7.8-8.0. What salt mix and are you using RODI water? Your tank also looks very new.

 

[dwest]

It on 12 for the pass week. It's a digital test kit I spend $60 on. It blue plastic reading. You put salt first than pour a green liquid in it and then push a button and it'll tell you what you got.

Did you zero the meter with salt water before you added the reagent?

 

[Cdime712]

Did you zero the meter with salt water before you added the reagent?

Yes

 

[Cdime712]

That’s a good tester, Hanna checkers are like the gold standard in manual testing, your DKH shouldn’t ever be that high so something is making it climb. I like mine around 7.8-8.0. What salt mix and are you using RODI water? Your tank also looks very new.

Yes my tank is about 7 months old and right now I had somebody else check in from the fish store and they even got the same reading. I was using a buffer to help my pH not knowing that it was going to raise my alkaline. so I did a water change and I'm waiting another week before I do another water change.

 

[WvAquatics]

Yes my tank is about 7 months old and right now I had somebody else check in from the fish store and they even got the same reading. I was using a buffer to help my pH not knowing that it was going to raise my alkaline. so I did a water change and I'm waiting another week before I do another water change.

The buffer is most likely raising alk.

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

The buffer is most likely raising alk.

100% it is

 

[Cdime712]

The buffer is most likely raising alk.

Believe me I stop right away and did a water chnage. 20 got down to 12. I'm holding on 12 now with no change for about a week. This Friday going to do other water change. No buffer not all nothing I mean nothing

 

[PTXReef]

Glad you figured out the issue. Hope all goes well, love the look of your tank! Happy reefing !