High Alk, Low Cal and "normal" Mag

[MysticSea]

As you know from the title I have been dealing with a alkalinity problem for a few days now. I have been doing 15% water changes and am now thinking of doing a 50% water change because it seems to not improve. Here are my results:

Alkalinity: 20.0 dKH (probably higher) (Hanna, Salifert and Red Sea)
Calcium: 220 ppm (Hanna, Salifert and API)
Magnesium: 1350 ppm (Salifert)

Now I use multiple test kit brands from Hanna to API so I have multiple ways to check results. Please let me know what else can be done or if there is anything else.

 

[Daddy-o]

1st question, what are you adding that has your DKH at 20

 

[MysticSea]

1st question, what are you adding that has your DKH at 20

So I was adding a marine buffer to my freshwater, then adding that to the reef tank. That went on for three weeks tbh and long story short I am where I am at now. More to the story is that I started working a new job and so water testing decreased on my part.

 

[Daddy-o]

So you added too much "marine buffer"?

 

[Daddy-o]

Stop adding the buffer and do small regular water changes. If you do 50% water change, I would be afraid that your dkh will drop too rapidly.
Cheers! Mark

 

[MysticSea]

So you added too much "marine buffer"?

Yes because I forgot to put in the factor that when you make new saltwater using reef crystals the alkalinity increases.

 

[MysticSea]

Stop adding the buffer and do small regular water changes. If you do 50% water change, I would be afraid that your dkh will drop too rapidly.
Cheers! Mark

I stopped adding the first day I realized and been taking 15% out for four days and still shows the same. I believe the marine buffer solution is still dissolved in my system therefore making adjustments difficult parameter wise.

 

[Daddy-o]

Without knowing anything else about your reef, I would say if I did this with one of my reefs, I would continue with small frequent water changes and not try to make any other adjustment til I got the Alk. down. If you have coral, they should be able to get what they need from the water changes for now.
Cheers! Mark

 

[MysticSea]

Without knowing anything else about your reef, I would say if I did this with one of my reefs, I would continue with small frequent water changes and not try to make any other adjustment til I got the Alk. down. If you have coral, they should be able to get what they need from the water changes for now.
Cheers! Mark

Sounds good I will keep it up and see. But yes my corals are still hanging in there and the fish so likely I caught it before anything started dying off.

 

[Daddy-o]

How big is your tank

 

[MysticSea]

How big is your tank

Its a 25 gallon cube

 

[Daddy-o]

So your reef is small enough that you could do a little 1 gallon water change in the morning and maybe again each evening til you get that alk off the edge.

 

[Daddy-o]

How is your salinity?

 

[MysticSea]

How is your salinity?

Salinity is good always (+) or (-) from 34 ppt.