High KH level...how high is too high?

[EricksonHQI]

Our KH reading was at 14dKH. It was at 13 last week when I went to my LFS, they got a high reading too... I'm just wondering how high is too high? How do I get it down? And what could be causing this?

 

[Steven R]

anything over 12dkh is ill advised but tolerated by most just slowly bring it down what type of salt are you using and what are you dosing?

 

[EricksonHQI]

How do I get it back down?

We use saltwater directly from our LFS
I dosed Seachem Marine buffer 2 days ago,
And added a few drops of Kent's liquid calcium today as our calcium was between 380 & 400

 

[olaggie01]

If you do nothing, it will slowly fall on its own, as it is consumed. Don't add anymore buffer.

 

[EricksonHQI]

What should I use to regulate our ph level?

 

[Aquaph8]

I'd stay no higher than eleven. To fox the problem I would start by dosing just calcium chloride or the calcium part of a two part system. Your alk should start falling as your calcium goes up. Make sure not to use any buffer or kalk at this time cause it'll just throw you more out of wack.

 

[Steven R]

What should I use to regulate our ph level?

brightwell 8.4 will maintain your PH AND KH very easy. or seachem 8.3 is also very easy to use and controls both PH AND KH.

 

[evolved]

What should I use to regulate our ph level?

You shouldn't need to use anything if your parameters are in check, and you have sufficient oxygenation of the tank.

 

[pickupman66]

Let the KH go down on its own. easiest way to do so is to not dose it and let your corals absorb it. Dose Ca though to keep it in the correct range along with MG if you do that. a good KH level (above 8 and below 10, your preference) should in itself help to maintain a stable PH. also, dont sweat the PH as it will gently fluctuate on a daily basis, and dont work to maintain a specific PH that is in the good range 7.7-8.3 IMO.

you just dont want it bouncing around all over the place. your tank should find its balance on the PH when you have your KH and Ca in line.

 

[Shelbel0621]

what is your resolution .5dkh or 1.0dkh?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure there is convincing evidence that there is any upper limit to alkalinity from a coral perspective, as long as you provide adequate nutrition. There likely is a limit, but the values others are suggesting are likely below it, and may be more related to nutrition inadequacies than alkalinity alone.

I think in practical terms, the high levels are very hard to maintain without excessive precipitation of calcium carbonate on warm objects or exposed calcium carbonate surfaces (such as sand or rock).

 

[iMi]

I'm not sure there is convincing evidence that there is any upper limit to alkalinity from a coral perspective, as long as you provide adequate nutrition. There likely is a limit, but the values others are suggesting are likely below it, and may be more related to nutrition inadequacies than alkalinity alone.

I think in practical terms, the high levels are very hard to maintain without excessive precipitation of calcium carbonate on warm objects or exposed calcium carbonate surfaces (such as sand or rock).

Is it possible for rock or sand in the tank to be contributing to rising alkalinity levels?