How to lower alk?

Reefing Madness · Jun 23, 2014

NanaReefer said:
Not so wonderful advice

Don't fear what you've never done. This I have done in my tank several times, with no issues. And those instructions are directly from Randal Holmes-Farley.

Pete polyp · Jun 23, 2014

Reefing Madness said:
You can knock it down using Muriatic Acid if its still not in your range.
adding 1/11,000 of the water volume as this acid will drop alkalinity by 1 meq/l (2.8 dKH).

You want a drop of 13-7 = 6 dKH, or 2.1 times that amount, so you'd add 1/5,100th of the water volume.

13 gallons ~ 49 L

1/5100 of 49 L = 9.6 mL

So I'd add 5 ml and stir well for a few minutes and see what alkalinity you get. Then dose again assuming it seems on the right track.

You'll need to aerate well after adding the acid to blow off the excess CO2 and bring up the pH.
"Randy Farley-Holmes"

This was the answer I was looking for. I remember reading Randy's article but couldn't remember what to use

Cyprus30 · Sep 2, 2015

My alkilinity is way too high 20dkh what shouls i do? Pls help my tank is 28 days old!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 2, 2015

Cyprus30 said:
My alkilinity is way too high 20dkh what shouls i do? Pls help my tank is 28 days old!

You need to figure out why before you do anything else, in case it may be testing error.

Are you using tap water to make new salt water and top off? It can contain a lot of alkalinity.

Are you adding any additives or buffers?

Cyprus30 · Sep 2, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You need to figure out why before you do anything else, in case it may be testing error.

Are you using tap water to make new salt water and top off? It can contain a lot of alkalinity.

Are you adding any additives or buffers?

I used tap water to start it up because i disnt have a ro system then but now that i do they told me not to put new water in cause it will blow the cycle. I added a buffer the dirst days but havent used it then almost 20 days now and it still wont go down. I tedt it everyday and have tested other water i sont think the test kit is wrong and i cant figure out why the alkilinity is ao high. Isnt there a way to resuce it????

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 2, 2015

The tap water and or buffer pushed it up and since you probably have few rapidly growing hard corals, it will be slow to come down.
Are you still cycling the tank, or are there creatures in it?

What size tank?

reefndude · Sep 2, 2015

I used muriatic acid in my make up water. Used 1.2 ml for 5 gallons. Dropped alk from 10 to right around 8

Cyprus30 · Sep 2, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The tap water and or buffer pushed it up and since you probably have few rapidly growing hard corals, it will be slow to come down.
Are you still cycling the tank, or are there creatures in it?

What size tank?

I am still cycling the tank it is 100 ltrs...will it ever drop after the cycle?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 2, 2015

Cyprus30 said:
I am still cycling the tank it is 100 ltrs...will it ever drop after the cycle?

Alkalinity will drop during cycling, and then also later as organisms use alkalinity (like hard corals, clams, or coralline algae) or if nitrate is being produced.

Cyprus30 · Sep 3, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Alkalinity will drop during cycling, and then also later as organisms use alkalinity (like hard corals, clams, or coralline algae) or if nitrate is being produced.

Thx for you repliea

but can i put cam i put corals in if the alkilinity is so high? Or will they die?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 3, 2015

I'd either wait, bring it down with a big water change, or bring it down with an acid addition before adding expensive corals.

Cyprus30 · Sep 3, 2015

L

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I'd either wait, bring it down with a big water change, or bring it down with an acid addition before adding expensive corals.

Like what kind of acid addition? Thx

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 3, 2015

Earlier in this thread we describe how to add muriatic acid. You can also use certain freshwater aquarium products such as Seachem Acid Buffer. Acids will lower pH tremendously until you blow off the excess CO2, so if you add it to the main tank, add it slowly (over a few days) and keep aeration high.

Cyprus30 · Sep 3, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Earlier in this thread we describe how to add muriatic acid. You can also use certain freshwater aquarium products such as Seachem Acid Buffer. Acids will lower pH tremendously until you blow off the excess CO2, so if you add it to the main tank, add it slowly (over a few days) and keep aeration high.

Ok thx

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 3, 2015

Cyprus30 said:
Ok thx

You're welcome.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

Cyprus30 · Sep 4, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You're welcome.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

Im not going to use any acids and wait for it to drop and stabilize by itself. I did a test yesterday and it was lower 17dhk and calcium 440 from 650

so i think i should just wait. But my nitrates are stil 20mg so i cant put anything in:-((((((

LILBUDDHA · Sep 4, 2015

NanaReefer said:
Not so wonderful advice

Not trying to start a stink with this .
What's wrong with it ?
He has no corals in the tank .
The numbers sound spot on . He didn't mention adding the acid directly to the tank . I take it when he stated to aerate the water to drive off co2.I am sure he meant while mixing a batch of new salt water .
Bob Stark of ESV even gave similar advice to me when I had the same issue . My Alk was not as high as the OP. My problem was solved by laying off the calcium ascorbate /VIT C dosing .
Well at least Randy posted so no worries since u are going to let it fall naturally .

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 4, 2015

Cyprus30 said:
Im not going to use any acids and wait for it to drop and stabilize by itself. I did a test yesterday and it was lower 17dhk and calcium 440 from 650 so i think i should just wait. But my nitrates are stil 20mg so i cant put anything in:-((((((

That's a fine plan. I wills say, however, that calcium did not drop from 650 to 440 ppm. That can only be testing error. For that to happen by the only calcium reduction mechanism that happens in aquaria (calcium carbonate precipitation), it would take a long time and alkalinity would have had to drop by 29 dKH.

Jaysushi · May 29, 2018

@Randy Holmes-Farley Sorry for reviving an old thread, but I have a question about muriatic acid. I added some to my water change water to lower my alk. However, within 4-5 days when I test the alk it slowly creeps up again.

I'm not sure if it's the kind of muriatic acid that I'm using? I'll link it below.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-gal-Green-Muriatic-Acid-GKGM75006/202690263

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 30, 2018

If there was undissolved calcium carbonate deposits remaining on the bottom or sides of the mixing container (mine has a ton), it would slowly dissolve at lower pH.

The only issue with the brand you used is that it is weaker than standard muriatic acid. It's one of the few types of products were less product is being touted as an advantage.