Huge PH Spike 8.8

[RMS18]

Tested my Alk with my new hanna tester as my redsea was to hard to figure out the right color. Hanna came back with 102ppm. So I used a reef calculator to calculate how much of ESV B-ionic calcium buffer system component number 1 alkalinity to use. I dosed just under half of what the calculator said. Added 5ml to a system of 32 gallons. When I added I added it in front of a power head. It was cloudy then cleared up. Came back into the room 10 min later and the entire tank is cloudy, very cloudy as if I poured a bag of Un- rinsed sand. My PH is at 8.8. This can not be good.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much did you boost alkalinity? A boost of 0.5 meq/L (25 ppm) with B-ionic will boost pH instantly by about 0.35 - 0.4 pH units.

You probably boosted alkalinity too fast and that spiked the pH which caused the precipitation of calcium carbonate.

It will not likely harm anything once it clears on its own (a few days, typically), and there is nothing you can really do that is useful. Don't bother with a water change.

The precipitation and continued aeration will bring down the pH. I expect it is already lower than you measured.

I discuss such events and related issues here:

What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium? by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm

 

[RMS18]

My target was 125 but did not dose the entire amount to achieve 125 ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you sure you only added 5 mL in 32 gallons?

That doesn't seem enough to cause such an event.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, the "cloudy then cleared up" part is normal. It's the subsequent precipitation that is unusual.

 

[RMS18]

Are you sure you only added 5 mL in 32 gallons?

That doesn't seem enough to cause such an event.

Your right I messed up... I used 5 FL oz the cup that comes either the alkalinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK, that would do it!

 

[RMS18]

OK, that would do it!

Any issues I'm going to run into after this?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, that's about 185 ppm boost.

If the pH is still above 8.6, I might look to lower it with vinegar or muriatic acid or soda water.

This has amounts:

High pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Alk will be high and calcium low, but you cannot measure either of them accurately (at least with normal kits, not sure on the Hanna's) until the water is clear.

 

[RMS18]

Alk will be high and calcium low, but you cannot measure either of them accurately (at least with normal kits, not sure on the Hanna's) until the water is clear.

Ph is down to 8.4. With Alk being so high, will I need to bring it down with water changes?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ph is down to 8.4. With Alk being so high, will I need to bring it down with water changes?

The precipitation brought it down a lot, so before doing water changes, let's see how high it still is after the water clears.

 

[RMS18]

The precipitation brought it down a lot, so before doing water changes, let's see how high it still is after the water clears.

Ok sounds like a plan. Been under some stress lately, not thinking clearly and not reading directions right. [emoji29]

 

[Cory]

Dont worry, thats life. Positive is inevitable.

Fwiw Hanna reagents have been under the "eye". Lots of batches have been reading falsley". Be sure to make sure yours isnt off.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok sounds like a plan. Been under some stress lately, not thinking clearly and not reading directions right. [emoji29]

We all do that sometimes.

Good luck!

 

[RMS18]

We all do that sometimes.

Good luck!

Ran some tests today as the water is clear again besides the white residue all over glass, rocks, pumps, it's everywhere. Ph is 8.0, alk is reading 135ppm didn't take as much as a spike as I thought it was, cal took a huge dive it's at 350 I usually keep it 430.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ran some tests today as the water is clear again besides the white residue all over glass, rocks, pumps, it's everywhere. Ph is 8.0, alk is reading 135ppm didn't take as much as a spike as I thought it was, cal took a huge dive it's at 350 I usually keep it 430.

That all makes sense.

A massive preciptiation event takes out most of the supersaturation in the seawater, and if caused by an alk spike will mostly result in a big drop in calcium.

 

[RMS18]

That all makes sense.

A massive preciptiation event takes out most of the supersaturation in the seawater, and if caused by an alk spike will mostly result in a big drop in calcium.

Moving on from here, do I add calcium? Will the calcium carbonate disappear off the glass and rocks and equipment? Or will I have to manually clean everything?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, I'd boost the calcium over 2-3 days to where you want it.

The solids disappear from view over time, but it might take a week or more. The glass will likely need scraping