Kh rising...

Donaldf973 · Dec 24, 2016

So I decided to test my kh because my recovering monti cap went from pink to almost white within 2-3 days. Kh went from 8 to 11 in that time and have no clue what would cause that. Its a 4 gallon with 1 pukani piece and an inch of sugar sand. I use Aqua Forest reef salt with distilled water (7ph) and haven't had any problems with swinging kh it's been consistent every water change at 8kh. A water change was done this past Monday. The only change I made was putting carbon and gfo back online but never had either affect kh.

mcarroll · Dec 24, 2016

You're sure alk went up? Can you/did you re-test to be sure?

Alk of 11 shouldn't phase him, BTW.

Five days of solid growth without dosing, on the other hand, could definitely cause this. Only I would expect to see a low dKH. (Could be some other stress factor too though.)

I'm suspicious of the test result at this point.

I would do a fairly significant water change to ameliorate whatever might be going on.

Then, take a closer look at your alkalinity trend by testing every day for at least a few days. Test before and after than water change too, so you know exactly what effects that has.

Donaldf973 · Dec 24, 2016

Yeah it went up. I tested again this time also testing my 20 long which is at 8kh. Sure enough the 4 gallon tested 11kh 2 more times. I always test after a water change and it always reads around 8.

mcarroll · Dec 24, 2016

So this was after a more recent water change, or was the last water change Monday?

Blame the water change if you just did one. I still don't know if you could blame a jump to 11 dKH for a coral bleaching.

Can you post a pic?

Donaldf973 · Dec 24, 2016

Yes this past Monday is when I did the change...I'll post a pic in a sec

mcarroll · Dec 24, 2016

Then I'm back to this making no sense.

Did you switch test kits for that last test, so maybe your old kit was out of date?

Donaldf973 · Dec 24, 2016

Looks pinkish because of the led light im using

Donaldf973 · Dec 24, 2016

Only have the one kit but its in date until 2017...I'm going to do another water change tomorrow and test again. Worse case I just buy another test kit it's API

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 25, 2016

I expect it was testing error, either before or later. Rising alk is not generally any concern unless you use artificial rock, which can leach alkalinity and boost pH too much.

Donaldf973 · Dec 25, 2016

I'm going to switch out the rock it's only one piece and see of that's the issue. I've got about 30lbs I can play with.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 26, 2016

What sort of rock is it?

Brew12 · Dec 26, 2016

I would also try testing a batch of freshly mixed salt water prior to a change to see if it is something in your salt.

Donaldf973 · Dec 26, 2016

The rock is pukani it was given to me with the tank a year ago and the person who gave it to me I think had it for a year prior to that.

I mixed up fresh water yesterday and tested this morning and its reading 8kh today so it's not the AF salt or water I'm using. Anyone know of a better kh test than API?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 26, 2016

I don't think pukani is a concern. Only artificial rocks that are not fully cured will boost alk.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 26, 2016

Donaldf973 said:
The rock is pukani it was given to me with the tank a year ago and the person who gave it to me I think had it for a year prior to that.

I mixed up fresh water yesterday and tested this morning and its reading 8kh today so it's not the AF salt or water I'm using. Anyone know of a better kh test than API?

Salifert is a fine alk kit.