My alk is 20dkh. How can i lower it?

[Greg B.]

This morning I did a 25%water change in my 40 breeder. Prior to change parameters were sal 1.026 alk 10.1 mg was 1230 and cal was 450. Mixed 10 gal of red sea pro with to a salinity of 1.025 (I usually mix it lower just incase it isn't mixed well. I circulated for 1 hr with a 1000 gph pump which is my normal and then I place that pump inside my tank reduce the speed and add my new water. After about a hr I checked parameters. And my alk is 20dkh. (Confirmed that test 3 times. 2 with hanna checker and 1 salifert). This is way to high and I need to know how to get it down quickly before I lose everything.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you using tap water? Such a jump seems nearly impossible. I'd double check the tank and the new salt water.

 

[Greg B.]

I have always used tap water from a well not town water. I miscalculated the amount of sodium bicarb and now I'm in this situation.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have always used tap water from a well not town water. I miscalculated the amount of sodium bicarb and now I'm in this situation.

Ah, ok, you didn't indicate it was from an overdose.

You can lower the alk in new salt water, then do a water change:

Sodium Bisulfate to Reduce Alkalinity in New Salt Water or in Display Tanks

I just want to record these calculations in their own thread to refer back to in other threads. When alkalinity is too high in new salt water or in a display tank, acid can be used to lower the alkalinity. You can easily use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), or sodium bifulfate (e.g...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Shroom]

I have always used tap water from a well not town water. I miscalculated the amount of sodium bicarb and now I'm in this situation.

Is the calcium low? I’d try to get that to swing into higher in an attempt to split the difference. Then do an other big water change. (This is what I did in the past on an 150g lps tank and luckily didn’t kill anything).

 

[Greg B.]

Ah, ok, you didn't indicate it was from an overdose.

You can lower the alk in new salt water, then do a water change:

Sodium Bisulfate to Reduce Alkalinity in New Salt Water or in Display Tanks

I just want to record these calculations in their own thread to refer back to in other threads. When alkalinity is too high in new salt water or in a display tank, acid can be used to lower the alkalinity. You can easily use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), or sodium bifulfate (e.g...

www.reef2reef.com

So far what I have done is I mixed up 30 gal of fresh mix with a dkh of 12.5. That has currently lowered it to 14.7. I'm going to get some hydrochloric acid later today and mix up 20 more gallons and lower my new 20 gal mix to a dkh of 8.0. Let it mix and arerate over night and add to a display in the am. Will I need to watch out for it to rise again in a few days?

 

[I never finish anythi]

I had 20dkh once and I just done 20g water change over 2 days and let it drop by itself. Lost nothing at all! 75g tank

 

[Greg B.]

I had 20dkh once and I just done 20g water change over 2 days and let it drop by itself. Lost nothing at all! 75g tank

You didn't lose anything at all? I hope I don't.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So far what I have done is I mixed up 30 gal of fresh mix with a dkh of 12.5. That has currently lowered it to 14.7. I'm going to get some hydrochloric acid later today and mix up 20 more gallons and lower my new 20 gal mix to a dkh of 8.0. Let it mix and arerate over night and add to a display in the am. Will I need to watch out for it to rise again in a few days?

It should not rise again.

 

[Greg B.]

It should not rise again.

So if my math is correct. If I have 40 gal of 14.7dkh now and I do a 20 gal water changed at a dkh of 8 that should bring my dkh down to the 11kdh range. In order to bring it down from 12kdh to 8 fresh mix the formula would be 20x4x.123= 9.84mL muratic acid. Correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So if my math is correct. If I have 40 gal of 14.7dkh now and I do a 20 gal water changed at a dkh of 8 that should bring my dkh down to the 11kdh range. In order to bring it down from 12kdh to 8 fresh mix the formula would be 20x4x.123= 9.84mL muratic acid. Correct?

That math is correct.