Sodium Metabisulfite, is it bad?

[BannerFish]

So my tank alkalinity is in the higher range so i decided to reduce it with Sodium bisulfate. But the guy at the chemical shop has given me Sodium Metabisulfite. I didn't notice the error till much later. So i used this and my Alkalinity is about 11 now. it was in 12 range. I'm targeting at 8.5

i realized they have given me the wrong chemical when i was going through the bills. I don't see any reaction in the tank .


My question: Can i continue to use Metabisulfite to reduce the alkalinity?

PS: where i live we can't buy hcl or h2so4 without license. so those are out

Thanks
Faz

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Definitely stop using it. I specifically recommend against it in my sodium bisulfate thread (below).

It has different chemistry, is quite reactive, will drop ORP a lot, and is sometimes used as a preservative. Nothing you can do not about it, unless the tank looks bad, in which case water changes can remove it.

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

from it:

"DO NOT USE BISULFITE. Note the "i" in the ending vs an "a""

 

[nereefpat]

Bad winemakers use it to kill yeast, so I assume it is bad for microbes in our aquarium.

 

[BannerFish]

Thanks Randy


I've read your article before that's why I remembered a bit about it and stopped it immediately when I saw the “i” J. Thankfully, I don't see any negative reactions so far


Is there anything else I can dose to bring the alkalinity down?



Thanks

Faz

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy


I've read your article before that's why I remembered a bit about it and stopped it immediately when I saw the “i” J. Thankfully, I don't see any negative reactions so far


Is there anything else I can dose to bring the alkalinity down?



Thanks

Faz

The choices are:

1. waiting for it to decline naturally
2. Water change with a low alk mix (maybe made especially low then pH brought back up using #3 or #4)
3. Very slow addition of sodium bisulfate
4. Very slow addition of hydrochloric acid

Keeping calcium and pH at the high end may accelerate consumption

 

[BannerFish]

Thank you