Super high Alk-16.3!

[Alexreefer]

Hi all, So I tested my water yesterday with my salifet Alk test kit and it was showing 16.3! I only have 2 euphyllia corals and nothing else. I have tried to let it dissipate but have had no luck. I use omega sea premium reef salt. The tank is a total volume of 93 gals. How do I lower it? I do not dose or have a calcium reactor

 

[Crabs McJones]

Do you know how it got that high in the first place? Did you double test to make sure it wasn't a faulty test result? With that high of alk your corals should be upset and showing signs of it. Small water changes that consist of a lower alkalinity would be best as you don't have any corals that will rapidly deplete your alk level.

 

[Alexreefer]

Do you know how it got that high in the first place? Did you double test to make sure it wasn't a faulty test result? With that high of alk your corals should be upset and showing signs of it. Small water changes that consist of a lower alkalinity would be best as you don't have any corals that will rapidly deplete your alk level.

I have been monitoring it for quite some time but has never got this high. I will double test right now. My frogspawn looks a little grumpy but my torch is bigger than I've even seen him. Should I test my w/c water and how do I lower the alk in my w/c water if it is high?

 

[Flippers4pups]

What’s your PH at? Depending where your ph is at and the alkalinity is true you can use vinegar:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

But I would do a series of water changes to lower it. And idea how it got so high? I, as others, believe it’s got to be a faulty test, unless your dosing alkalinity.

 

[Alexreefer]

What’s your PH at? Depending where your ph is at and the alkalinity is true you can use vinegar:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

Just retested my ph. It is at 8.4

 

[Crabs McJones]

Just retested my ph. It is at 8.4

Weird...id expect it to be much higher if your alk was 16, of course that also depends on CO2 and surface tension and a bunch of different variables... Did you retest alk yet?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Just retested my ph. It is at 8.4

It’s a little high. Retest your dkh. If it’s truly at 16 dkh, you need to understand why it got so high. Series of water changes to lower it.

 

[Alexreefer]

retested my alk as well and now its showing 15.6 so a little better. I had a cyano problem and fixed that but now have a diatom problem could that also be the case?

 

[Crabs McJones]

retested my alk as well and now its showing 15.6 so a little better. I had a cyano problem and fixed that but now have a diatom problem could that also be the case?

I don't think the two are related. But as @Flippers4pups mentioned, a series of water changes to bring it down, but go slow as to not upset your coral more. Big alkalinity swings can be a coral killer

 

[Flippers4pups]

retested my alk as well and now its showing 15.6 so a little better. I had a cyano problem and fixed that but now have a diatom problem could that also be the case?

Are you dosing anything?

 

[Alexreefer]

Here re all my params
no3 10ppm
no4 .32 ppm need to be lowered
dkh 15.6
ca 445
mg 1260
ph 8.4

 

[Alexreefer]

Are you dosing anything?

i am dosing sechem stability, reef plus, and and reef fusion 1. I have not dosed reef fusion 2 for a month and a half

 

[Alexreefer]

Will test my freshly mixed sw will post alk in a few

 

[Flippers4pups]

Will test my freshly mixed sw will post alk in a few

Go slow. Small water changes.

 

[Flippers4pups]

i am dosing sechem stability, reef plus, and and reef fusion 1. I have not dosed reef fusion 2 for a month and a half

I wouldn't start up dosing the two part till it's dropped and even still, wouldn't dose it if your corals aren't taking it up. Need to test alkalinity daily for the near future and calcium every week till you get a handle on how your tank is using them.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I wouldn't start up dosing the two part till it's dropped and even still, wouldn't dose it if your corals aren't taking it up. Need to test alkalinity daily for the near future and calcium every week till you get a handle on how your tank is using them.

Agree, figure out consumption before dosing anything

 

[Alexreefer]

I wouldn't start up dosing the two part till it's dropped and even still, wouldn't dose it if your corals aren't taking it up. Need to test alkalinity daily for the near future and calcium every week till you get a handle on how your tank is using them.

Will do. Thank you to both @Crabs Mcjones and @Flippers4pups for helping me. You guys are the best

 

[Flippers4pups]

Will do. Thank you to both @Crabs Mcjones and @Flippers4pups for helping me. You guys are the best

Your welcome.

 

[Crabs McJones]

It's what we live for

 

[JimWelsh]

What’s your PH at? Depending where your ph is at and the alkalinity is true you can use vinegar:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

But I would do a series of water changes to lower it. And idea how it got so high? I, as others, believe it’s got to be a faulty test, unless your dosing alkalinity.

You can use vinegar to reduce pH, like the article says, but not to reduce alkalinity. Alkalinity and pH are not the same thing. You would need a strong acid to reduce alkalinity (and would need to monitor pH while doing so, to make sure pH doesn't drop too low).