Ummm... alk oops

Rory's Reef · Mar 14, 2017

This past weekend I was out of town and returned last night. This morning when I woke up I noticed some of my SPS weren't looking too good. I immediately tested my Alk which was way high at 10.4 dKH (usually sits at 7.9 dKH), using the Hanna checker. My Ca also jumped up above 500 according to my Red Sea test kit. Before I left I topped off my ATO with limewater. Usually I wait till it's almost empty and then clean the container and add new limewater rather than adding to already existing limewater, but I didn't want to dump 2 gallons of water and knew it wouldn't last me the weekend. I have a feeling I accidentally added to much kalk to the new water, or somehow adding new limewater into existing limewater created a more saturated solution than usual (just kind of stabbing in the dark at theories).

Anyways, I screwed up and now I'm looking for the best way to reduce my alk and Ca to hopefully save a few of my corals. Would just doing some water changes over the next few days be best?

I use HW marine mix reef salt which mixes in around 9 dKH.

joaocdestro · Mar 14, 2017

The only issue is big swing! Not the numbers. Sps can grow in kh 6 to 14. (Ideal 7-8,5)

Rory's Reef · Mar 14, 2017

joaocdestro said:
The only issue is big swing! Not the numbers. Sps can grow in kh 6 to 14. (Ideal 7-8,5)

True, but I have a low nutrient system which would more than likely cause all my SPS to be toast pretty quickly if I kept it that high. I would have to probably start dosing nitrates and I'd rather not.

joaocdestro · Mar 14, 2017

Yes you are right about high KH and low nutrients burnt tips! Once in a wile I put 1g of Sodium Nitrate in my aquarium 1000 Liters, because I don't like zero Nitrates. - No3 goes from Zero to 1 or 1,5ppm. The best best solution for you is a litte advanced, download DSR (dutch syntetic reef in excel)put your data tests on it, and see how many gram in excess you have in your water... after this select make new water and make few liters of syntetic salt water without the exact excess you have without Calcium Cloride and without Sodium Bicarbonate. http://dsrreefing.com/dsrcalculator/

GoVols · Mar 14, 2017

Rory's Reef said:
True, but I have a low nutrient system which would more than likely cause all my SPS to be toast pretty quickly if I kept it that high. I would have to probably start dosing nitrates and I'd rather not.

Are you carbon dosing?

rayn · Mar 14, 2017

Wondering, if it raised that high over a couple days, couldn't you just change out the top off to regular clean water and let it come down gradually on its own? A big water change would create to big a change to quickly.

Rory's Reef · Mar 14, 2017

GoVols said:
Are you carbon dosing?

No. I was running ROX 0.8 and GFO in a reactor but turned that off about a month ago.

Rory's Reef · Mar 14, 2017

rayn said:
Wondering, if it raised that high over a couple days, couldn't you just change out the top off to regular clean water and let it come down gradually on its own? A big water change would create to big a change to quickly.

I'm currently switching out the water, just making some RODI water. I was thinking of doing a big water change, but rather maybe several smaller ones spread out over the next few days. Maybe 5 gals a day until I see it come back down. My total water volume is about 67 gal not accounting for rock and sand.

GoVols · Mar 14, 2017

Rory's Reef said:
No. I was running ROX 0.8 and GFO in a reactor but turned that off about a month ago.

Good carbon dosing @ high alk will lead to burnt tips with low organics.
I'd use something like Red Sea "Reef Energy" to get the organics up until your alk drops.

Eric81 · Mar 14, 2017

I wouldn't do anything drastic to try and correct it. 10 isn't that high. Just top off with regular RO and test daily until it levels out naturally IMO. I have had far greater swings, which caused my sps to brown out, but they eventually came back.

GoVols · Mar 14, 2017

Eric81 said:
I wouldn't do anything drastic to try and correct it. 10 isn't that high. Just top off with regular RO and test daily until it levels out naturally IMO. I have had far greater swings, which caused my sps to brown out, but they eventually came back.

+1
Your not carbon dosing, so your going to be good.