Water chemistry question.

[Brian Lijewski]

My wife and I have a 135 gallon and need to know how to lower alk its currently at 20dkh cal is at 320 ph is 8.4. Other than these two parameters all other numbers check out.

 

[Brian Lijewski]

My wife and I have a 135 gallon and need to know how to lower alk its currently at 20dkh cal is at 320 ph is 8.4. Other than these two parameters all other numbers check out.

 

[redfishbluefish]

How did it get to 20?

Is this a reef tank or FOWLR?

If you're adding anything to adjust pH, STOP.

Have someone else test your tank with their kit....if need be, take water to your LFS.

 

[Brian Lijewski]

Reef lot of zoas and softies, tank has been running five years.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Do you add anything to adjust pH?

Are you using two part or kalkwasser or any other additives?

What salt are you using?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you use tap water?

 

[Brian Lijewski]

Nothing ph has been 8.4 not dosing any thing I do not have access to ro water I'm thinking it could of been in my water supply. Sea Chem salt

 

[Brian Lijewski]

I'm going to test my water source tonight and verify with another test kit.

 

[Brian Lijewski]

Tap water

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tap water

Tap water can have substantial alkalinity in it (sometimes more than seawater), so when mixed with a salt mix (with its own alkalinity) the alkalinity may get too high.

Try measuring the alkalinity of your tap water.

 

[Brian Lijewski]

Ok update I haven't gotten home to do a test on my tap water but I did get to do some research into the quality of my tap water. I live near notre Dame university and they are on the same well field as I am they do quarterly water samples was able to access them there reports tell me the dkh of the tap water is 16.2 when converted ppm and we have and average ph of high 7 to 8. So the question is how to lower dkh and raise the ca

 

[Diesel]

IMO start using RODI water for a while and use a low ALK salt like Tropic Marine till you back on track.
I'm sure @Randy Holmes-Farley got a better more faster answer for you but if you keep using this tap water and the salt you not getting any better

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok update I haven't gotten home to do a test on my tap water but I did get to do some research into the quality of my tap water. I live near notre Dame university and they are on the same well field as I am they do quarterly water samples was able to access them there reports tell me the dkh of the tap water is 16.2 when converted ppm and we have and average ph of high 7 to 8. So the question is how to lower dkh and raise the ca

Well, you need to stop using that tap water for either making new salt water or for replacing evaporation.

You can use muriatic acid or Seachem acid buffer to lower the alkalinity of the existing aquarium, but you need to be very careful when doing so as the muriatic acid can hurt you if exposed, and both will drop the tank pH a huge amount, although temporarily.

I might be inclined to not adjust it in the tank for the pH reason. Or to do it very slowly over many days.

Here's a thread on lowering alkalinity:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...lower-alkalinity-like-you-can-with-ph.188293/

 

[mcarroll]

Getting an RODI system at home is by far the most economical...comes out to pennies per gallon after the initial cost of buying the system.

In lieu of that or any reef stores in the area (thought there were a couple/few?) try ordering water from this place local to you for a little while to get the numbers under control with water changes:

http://www.purefact.com/water.html

They have plain RO or distilled - either would be superior to your tap water!

 

[Brian Lijewski]

Ok working on an ro system. I had time today to test tap water. As anticipated it had a dkh or 17. So the question is several small to medium water changes over what period of time? The tank overall looks good this all started when I wanted to figure out why my wife could not keep a stony. I think when I get the water in line the zoas should thrive even more.

 

[mcarroll]

I'd keep with your normal water change schedule or 10% per week, whichever is more. If you don't see any adverse reaction after two weeks, up it to 20% per week. Something like that.

 

[mcarroll]

I forgot to mention:

Wow! 17dKH straight from the tap!

 

[Brian Lijewski]

Yes just tested it and found verification from ND University, they test the campus water supply quarterly. I was able to see the results.

 

[Brian Lijewski]

Ok working on an ro system. I had time today to test tap water. As anticipated it had a dkh or 17. So the question is several small to medium water changes over what period of time? The tank overall looks good this all started when I wanted to figure out why my wife could not keep a stony. I think when I get the water in line the zoas should thrive even more.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Water changes are going to be a slow way to deal with high alk unless the new salt water has very low alkalinity.

A 10% change of a tank at 20 dKH with a with a salt mix at 11 dKH only drops the tank to 19.1 dKH.