My Alk is high (11.2) and I dont know how to lower it. Other levels are PH-8.4, Ammonia-0, Nitrite-0, Nitrate-0, Cal-420, Mag-1320. Tank has been running about 6 months, Im using salifert test kits and I can use some help. All your advice is greatly appreciated.
Alkalinity not stable
- Thread starter Amill
- Start date
Okay...the first thing to consider is the possibility that your test kit isn't giving accurate results. You don't mention what your water source is...but assuming you're using tap, I don't know that Brooklyn water is particularly high, but I'm not sure of that at all. In any event, 11.2 isn't alarmingly high. I'd have a local fish store test the water for you to confirm (or disprove) the result your getting from your testing. But, if the fact is that you're using tap and it is higher than you'd want, then consider using RO/DI in the future for all water changes and then use some kind of reliable additive to adjust your alkalinity to where you want it to be.
- Location
- Flushing, NY
What additives are you adding to the tank?
You can lower it through water changes, but something you're probably adding is causing it to go up
You can lower it through water changes, but something you're probably adding is causing it to go up
AlohaTropics
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Long Island
Agree with Ming, if you stop adding any buffering conditioners or 2 part Ca & Alk, then the dkh will drop naturally. Test your water daily and when the dkh reaches 7.5 - 8.5 then test your Ca & Mg and add as needed. What additives are you currently using?
- Location
- Flushing, NY
What salt are you using? Can you test a batch of freshly mixed saltwater @ 1.025 for alk and let us know what it reads?
I just changed media in RO/DI about a month ago, the TDS still reads 0. I use reef crystals salt and thats the second Alk test I got. Ive been told that 11.2 isnt high at all but I am just wondering what makes it that high if I dont dose Alk, use RO/DI, got a new test kit; I just dont get it. Ive never done that new salt water test must try that and I guess the next step is to go to the LFS and have them tested.
AlohaTropics
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Long Island
Its strange that you don't dose any alkalinity and still you read that high in dkh. Your corals should be using and lowering your alkalinity. If you are maintaining your high levels of alk, then it is getting dosed into your tank somehow. Perhaps the Ionic B has a buffer in it? This may account for the alk staying high. I would stop dosing everything, and no water changes. Measure the dkh DAILY and see what your system is consuming over a 72 hour period. Then dose the Ionic B and see if that increases your Alk. If it does, then thats where your getting your high Alk from. Its possible that you are slowly increasing your dkh but at the same time precipitating out your Ca and Mg because your PH is high. This may make you dose Ionic B more and in turn increase your dkh. Keep your PH at around 7.9-8.1 and you will not have to dose Ca as much because you will not precipitate as much. Then, if it was the Ionic B that was slowly bringing up your alk, it should lower. If the Ionic B is the only thing your dosing and its not the culprit thats increasing your dkh, then the answer has to lie within the water changes. Regardless, something is keeping your dkh from naturally decreasing.
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- Location
- yonkers ny
reef crystals will get em every time. got me
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