alky spike !

[nava405]

my alky has been stable between 8.2-8.6 for the pass 3 weeks( i test it EVERYDAY for straight 3 weeks). However, i just test it tonight, and it's at 11.8 right now for no reason (same test kit same time).

i haven't change any setting on my CA reactor. but i did dose some Warner Marine Reef Pure ph buffer today, so is it possible the Ph buffer cause the alky spike ?!?!

also that my Ca level is the same only the alky went up for no reason.

 

[five.five-six]

is it marine bufer or reef buffer? marine buffer typicly has a bunch of borate dwhich won't help your corrals but will show up in your test. even if it is not borate, i have no problem running 11dkh, don't worry at this point. how much (grams) did your ad to how much water?

****edit****

ph buffer will increase alk

 

[AIMFish]

pH Buffers raise alkalinity to help stabilize pH, water with low alkalinity tends to have pH that is low or drops easily. 11.8 isn't to high as long as you can keep your calcium stable. I would let it go down on it's own thru time and partial water changes.

 

[Yinger]

u still using ur kalk reactor?

 

[Steve1714]

I wouldn't worry about 11.8dKH
If you are trying to raise the pH of your system try just aerating the sump better and give it some fresh air, if that doesn't help read this Link

happy reefing

Steve G

 

[Scissorhand]

Andy, I believe what you dose did increase the alkalinity. The borate could be skewing the alkalinity to make it read higher than what it actually is.

I'd guess your alkalinity is about a 10dkH perhaps, with borate accounting for the rest?

I would also let it go down on its own. Nothing to worry about for now, except to hold off on dosing pH buffer.

 

[five.five-six]

heck i run mine at 10-11

 

[nava405]

i understand that it is alright to run dkh at 11, but the point is it bump up from 8.2 to 11.8 in less than 24 hours...which kinda sux ( same thing happened b4, and many of my sps got burn tip cuz of that, especially wild colony, and it takes forever to recover ) .. so i turned off my ca reactor for now.

Ying, yes i am still using my kalk reactor.

the only reason i was dose the ph buffer is cuz for some reason, dropped these days, which the day time would be around 8.1-8.2, but night time gets lower than 7.9.

 

[JOSE CASAS]

Your tips being burned could be a cause of high alk in the past and yes it sucks because it takes so long to recover.Even ph buffer will raise your alk some not as much as alk buffer.Next time just put 1/3 the recommened dose.I keep my mag high 1400 because after that my ph was higher 8.3-8.4 vers 8.1-8.2 during the day.

 

[nava405]

ic.. i should try that too, my mag is always around 1300-1350..just kinda annoying that i got the alky spike AGAIN...i didn't know the PH buffer would rise up the alky as well tho..the thing even worse is that my ph didn't go up lol..

 

[murphreef]

Alk is always my main concern in my tank it can run from 8dkh upwards of 11dkh in my tank with no issues i just dont like it swinging fast.... and typical borate in salt mixes accounts for around .9dkh of what your alk test is reading... thats y when my tank drops around 8dkh i can see my corals showing unhappy signals

 

[Yinger]

you think your kalk reactor had anything to do with the spike? i just saw your new ca reactor at loc's. It looks good

 

[nava405]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11226688#post11226688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Yinger
you think your kalk reactor had anything to do with the spike? i just saw your new ca reactor at loc's. It looks good

i don't think it's the kalk reactor, usually it could only happen if it keeps toping off tho.