Fast Alkalinity Adjustment = Gaping Mouth???

[RC Anemone]

Will a sudden change in alkalinity, for example 6.6 dkh to 8 dkh within a few hours using unbaked baking soda, cause fish to develop symptoms?

I noticed the first time I adjusted the alk quickly (1+ dkh within a few hours) one of my clown fish developed negative symptoms. Her mouth was gaping open and the sacks behind her gills became inflamed which made her gills look protruding or puffed up. She also had a small red dot which looked like a blemish near her mouth. I didn't think it was the alkalinity adjustment, so after two days with no change I treated her with Maracyn Two. She got better within 24 hours. Her mouth closed and her gills rested normally against her sides.

Just last evening I made an alkalinity adjustment again using unbaked baking soda. I adjusted the alk from 6.6 to 8 dkh. Now the male clown has the identical symptoms the female had a week and a half ago!

Does anyone have any idea why this is happening? My family really cares about these fish and my daughter is heart broken. Please help.

 

[Billybeau1]

How are you adding the baking soda and where.

What size tank?

 

[RC Anemone]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8259575#post8259575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
How are you adding the baking soda and where.

What size tank?

The baking soda is mixed well with about two cups of RODI water and then dumped into the sump. The tank is 45 gallons. Thank you.

 

[Billybeau1]

I have one fish (of my six) that absolutely goes nuts when I add baking soda or limewater.

I would try spreading your dosing out a little. It may be too much at one time for the little guys.

Maybe a cup, wait a half hour then the other cup.

 

[Triggerfish]

i very stupidly added an unmeasured amount of the 2 part to help stabalize ph in a 29g qt. about 1 day later my extremely durable asfur angel was dead.

i didn't make the very likely correlation till about a week later as it sort of just hit me as to how stupid that actually was.
what ashame....