how do i lower my alkalinity?

S

sparx22631

New member
hey everyone im running a calicium reactor, and for some reason my alkalinity is high is there anyway to drop the alk levels? just did a 20 percent water change and no help.
 
What is your calcium level? My fish guy told me that the calcium and alk go hand in hand. If one is high the other will be low. I am still a noobie on the whole adjustment thing though.
 
The hand in hand thing is true in the sense that corals use clacium and alk and both need to be monitored but you can have both high or both low or either high while the other is low.

That said to the OP.. What is your ALK currently? Some salt has high ALK so a water change wouldnt drop it. What was your ALK of the new saltwater you used for your water change. What is your system volume and what was the amount of your water change? If the alk is really high you may need to turn the calcium reactor off till you get your parameters back in line. What is your Calc at currently?
 
thanks rb, im going to do another test and let you know what the counts are.
i use instant ocean for salt. im currently using a bermuda calicium reactor. this stuff is so hard to learn and understand....... sometimes you just get discouraged. But im not giving up! spent to much money lol
 
Calc reactors are nice but you have to know what your doing.

First thing is to get your parameters where you want them then bring the reactor online and test alk and cacium every day till you get the effluent rate and ph dialed in right.

I tested every 8-12 hours when I first got mine going.
 
Is the high alkalinity affecting your livestock? Do your corals look bad and are suffering? If there aren't any problems don't be chasing the numbers.

Best way to reduce alkalinity is to do nothing. The natural chemical reactions in a reef tank reduce alkalinity as waste and food reduce the ability of tank water to buffer pH reducing alkalinity.
 
No your going to have to do massive water changes. 23 is way to high. get it down to 12-13 and you can let it come down on its own from there.

What is your tank volume, what size water changes are you doing? What is the alk on your water change mix?

I wouldnt leave it up that high. Get it down to 12-13 then let it come down to 10-11 and restart your reactor while you test your water a lot closer.
 
so what should i do shut my reactor off now? and then do a water change? my corals are all open loving it having a good time. dont seem to be bothered at all by anything. so shut off my reactor? then do another water change? how much? then what? my tank volume is not much i dont think its 120 gallon tank here is a video of it to see what im working with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu6-En53Bjk


thanks so much everyone for giving me a hand that i sure could use. rb i never checked my alk when i do a water change the mixture.
 
sparx22631 said:
calcium level is 460 to 480. alkalinity is about 23 - 24 dkh. what do i do from here now? add buffer?
Click to expand...

Do nothing at this time, other than check that your Magnesium level is above 1200ppm. And read the post in the thread linked to above. Adding a balanced additive will only raise the alkalinity. Both calcium and alkalinity will be used up at an equal rate if the magnesium level is correct. Once calcium is in the proper range 420 - 450ppm, start dosing calcium to hold that level. Do not dose alkalinity. Once the alkalinity falls enough to balance with calcium, and your magnesium level it correct, you can does equal amounts of calcium and alkalinity, use a calcium reactor or what have you to maintain the balanced levels, and continue to monitor magnesium, and adjust as needed.

A large water change will not resolve the issue, and will only put more stress on your livestock.

It is true that the exact numbers are not critical (within the proper range), however the balance is.

Regards,

Jim
 
thanks so much for your help my mag is at 1200 and calcium is at 460 to 480 so should i leave the reactor on? or shut it off till my alkalinity drops?
 
This is a mistake................
You need to turn your calcium reactor off till you you get your parameters back in line. You also need to do some water changes to get your alk down a bunch. When starting and setting up a calc reactor you look at alk first and get it stable. You missed part 1 and jumped to part 5.


Kill the reactor and do water changes with additives and get your alk, calc, and mag where you want it. Then restart your reactor keeping much better track of your parameters.

Do you know what you need to do to run the reactor? Whats your effluent rate and whats the ph of the reactor?


uncleof6 said:
Do nothing at this time, other than check that your Magnesium level is above 1200ppm. And read the post in the thread linked to above. Adding a balanced additive will only raise the alkalinity. Both calcium and alkalinity will be used up at an equal rate if the magnesium level is correct. Once calcium is in the proper range 420 - 450ppm, start dosing calcium to hold that level. Do not dose alkalinity. Once the alkalinity falls enough to balance with calcium, and your magnesium level it correct, you can does equal amounts of calcium and alkalinity, use a calcium reactor or what have you to maintain the balanced levels, and continue to monitor magnesium, and adjust as needed.

A large water change will not resolve the issue, and will only put more stress on your livestock.

It is true that the exact numbers are not critical (within the proper range), however the balance is.

Regards,

Jim
Click to expand...
 
The ph probe in the reactor is set to 6.5 I'll shut it off. And then do a water change? Get alk low calcium where I want it then mag where I want it the turn reactor back on? What kind of supplents am I going to need?
 
Ok everything that has to do with the reactor is now off. What's the next step I'll do step by step with you guys. You guys are all great at helping newbies out thank so much! Ok step one shut off reactor and co2 tank exc now what is step 2?
 
It depends on what your water change water testes out at. You may not need any supplements.

When you mix up frest saltwater you need to test it to see what the parameters are before you do your water change. If the mag or calcium is low you need to add to supplement it. I use Calcium chloride to raise calcium and magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfide to raise magnesium of new water.

Normally you would also test alk and add buffer or baked baking soda to raise alk up to 10ish, but in this case your alk is already too high.
 
Once you get your water parameters correct then turn your calcium reator back on. you want to keep the pH arfound 6.5 in the reactor and you will want to start out dripping the effluent into your sump at about 30 drops a minute. Then start monitoring your alk. If it slowly drops raise your drip rate. If it slowly raises drop your drip rate. Once your get your alk stable your calc reactor is set right. Personally I still check alk 2-3 times a week and calcium and mag every 2 weeks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Help with new tank cycling
Replies
12
Views
1K
wvned
wvned
B
Left Tank for a long time, now want to reboot
Replies
7
Views
141
griss
griss
T
High Alkalinity & Low PH
Replies
9
Views
1K
monkeysee1
monkeysee1
R
some random questions
Replies
0
Views
77
redseaapples
R
D
Corals slowly dying / getting white spots water tests good
Replies
18
Views
2K
griss
griss
Back
Top