My alk in my 20 gal tank is pretty high around 11.8 I've done a water change of about 25% and another later in the week of about 10% and the alk doesn't seem to have moved at all. Any suggestions of something I can do or some product that will lower it without missing with my ph to much, ph is at 8.3 calcium is at 450 don't know what else you might need.
I need suggestions on lowering my alk
- Thread starter jsl6v8
- Start date
reefnetworth
Premium Member
one mL of "pure distilled vinegar, 5% acidity" per gallon of tank water volume, in a high flow area away from corals. try half the amount first, wait about 30 min. and test again.
11.8 is not pushed past the limit but its very close, if you are using a two part solution, stop using the (buffer) #1 supplement for a day or so. part two is always Calcium supplement. good luck!
JDM...
11.8 is not pushed past the limit but its very close, if you are using a two part solution, stop using the (buffer) #1 supplement for a day or so. part two is always Calcium supplement. good luck!
JDM...
plyle02
Active member
Just out of curiosity, what salt brand are you using, and at what salinity level? I normally test around 11dkh on new saltwater using Reef Crystals at 1.026 SG. What are you using to supplement calcium and alk. If you are using 2 part, you may want to just use the calcium addition, until the alk falls back into check, then resume your normal 2 part additions. JME.... Hopefully that helps......
plyle02
Active member
Are you using RO/DI, or RO water? Florida water is notorious for being high in alkalinity due to tapping into the aquifirs which are noted for being very hard water. RO alone will not remove the hardness from the water, the DI phase will strip the water down to almost sterile. Just thought of that, as I used to have a high alk issue, but much higher than yours.....LOL...
plyle02
Active member
IME, I use Oceans Blend 2 part, and do test higher than normal for alk when doing water changes, of course this is do to my salt I am using which tests higher in alk. I like this 2 part specifically due to it helping to maintain a consistent ph, as well as dialing me in on calcium and alk as well. Your alk, although higher than you would like is not off the charts, and your calcium is a bit higher than I normally check, so maybe if your calcium falls to around 410-420 than your alk will also drop. What test kit are you currently using. I love Saliferts Calcium and Alk test kits, as they have proved the most reliable for me. Good luck......
An alk of 4.21 meg/L (providing the reading of 11.8 is a DKH number)is great with a calcium of 450 ppm. I would have to say your magnesium must be high too. Higher alk levels with good levels of calcium and magnesium will result in high calcification.(providing your PO4 ((phosphate) is under .2 ppm)).Bottom line high growth in time.
I use saliferts for all my testing needs, my phosphates read 0 and my magnesium is a bit on the low end last I checked (3 days ago or so) it was at 1170 I've been dosing a little more so it may be a bit higher now I'm shooting for the 1300-1500 range. I'm trying to get my alk and stuff down and bringing my calc down a little bit so I can keep some clams (yes my system has been up for a while now) and some other hard corals I'll probably also use the tank for frags (its just a little 20 gal in my bedroom that used to be a quarenteen tank for fish)
plyle02
Active member
Great mention. Whenever I have tested over 420 ppm on Calcium, I have always been a bit higher on Alk. As stated, assuming the PO4 is relatively low, your readings are not that bad. Do you currently have any corals or clams? They literally suck the Calcium/ Mag out of my tank. This is the reason I mentioned a 2 part system. I do not run a calcium reactor, so this has been the best approach for me......
I was dosing calc at like 2.5ml (I use ESV 2 part but I'm only dosing calc in most of my tanks my alk seems to stay pretty damn stable except for the 125 which I dose about 20ml calc and I think it was like 10ml alk). But right now I'm not doing anything at all to bring the calc down a little and the alk down a little the ph is holding pretty stable right now so I'm not messing with it either. Any suggestions on a PH raise that won't jump my alk again?
I'm not sure you are having any problems???
Are you
3.0 meg/L -4.75 meg/L under or over on alk?
375ppm-475ppm under or over on cal?
1170ppm on mag is low
Are you testing just after dosing?
For pH you have to understand there is more than just your additives. We had a meeting in a 2000sgft house with a tank reading 8.1 for pH mid light cycle. After 5-6 hour the pH was 7.4. This was due to 40+ people producing CO2 in the house.
If you are having a low pH and a high alk you will need to increase the OX level in your tank.
Does this sound like your tank?
Are you
3.0 meg/L -4.75 meg/L under or over on alk?
375ppm-475ppm under or over on cal?
1170ppm on mag is low
Are you testing just after dosing?
For pH you have to understand there is more than just your additives. We had a meeting in a 2000sgft house with a tank reading 8.1 for pH mid light cycle. After 5-6 hour the pH was 7.4. This was due to 40+ people producing CO2 in the house.
If you are having a low pH and a high alk you will need to increase the OX level in your tank.
Does this sound like your tank?
plyle02
Active member
I open the windows and doors as frequently as possible, smpolyp, right on man, great point about the CO2 related to the ph... I agree that your params are not bad at all. I would be happy to maintain those levels in my tank. Unfortunately too many demanding inhabitants... Good luck.
waterfaller1
New member
I run my alk at 11.2 with CA at 450, Mg at 1300. Stop using seachem PH buffer, just use the two part.
PH buffer raises PH, then it drops it like a rock. I also agree with keeping the house aired out. Some even run the venturi tube from their skimmer through carbon to the outside so the tank can 'breathe fresh air'. Getting MG to raise can be difficult at first, you can add up to 100 PPM per day to raise it, then you should be able to maintain it by adding every few days. I add mine every three days.
PH buffer raises PH, then it drops it like a rock. I also agree with keeping the house aired out. Some even run the venturi tube from their skimmer through carbon to the outside so the tank can 'breathe fresh air'. Getting MG to raise can be difficult at first, you can add up to 100 PPM per day to raise it, then you should be able to maintain it by adding every few days. I add mine every three days.
gwrench
Registered Member
I wish I had that problem! Even using a calcium reactor I always seem to have a lower alk level than normal with a stable ph value of 8.1-8.3 and calcium around 460, Alk always seems to be lower around the 2.64 meg/l
I use Nature Reef products seaalk to raise the alkalinity without major ph fluctuations. I dose this twice weekly as well as the normal monthly H2o changes but still seem to hover on the low side. I agree witht the vinegar solution to help lower, but use caution. My ultimate solution will be to contstruct a kalkwasser reactor in addition to the use of my calcium reactor.
Good Luck
George
I use Nature Reef products seaalk to raise the alkalinity without major ph fluctuations. I dose this twice weekly as well as the normal monthly H2o changes but still seem to hover on the low side. I agree witht the vinegar solution to help lower, but use caution. My ultimate solution will be to contstruct a kalkwasser reactor in addition to the use of my calcium reactor.
Good Luck
George
Alrigh all sorts of stuff here to answer today and a couple more questions but I will see if I can get them all the first swipe, First I don't use a meg/l scale with alk I use the DKH scale and the salifert test I use say the ocean is like 8 DKH or something right around there so thats why I'm shooting to lower it, I'm I really ok to put corals and clams in with a alk of 11.6ish. I've been testing the alk near daily now but I haven't checked back up on my calc or mag since probably monday. My PH is still 8.3 though which is nice. I seem to have confused some people but my problem isn't my dosing of alk since I don't dose alk but rather the ph raise stuff I use skyrocketing my alk. The solution I've found so far is the vinegar but someone mentioned that using that will drop my ph at which point I have to put my ph raise stuff back in which seems like a horrid cycle to me. I don't have anything to test for CO2 and I've never had a tank where I added any, I have some powerheads that have a little hair hose attachement at the top if I put one of those on would that help keep my ph at 8.3 that way I can start using vinegar to lower my alk?
And lastly, it seems most of you think that 11.6 alk isn't all that bad at all and frankly if I don't have to change anything I'd rather not because that tends to be when stuff goes bad, can I really be putting in sps and clams in with my alk this high? I understand it isn't off the charts but I see on my salifert test alk of 8 and I say well 8 and 11.6 thats a pretty big difference especially when looking at calc is suppose to be something like 400-425 granted I and a lot of people I know stay at around 450 but as the salifert test doesn't give me any sort of acceptable range I'm quite at a loss. So at this point I need a solution for raising ph that won't put my alk to an uncontrollable level and maybe I can go pick up my clams from SITC
And lastly, it seems most of you think that 11.6 alk isn't all that bad at all and frankly if I don't have to change anything I'd rather not because that tends to be when stuff goes bad, can I really be putting in sps and clams in with my alk this high? I understand it isn't off the charts but I see on my salifert test alk of 8 and I say well 8 and 11.6 thats a pretty big difference especially when looking at calc is suppose to be something like 400-425 granted I and a lot of people I know stay at around 450 but as the salifert test doesn't give me any sort of acceptable range I'm quite at a loss. So at this point I need a solution for raising ph that won't put my alk to an uncontrollable level and maybe I can go pick up my clams from SITC
