Is 12.5 dKH way too high?

[Duddly01]

I haven't checked my alkalinity before (I know, shame on me) so today I purchased a salifert test and it read 12.5dKH. I thought I messed it up so I purchased an aquarium pharm. one as well ( a litte simpler to use for idiots like me) and got the same results. Is this reading something to freak out over? I understand natural seawater is around 8.0, correct? Do I need to do something and now?

other readings:
Amm, Nitrite, Phos: 0
Nitrate: 20 ppm (even with a refugium, I think I am over feeding, tsk)
Calc: 420
Ph: 8.2

 

[clevername]

dont quote me on this (as i havnt had my coral for more then 1 week) but i dont think ALK and calcium is critical in a FOWLR. Although if there spot on you can buffer/keep our PH more stable.

ALK and Cal. are something corals use.

 

[Duddly01]

I have corals, my 50 gal. is a mixed reef. Quite a bunch of zoas, a fox coral, open brain, Bubble coral, some button polyps, one SPS and a deresa clam. I have been keeping up with my calcium and supplementing as necessary. Today was just the first day I checked my Alk and found it to be a bit high.

 

[Entropy]

NSW is usually in the 6-7dKH range. What kind of additives are you using?

 

[t5Nitro]

SPS, clams, and maybe LPS will use the calcium and alkalinity. Keep the calcium level around 450, I thought if you kept the calcium right the alk would stay right. My alkalinity is around 9 dKh I think.

 

[returnofsid]

Your Alk is a lil' high. If you're planning on keeping SPS or Clams, I'd shoot for an Alk somewhere between 9-11. These are all a lil' higher than NSW but more on the norm for saltwater tanks. You'll want to balance your Calcium to your Alk.

 

[Paintbug]

your alk is just a little high. i try to keep mine in the 10-11 dKH range. you are not near the panic range mine has been as high as 18 dKH. didnt loose anything at that point, but you really dont want the alk to go over 14 dKH. it will drop on its own in time.

 

[saabore]

Do not panic. 12 .5 is not bad but shoot for a balance like Paintbug mentioned. If it gets higher just perform a water change and watch you additives as some two part calcium additives also raise your alkinity.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9563513#post9563513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saabore
Do not panic. 12 .5 is not bad but shoot for a balance like Paintbug mentioned. If it gets higher just perform a water change and watch you additives as some two part calcium additives also raise your alkinity.

all 2 part additives will raise the alk. or at least thats the point of them . the main additive or buffer people use that raises the alk unknowingly is pH buffers. most pH super charge the alk to get a quick short term boost in the pH. if someone isnt testing for alk at that time, like i was when i first started, then their alk will jump way up and they dont even know it.

 

[Duddly01]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9565375#post9565375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paintbug
[B most pH super charge the alk to get a quick short term boost in the pH. if someone isnt testing for alk at that time, like i was when i first started, then their alk will jump way up and they dont even know it. [/B]

That is most likely what caused it, I have been using the kent ph buffer to raise my ph as necessary.