Kh 16 !

[teo241]

Coral was looking off so I tested my numbers tonight.

KH 16 - Lamotte
Ca 430 - salifert
pH - between 8.1 and 8.2 (constant monitoring)

SPS dominated tank. Ca reactor. No dosing.

I added some new coral about a week ago but didn't make any adjustments.

I must confess that I don't test very often.

Turned of Ca reactor immediately. Should I do some water changes to bring it down? Let it come down naturally? Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[tmz]

What is the water volume involved?

 

[teo241]

about 100 gallons

 

[tmz]

I'd probably do several 15% water changes with a salt mix low in alk ( eg 8dkh or so) over the course of a few days. Alternatively ,it can be lowered with muriatic acid,that will lower ph too though; see post #6 in this current thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2227860

 

[bertoni]

If the animals are okay, I'd just let the level drop on its own. Dosing muriatic acid in a tank could be very dangerous. I'd stick with water changes.

Are you dosing any pH buffer into the system? They all add alkalinity, despite the advertising.

 

[teo241]

One new coral has RTN but not sure if that is from the KH or not. My other corals appear ok, just less than normal polyp extension.

I don't dose anything which is why I'm confused to how it is so high. I hardly had any effluent coming out of my calcium reactor.

Would low salinity have anything to do with it? I am at about 1.022 and raising slowly with each water change.

Need to test more often.

 

[bertoni]

Low salinity might kill corals, but the alkalinity level is odd, and I don't know how that happened unless you're using tapwater that contains some alkalinity.

 

[tmz]

Low salinity would mean less alk coming in with the salt mix ,so it doesn't add up to high alkainity However, sg of 1.022 could certainly stress or harm your corals. I'd verify the alk test.

 

[teo241]

Retested today with the same kit. KH about 13 now. Not sure if I did something wrong yesterday or if it has just come down.

Didn't do a water change.

Topoff water is RO/DI only with 0 TDS.

Need to get the salinity up, that's for sure. Thanks for the help.

 

[bertoni]

Okay, that sounds like good progress!