Unintentional Alk spike best fix

paraletho

Premium Member
We normally run our SPS tank a 6FT 125gal at 9.3 dkh. My son turned the doser to manual for a 10 min shot to correct some alk drop from increased growth and fell asleep. this morning Alk 14.6 dkh. What is the best prescription? Bring it down fast? It is a ml/min doser so it was a slow creep up. Or bring it down in increments over time? The lights are just coming on and I don,t see any major damage so far. I've got 50 gals mixed saltwater available at a 8.3 dkh. I know I'm probably gonna see some tip burn but want to minimize it if I can.
 
If it was me, I'd do a water change and slowly bring it down over the next few days or so. I'd probably do a 30gal water change every other day so you don't have another huge swing.
 
Probably that high you should change out some water and stop dosing alk until it gets back to the proper level.

Edit. +1
 
My gf moms tank had alk off the chart in a 55 softy tank we stopped the alk and did 20 gallon water changes daily for a week until it came down and then we started the alk back once it was needed again


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I have done the same thing and didnt loose anything.
I would just do as others stated. Stop dosing for a few days and just do a normal sized water change. Nothing too drastic. Then in a few days do another normal size water change and start dosing agian. With sps bad things happen fast and good things take a long time. Do not do anything to change params quickly even if they are out of line. Slow and steady is the key.
 
Thanks folks, that is basically what I've done. Now I will just sit back and hope the damage is minimal. Does anyone know the actual chemical and biological processes that cause alk burn. The corals are polyped out better and the color is brighter than they have been lately. I was wondering if with all the alk available if maybe the coral goes into overdrive and ends up like us after too hard a workout session with their version of really sore muscles.
 
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