VERY High ALK

[asid61]

I just came home from the LFS today with my first acropora and a small mushroom. I last tested all my parameters a few days ago, and all were fine except pH. I added some reef buffer to treat that and though I was all ready. I forgot reef buffer also raised ALK. So when I came home today, corals in bag, I tested again to make sure. Everything was fine... cal at 440, nitrates 0, phosphates ~0.05, mag 1420, etc. Then when I rested ALK, it read 15!
Just how bad is this? As I type I am making up RODI for an emergency water change, but I can only hope for 13-14. How will this affect my acro?

 

[reefereef]

what was your ph, if this is your first coral then your shouldnt have any equipment driving my ph up or down. From what i have read and my personal experience, it is best to let the ph stay where it naturally is in your tank, much less stress on the animals than trying to change it all the time.

 

[asid61]

The problem isn't pH, it's alk/dkh. It is now up to 14. Will this affect the acropora?

 

[lokii_37]

Have you done a second test to make sure the 1st one was right?

 

[asid61]

I just did a second test, and it turned out to be about 13.5. That is still a little high, so will it hurt the coral log-term/kill it, or will it just temporarily inhibit growth?

 

[MammothReefer]

It can have a negative affect if you say swung up from 8dkh to 14dkh in 24 hours. I would let it slowly drop back down.. sometimes the swing can be worse then the number.

 

[asid61]

The swing was before I got the coral; will it still affect it?

 

[blakers82]

Side note: I agree that chasing pH can drive you and your corals up a wall. Wait. If the corals did that, then that would be good. Nevermind.

Regarding Alk, it very well my affect your acro, depending on the acro and where it's coming from. In the future you might check the alkalinity level from the coral's LFS salt water. Some might think it's over doing it, but I try to check params from any incoming corals just so I know where it's coming from. I figure that one day I might learn something really useful, right? If it was coming from a system running high then you might feel a little bit better about it...but I'd still want a more stable, natural alk number on my system. Relax and let it come down a bit. And keep checking your params - That's always good protocol.

 

[fishguy597]

What kind of test kit are you using for alk?

 

[asid61]

I use an API test kit for everything but mag, which I use Salifert for.

 

[danreefman]

you should be fine as long as you acclimate and don't let your tank swing actually the higher the alk the more growth. just make sure if you lower it do it slowly. for instance from 13-9 over about a month. slow and steady wins the race in the reef game.

 

[fishguy597]

I use an API test kit for everything but mag, which I use Salifert for.

Ditch the api and get another test kit. I used two different API tests for alk and both said 9. I picked up a salifert and it told me I had a dkh of 15.