My Alk. is too high...how do i lower it?

Tridacna3 · 02/27/2007, 10:46 PM

Today I tested the tank water and found that my Alk is way too high...is their a way to lower it rather quickly into a more acceptable level...or do I just do a large water change? Also what would cause the Alk to be so high?

Joe LoPresti · 02/27/2007, 10:54 PM

Hey tridacna,
You should drop this question into the Reef Chemistry forum and ask for help from Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley. He's moderating it right now and that guy is THE MAN when it comes to answering those types of questions and he'll respond pretty quickly. Good luck with your Alk level, hope everything works out!!!

wrott · 02/27/2007, 10:56 PM

The best way would be a series of water changes to slowly bring it down.
How high is it? What kind of kit do you use?

drummereef · 02/27/2007, 11:41 PM

First of all, what is the alk testing and what testkit are you using? If it is truly high, let it come down on its own. What are you dosing currently?

Yinger · 02/27/2007, 11:48 PM

if ur have a CA reactor running, turn it off until the alk lowers

Sk8r · 02/28/2007, 12:20 AM

That's right, re Randy; in short, if you're adding buffer or kalk, stop for a while until the reading sinks, do a couple of water changes, and in general, just hope for it to sink naturally. Watch out for your corals, and cross your fingers.

Peter Eichler · 02/28/2007, 12:33 AM

People used to maintain as high as 20 dkh in reef aquariums and I would be shocked if yours if that high or higher unless you really messed up on dosing. Just let it comes down on it's own, no need to be alarmed.

plyle02 · 02/28/2007, 02:59 AM

I would test your water before water changes, and your top off. Are you using RO/DI? I am in FL, our water is very hard here. I agree with posting on the Chemistry Forum, Randy and Jim from the Filter Guys pointed this out to me, as I was using a RO only unit which did not remove the hardness from the water. Just a thought.....

MG21 · 02/28/2007, 05:05 AM

Distilled water will lower it. Do it slowly though.

02/27/2007, 10:46 PM	#1
Tridacna3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6	My Alk. is too high...how do i lower it? Today I tested the tank water and found that my Alk is way too high...is their a way to lower it rather quickly into a more acceptable level...or do I just do a large water change? Also what would cause the Alk to be so high?

02/27/2007, 10:54 PM	#2
Joe LoPresti Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: san diego Posts: 240	Hey tridacna, You should drop this question into the Reef Chemistry forum and ask for help from Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley. He's moderating it right now and that guy is THE MAN when it comes to answering those types of questions and he'll respond pretty quickly. Good luck with your Alk level, hope everything works out!!! __________________ Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey- "Better not take a dog on the Space Shuttle, because if he sticks his head out when you're coming home his face might burn up." Current Tank Info: 82 gallon custom-built reef tank, 29 gallon softie cube, 29 gallon anemone cube and a 40 gallon Tanganyikan cichlid tank!!!

02/27/2007, 10:56 PM	#3
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	The best way would be a series of water changes to slowly bring it down. How high is it? What kind of kit do you use? __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

02/27/2007, 11:41 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	First of all, what is the alk testing and what testkit are you using? If it is truly high, let it come down on its own. What are you dosing currently? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

02/28/2007, 12:20 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	That's right, re Randy; in short, if you're adding buffer or kalk, stop for a while until the reading sinks, do a couple of water changes, and in general, just hope for it to sink naturally. Watch out for your corals, and cross your fingers. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/27/2007, 11:48 PM	#5
Yinger Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Yorba Linda Posts: 3,657	if ur have a CA reactor running, turn it off until the alk lowers

02/28/2007, 12:33 AM	#7
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	People used to maintain as high as 20 dkh in reef aquariums and I would be shocked if yours if that high or higher unless you really messed up on dosing. Just let it comes down on it's own, no need to be alarmed. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

02/28/2007, 02:59 AM	#8
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	I would test your water before water changes, and your top off. Are you using RO/DI? I am in FL, our water is very hard here. I agree with posting on the Chemistry Forum, Randy and Jim from the Filter Guys pointed this out to me, as I was using a RO only unit which did not remove the hardness from the water. Just a thought..... __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

02/28/2007, 05:05 AM	#9
MG21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 381	Distilled water will lower it. Do it slowly though.