High Alk
 

Ok so in the past couple of days I have been trying to lower my alk to bet. 7-9 but it will not go below 12. I have not dosed any buffers or alk solutions. The parameters in my tank are as follows:
Ph-8.1
Alk-12
Nitrates-40
Nitrites-0
Ammonia-0
Calc.-420-440
Phosphates-?
I use IO and have kalk running in my ato. I have done three 5g water changes one every day for the past three days. I have apprx. 75g total water volume. I really want to get it down so that I can start dosing vodka and lower my nitrates as my tank is heavily stocked(mostly sps) and i feed a ton.
Thanks

IMO 12 DKH is not too high.

I keep mine at 11

Same Issue
 

I have been trying to find a way to lower mine too. Mine is steady at right above 13! Every buffer seems to be made for increasing not lowering. I would appreciate any product suggestions for this.

BTW, my magnesium and calcium are somewhat low, ~9 and ~330.
fyi Am/Nitrate/Nitrite=0, salinity .24, pH=8.4

Those are the only tests I have. Are there any other test kits that are really essential at the adv. beginner level? Do I really need iodine? Most people say don't supplement it....

My only nonfish are hammer coral, mushroom, zoo, and BTA

Buffers do not lower alkalinity, you would need an acid to lower it. Why do you want your alk lowered? You're saying your mag levels are 9? Mag should be around 1200-1300, something doesn't sound right. Ca should be around 400, anything higher is really unecessary.

I personally would do a good water change and try to get the Mag to proper levels and make sure Ca/Alk/Mag are balanced.

So a dkh of 12 isnt too high? On the article i read about dosing vodka it said higher dkhs can have an adverse affect on your corals(bleaching of the tips). Should i just start dosing and stop if i see adverse affects or get my dkh to 8 or 9 before i start the dosing regimen?

I would do a good water change first and see what things settle out at before doing any additives, but that's just me.

I have already done one a day for the past three days and it went down from 13 to 12. I need to start dosing vodka though in order to get my water quality the way it should, especially since i like to feed.
Thanks,
Will

You will need to stop adding kalk in your top-off to lower your alk level in addition to stop adding other alk additives. Kalk water will add alkalinity and calcium to your tank. ;)

These articles will help:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php

Thanks,
I figured out that instead of adding stuff to only raise the ph i added buffer instead this is most likely what caused the alk. to rise. Also I am going to do one more water change tom. in order to lower it to 8 or 9 so that i can continue using the kalk in my ato.

Your welcome. ;)

Happy Reefing

Yes, if one adds buffers (high pH alk supplements) to increase their pH it will result in higher alk levels.

I would simply top off with RO/DI water, being stripped, should lower ALK

Thats what im going to do along with a 10g water change tom.

Glad to hear.

Adding acid doesn't lower alkalinity... it increases acidity, lowering pH.

The Acid/Alkaline balance determines pH.

All you need to do is a water change, if you want to keep your pH high without adding excessive alkalinity (12 dKh is within normal range btw) use kalkwasser... use it as your top off water, that and SMALL additions to alkalinity just to maintain at 8 dKh has kept my pH at 8.1-8.3 steady.

Mineral acids will reduce alkalinity, but are very dangerous to use and will reduce the pH. ;)

This article goes into more detail as to how this works:

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/wat...nity-water.htm

From this article:

"The feed of a mineral acid will neutralize the alkalinity of a water. Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or a combination of these can be used. This process converts the bicarbonates and carbonates present into carbonic acid. At this point, it is advisable to provide some method to permit the resulting carbon dioxide gas to escape into the atmosphere. The disadvantages of this acid feed technique are obvious. There are needs for precise control of the process and caution in handling the strong acid."

thanks, i am just going to do the water change. And i realize 12 is in the acceptable range, i just want it to be lower(as in 8 or 9) b/c the article i read about dosing vodka said that alk on the higher end can cause corals to bleach or burn on the tips once you start dosing. Other than that the fact that it is 12 doesnt bother me....i just want to dose me some vodka

Any acid will reduce alkalinity, at least temporarily. Organic acids tend to be consumed, thus releasing the alkalinity back into the water. Vinegar works in this way. A mineral acid will consume alkalinity permanently, as Billy has stated.

Hey Reeferkiss, you said your Mg was at 9, is this correct or a typo?

just went threw the same problam. dont do any more water changes if you use reef cristals my alk went down after a week and also i have lots of sps and lpl corls and i keep my alk at 10 dKH or 179 PPM

but this will lower your PH also

i started using bulk reef supply productd and there calculater and it has helped to mantane my ALK and CAL alote its alote easer

yes a typo
 

900 not 9 ppm oops

but this will lower your PH also

That is certainly true. Unfortunately, there is no way to reduce alkalinity and not reduce pH, at least until your tank has a chance to blow off the excess CO2 that is formed by lowering alkalinity.