High Alkalinity help needed

Jmike · 03/09/2008, 07:19 PM

My alkalinity is extremely high at 21 dkh, my calcium is 480 and my ph is 8.2 how can I fix this. Thanks

AIMFish · 03/09/2008, 07:27 PM

Time and small water changes. I had 18dkh a while back due to an overdose and just did 10% changes every 5 days or so. Nothing died, GSP was the only thing that looked stressed and it started coming back out later.

Jmike · 03/09/2008, 07:41 PM

I read an article about using carbonated water any thoughts on that?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/10/2008, 05:00 AM

Carbonated water has zero impact on alkalinity, so that is not a solution. it helps with excessively high ph, however.

How did the alkalinity get high?

It will drop on its own without any supplements being added, but you need to make sure that you are not still adding any.

This article has more:

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Jmike · 03/10/2008, 06:39 AM

Not sure how it got that high I have used purple up in the past. I also used Kent's super buffer dkh in the past. Most recently I have been doing the Vit C thing and was trying to get ph up so I used that "magic" ph buffer stuff. ATheil is the article I read about the carbonated water. I take it that I need to quit reading anything with his name on it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/10/2008, 09:51 AM

OK, well all of the things you added, including buffered vitamin C will boost alkalinity to some extent. If there are still fine sand particle sin the water from the Purple Up, you may also get a false high alkalinity reading. Most likely it is just still high from the superbuffer.

Yes, I recall Thiel's statements on CO2 and alkalinity. I do not recommend relying on him for chemical information.

Jmike · 03/10/2008, 10:06 AM

Thanks for your help Randy. I have not used the Purple up in about 3 weeks. And the rest of the bottle is going in the trash. As far as the Vit C I was seeing a huge improvement in my zoas. But as of yesterday I stopped adding Vit C. Should I just not add any supplements or Vit C and just let it be and see if the dkh goes down? Or what should I do at this point to make sure I don't end up killing the stuff in my tank? Thanks again

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/10/2008, 10:18 AM

You might hold a bit on the vitamin C and see what the alkalinity does, yes.

Jmike · 03/10/2008, 10:21 AM

Thanks Randy for taking the time to answer my questions. I will do that and see what happens.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/10/2008, 10:30 AM

You're welcome.

Good luck.

AIMFish · 03/10/2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jmike
Not sure how it got that high I have used purple up in the past.

Lol, that's what I OD'd with! It definitely taught me early to test before dosing.

03/09/2008, 07:19 PM	#1
Jmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florence, Ms Posts: 27	High Alkalinity help needed My alkalinity is extremely high at 21 dkh, my calcium is 480 and my ph is 8.2 how can I fix this. Thanks

03/10/2008, 05:00 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	Carbonated water has zero impact on alkalinity, so that is not a solution. it helps with excessively high ph, however. How did the alkalinity get high? It will drop on its own without any supplements being added, but you need to make sure that you are not still adding any. This article has more: Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/10/2008, 09:51 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	OK, well all of the things you added, including buffered vitamin C will boost alkalinity to some extent. If there are still fine sand particle sin the water from the Purple Up, you may also get a false high alkalinity reading. Most likely it is just still high from the superbuffer. Yes, I recall Thiel's statements on CO2 and alkalinity. I do not recommend relying on him for chemical information. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/10/2008, 10:18 AM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	You might hold a bit on the vitamin C and see what the alkalinity does, yes. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/10/2008, 10:30 AM	#10
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	You're welcome. Good luck. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/09/2008, 07:27 PM	#2
AIMFish Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Marion,IN Posts: 1,136	Time and small water changes. I had 18dkh a while back due to an overdose and just did 10% changes every 5 days or so. Nothing died, GSP was the only thing that looked stressed and it started coming back out later.

03/09/2008, 07:41 PM	#3
Jmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florence, Ms Posts: 27	I read an article about using carbonated water any thoughts on that?

03/10/2008, 06:39 AM	#5
Jmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florence, Ms Posts: 27	Not sure how it got that high I have used purple up in the past. I also used Kent's super buffer dkh in the past. Most recently I have been doing the Vit C thing and was trying to get ph up so I used that "magic" ph buffer stuff. ATheil is the article I read about the carbonated water. I take it that I need to quit reading anything with his name on it.

03/10/2008, 10:06 AM	#7
Jmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florence, Ms Posts: 27	Thanks for your help Randy. I have not used the Purple up in about 3 weeks. And the rest of the bottle is going in the trash. As far as the Vit C I was seeing a huge improvement in my zoas. But as of yesterday I stopped adding Vit C. Should I just not add any supplements or Vit C and just let it be and see if the dkh goes down? Or what should I do at this point to make sure I don't end up killing the stuff in my tank? Thanks again

03/10/2008, 10:21 AM	#9
Jmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florence, Ms Posts: 27	Thanks Randy for taking the time to answer my questions. I will do that and see what happens.