ALK
 

Im having problems with my ALK and PH, My ALK is way too hight (16DKH) and my PH is too low (7.9). Is there anything that you guys do to rectify this? Water changes dont help, I stopped dosing, and still no real changes.

Have you checked the parameters on your salt?? There were a few bad buckets floating around awhile ago, I think it was more than a year ago now but you never know.

Ya I had one of those buckets, this one is ok, its brand new and I tested, no problems.

I to have had this problem.

The best thing to do is wait. The ALK will drop and your PH will return to normal.
Have you checked your CA. I suspect it to is a little high or even mid 400s

Stop adding any buffers until it returns to normal

J

I stopped adding anything, the funny thing is, my calcium is around 250

alk?
 

Test your Mg...low Mg messes with the Ca (and alk therefore pH) utilization. Also browse Bev's chemistry links, should be some instructions for your situation in one of Farley's articles. Did you have a percipitation event? ie white snow?or heavy build up on your pumps and PH?
Good Luck

heavy build up on my pumps, no snow, what does that mean? I was going totry epsom salts for magnesium and see if that fixes the problem.

Here are some pages to read.....

The Relationship Between Alkalinity and pH:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

High pH: Causes and Cures:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm

Low pH: Causes and Cures:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

The rest of the Reef Chemistry links can be found at:

http://www.canreef.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=19927

If alk is high and Ca is low, stop the alk but continue the Ca. Both are required for coral growth - without sufficient Ca the corals cannot use the carbonate alkalinity and bring the level down.

Try to figure out how your levels get this way? Were you dosing more buffer (alk) to try to raise the pH? What additives are you using? What doses?

Is the pH level causing problems? If not I would not waste too much effort trying to raise it. Once your tank is back in balance maybe try implementing some kalk in your dosing regimen - it will raise pH without sending alk levels sky high. Otherwise you can do more harm than good trying to get 'textbook' levels.

now now Bev, what did we tell you about posting all thoes and jamming up threads :mrgreen:

Steve