need to lower pH - big time in a hurry.

[BCReefer]

I need to lower my pH. I added Kalk last night and when I got home my Xenia seemed to have crashed big time. It has grown tremendously over the past 6 months from a single shoot to about 6 – 7 big pieces.

I started checking my water parameters and 1st thing I check was my Ph and it read over 9.0. I have been adding Kalk for the past 3 months and this has never happened before. I did add a little more than normal but only a ½ teaspoon more.

I did a 20% water change and I will test again in an hour. Stupid me I did not test for alk, nitrates etc.

The rest of the clams still look good and the fish look OK. I have turned off the light and I will maybe do another water change around 10:00. at that time I will test the rest.

Can anyone make a suggestion about how I can lower my pH?

Thanks
Patrick

[Aquattro]

Patrick, I'd probably just keep doing what you're doing. Dropping it quickly wouldn't be a good thing. Did this happen with a drip setup? Maybe check for leaks or other problemswith your dispensing method.

[titus]

Hello,

Turning your skimmer and reversed lighting off aids in a small bit. Other than that, water change is the safest way.

[titus]

Hello,

Forgot. If you run a ca reactor, increase the effluent rate super fast, with caution though.

[BCReefer]

The water changes helped and I turned off the lighting and skimmer for the night. I checked this morning and pH is getting better. Still a little high but I will do another 20% water change tonight.

Really ****es me off. :mad:

The Xenia looked awesome. They looked like a swaying little forest that my clown hid in. I heard that Xenia are like that. They can live for a long time, and them bam they die. I was looking at doing some fraggin and selling it to Kevin’s for some equipment, now I don’t know if I should try again.

Andrew – you have a lot of Xenia, have you ever had a crash and what caused it?

Thanks all
Patrick

[canadawest]

Hey Patrick, glad to hear your pH is getting back to normal.

I have had my Xenia crash once before as well, and it was due to the same thing, pH burn. I rather foolishly dumped in the remaining kalk solution from my Aquadose, and I guess the Xenia are pretty sensitive as half of my mother colony shrank away and disintegrated. It has recovered nicely, but it took 2 months. Oddly enough, none of the other corals/fish were affected.

Anyways, just stablize things and it should make a recovery. Keep you Alk high and your pH stable. If the Xenia doesn't make it, come by and I'll give you another frag.

[BCReefer]

Just did another water change. A lot better water parameters now.

What a stench those dead Xenia made. Smelt like rotten eggs. I had make sure I kept all the paper towel and brushes used to clean the rock and through everything in the garbage.

Thanks for everyones help.

Cheers,
Patrick

[stephane]

just in case big kalk mess happen to one of you!
I have added about 2 full cup of kalk in a 130 gal. without any loss

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67217&highlight=disater

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73242&highlight=disater

in emegency Vinegar or gaseifed water (club soda or mineral water)would work but you need a PH meter

[ 18 May 2002, 14:32: Message edited by: stephane ]