ALk is really high

[Delphinus]

I don't have the answer but jumping in here because I have the same problem with an alkalinity that's way too high. And one thing we have in common is that we're using pickling lime. However one thing that might be different is that I have both a kalk reactor and a calcium reactor online. I don't have the high alk without the kalk reactor, so I'm sort of leaning towards wondering if that's the cause. I have not tried running with just the kalk reactor to see if it's enough on it's own to have alk too high.

I should mention that I was using Salifert to test and I was wondering about the test kit, however when I used it all up I went and bought an Elos - Elos measures in dKH not meq/l, but the results were consistent (4meq/l or 12dKH in my case). So I guess in my case the test kit was fine.

[Skimmerking]

Sean, Dan, Tony ok first question Doug was using his test kits with mine solution I have another test kits coming and will see if that is it.

yes Tony I have wondered about the pickling Lime Vs Kalkwasser. and Im thinking that pickling Lime is stronger then Kalk wasser.

funny about the Salfirt test kits that iswhy I changed to them they were alot easier and better kits. Now that I'm starting to wonder...Tony I will chat with you on Msn today about the test kits

[Swags]

If you need to check the reliability of your alk test kit, here is a good check:
1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1 gallon of distilled water=10dkh

Cheers!
Phil

[Skimmerking]

Well I have stopped the Pickling lime, and converted to RO/DI top off and will be using my Sea chem Reef builder and advantage to bring the alk/cal up until i can get a better style of kalk probably from Ben

[fishguyxd]

Hi last month i had a spike way over the top was using a hagan kit and that was showing results that were correct ,lfs did test for me and did get same results so high we never did get an accurate number, since then bought I salifert kit and I am still hi in alk but my cal is up to normal and mag is 1300

It took me a month to just get to this point I did add
cal additive and a new salt to help the solve problem but also did lots of water changes I guessing in the last month probably the total capacity of my tank.
(in the mean time though I did lose corals and inverts after 3 days++) just so you know I do not have all the other equipment (cal reactor etc)
that's my 2 cents

[Skimmerking]

ya the CAl is 450 and the mag is good I really dont know why its doing it may be its the lime i have hardly any pickling lime in there and the top off is a 20 gal tub but im going to see how much that im going thur and dose with sea chem..

[Slick Fork]

Check the TDS of your RO unit, could be the problem is the source water.

[Skimmerking]

i have a TDs on my unit its coming out at 0ppm