Help With KH

whatcaneyedo · #1 03-23-2010, 05:35 AM

I dont think 15 dkh is high enough to cause a tank crash. I accidentally pushed my alkalinity up to 22 dkh once for several days and all I lost was one acropora.

I havent used salifert in the last two years. I didnt know they could test pH and came with a referance sample. I thought only Seachem did that?

To bring your alkalinity down just shut off your calcium reactor and kalkwasser reactor for a few days and it should come down quickly on its own. Test daily to make sure it doesnt drop too low. To speed up the process do a water change. When you start them up again you may want to lessen the flow through the reactor some more.

Another way you can check the accuracy of a test kit is to test some newly mixed saltwater. Your results should be similar to these http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505

Madreefer · #2 03-23-2010, 05:43 AM

I will shut them both down for a bit. I had the same readings before I used both reactors which has me baffled. So keep the bubble count the same and turn down the effluent coming out? Growth is good and no nuisance algae and also, corraline growth is'nt like it used to be. Would this high alk have anything to do with my coral colors? A pink poccilopra I got from you is a wine color in my tank

whatcaneyedo · #3 03-23-2010, 02:41 PM

Regardless of what the flow through is you want the internal pH at about 6.5 so turn down both appropriately. Coral color is mostly a product of lighting with overall water chemisty and feeding coming second in my opinion. Everyone has different opinions on what works it seems and I've seen beutiful colors with all methods so I dont know. Get your alkalinity down to the normal range and take it from there I guess.

Zoaelite · #4 04-25-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

I dont think 15 dkh is high enough to cause a tank crash. I accidentally pushed my alkalinity up to 22 dkh once for several days and all I lost was one acropora.

I havent used salifert in the last two years. I didnt know they could test pH and came with a referance sample. I thought only Seachem did that?

To bring your alkalinity down just shut off your calcium reactor and kalkwasser reactor for a few days and it should come down quickly on its own. Test daily to make sure it doesnt drop too low. To speed up the process do a water change. When you start them up again you may want to lessen the flow through the reactor some more.

Another way you can check the accuracy of a test kit is to test some newly mixed saltwater. Your results should be similar to these http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505

Although SPS might not be hit hard by a single ALK swing with a ALK swing from 6-7 to 12-13 you will start loosing any zoa colonies you have in the tank. They are a great indicator to ALK changes for some reason.