High Alkalinity

SaltwaterGardening

SaltwaterGardening

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Hi everyone! Our tank is about 3 1/2 months old, started testing Alkalinity about a month ago and titrated to 8-9, which is normal. Fast forward to now to a reading of 14, we do have more fish and essentially very little to no coral. Should we be considering adding more coral as a means to lower alkalinity or should we be dosing something to bring it down, or just letting it be? We’ve been losing the little blue legged hermits over the last week, so likely related. We are guilty of over feeding, if that’s also a cause where phosphate and akalinity are related. Thanks for your advice!

Phosphates up, 0.25ish (phosgard in sump)
PH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2
Alkalinity 14
 
Are you dosing 2 part solution and did you take a second reading to confirm the alk is truly that high? Our tank started off like that but we were dosing 2 part without really needing it.
 
Agreed, we need to know both questions:
Are you dosing?
Did you confirm with someone else testing your water?

Hmm.... and:
What size tank?
Which salt mix do you use?
What are the Calcium levels?
 
And as for adding more corals to suck up Alk; I wouldn’t, for the sake of the animals.

However, if you wanted to, some Monti Caps would probably have some of the greatest impact.
 
We are not dosing anything, only using saltwater from LFS. We ran all twice with high readings using Red Sea test kit. I’m on the road for a few hours, but my husband will watch this post as he is home. Thanks. L
 
Need to know what your salinity is - and what method you are using to test your salinity. What are you using for top off water?
 
Where are you located? If you're nearby, I'd love to request a sample of your water so I can double check your test results. Red Sea's Alk test is their weakest link... its notoriously hard to read.

Yes, while more info is needed to all those unanswered questions, those are really interesting answers so far:
Not dosing, getting water from an LFS, but Alk is very high.
 
ActiveAngel said:
And as for adding more corals to suck up Alk; I wouldn’t, for the sake of the animals.

However, if you wanted to, some Monti Caps would probably have some of the greatest impact.
Click to expand...

what size montipora?
lmm1967 said:
Need to know what your salinity is - and what method you are using to test your salinity. What are you using for top off water?
Click to expand...

Salinity was 1.025 yesterday after water change, but did not check today. Top off is RODI from LFS.
 
ActiveAngel said:
Where are you located? If you're nearby, I'd love to request a sample of your water so I can double check your test results. Red Sea's Alk test is their weakest link... its notoriously hard to read.

Yes, while more info is needed to all those unanswered questions, those are really interesting answers so far:
Not dosing, getting water from an LFS, but Alk is very high.
Click to expand...

We’re in East Cobb, the east side of Marietta. Told my husband to take a sample to Premier Aquatics tomorrow, but not sure if his plans.
 
If you are not dosing and you are using water from LFS, doubt the alkalinity is that high especially after water changes as most LFS water does not have that high Alk. Would retest the water using a different tester. Premier does not run their water at that high Alk and their salinity is usually 1.024/5 and their RoDI is zero TDS based on our multiple years of experience before we got our own water system.
 
We appreciate everyone that has offered to help us both in the forum and separately. Thanks, crisis may be resolved! Earlier today, my husband went searching for any dead hermits in the tank and removed all empty shells. He also stirred up the sand too. Not sure if that did anything, or if it was just user error on my part, but he got a reading of 10. He feels confident this may be under control. I’ll encourage him to test again tomorrow to confirm and I’ll be back in town next week. Thanks again for all those eager to help us!
 
A reading of 10 is better (but still in the red/danger zone); best to double check your reading against another member. Additionally, if water is fluctuating that much, it could potentially be a more serious issue.

That said, as originally mentioned, Red Sea Alk test kit is notoriously hard to read. So it’s no fault on your end. They have had recalls in the past when specific batches were too hard to accurately read.

Also, I wouldn’t remove those shells. Hermits molt. You could potentially be killing live hermits that are tucked deep inside those shells. Additionally, hermits need spare shells or they will kill each other for them. Plus... there’s no benefit to removing them other than aesthetics (I.e. if you dislike the appearance of or have a phobia of shells). So why not leave them in.
 
joeyprice said:
If you still need a test I have a Hanna meter and would be happy to swing by.
Click to expand...

Thanks for stopping by. Guess we will be in the market for some Hanna checkers next.

Anyone recommend buying in set vs singly? Issues with buying used, like a bad batch of testers or anything?
 
SaltwaterGardening said:
Thanks for stopping by. Guess we will be in the market for some Hanna checkers next.

Anyone recommend buying in set vs singly? Issues with buying used, like a bad batch of testers or anything?
Click to expand...
We got each of our 3 Hanna colorimeters individually. I like having each in its own kit. Helps prevent mixing up reagents etc: Alk, Calc, ULR Phosphorus. If they come out with a magnesium checker for saltwater eventually we'll get one of those as well.
 
www.marinedepot.com

HIREEF2 Professional Reef Test Kit

Easy Digital Testing with Precise Results for Reef Tanks If you ask anyone what are the most important parameters to monitor in a reef tank for good coral growth and health, pretty much everyone will answer with Calcium, Alkalinity, & Phosphates. Hanna Instruments HIREEF2 Test kit includes...
www.marinedepot.com www.marinedepot.com

This is a kit but comes in individual boxes so you can keep them separate.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 
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