I did an alkalinity test and it's over 14 DKH, I think that's very high, does somebody know what can I do and how it could affect my tank, I'm worry because I just buy some expensive corals and I want to fix any problem before it gets worst. thank you for any help.
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high alkalinity !!
- Thread starter aquaguy
- Start date
When I started out.... I had a FO system.... My alk was always around 14 - 15 dkH. When I switched it over to reef and started dosing with liquid calcium it finally dropped down to 11.8. It's stayed there ever since and I haven't ever had to add a buffer. Why? I don't know... Know one has ever given me a sensible answer. However, the important thing is my fish were always healthy and happy and I didn't lose any.... If your tank is consistently at this level I wouldn't worry too much.
aquaguy:
Please tell us what addatives you are using. If PH and and Ca are good, and the animals are good, I wouldn't worry.
trybka:
I observed the same in my tank - adding liquid calc lowered Alk and PH too.
Here is my explaination (it is sensible, but maybe not 100% correct). Basically, as Calcium is used by animals, or precipitates out, It does so as Calcium Carbonate. This removes carbonate (ie Alkalinity) as well as calcium. Liquid calcium is usually Calcium Chloride, and exchanges your Alk (Carbonate) for extra Chloride ions (I don't know what this effects).
Your makeup water in the fish only (if you didn't use RO) could have had high PH or Alk. When I did freshwater, my PH and Alk of the were way off the top end of the charts (but I had well water, and kept cyclids). Also, some salt mixes are less consistant.
Carbonate can form from Co2 (in our atmosphere), and this lowers PH. Carbonate can release CO2 and raise PH. This balance is what makes carbonate 'buffer' the PH. If your PH is off, your Alk will be too.
Please tell us what addatives you are using. If PH and and Ca are good, and the animals are good, I wouldn't worry.
trybka:
I observed the same in my tank - adding liquid calc lowered Alk and PH too.
Here is my explaination (it is sensible, but maybe not 100% correct). Basically, as Calcium is used by animals, or precipitates out, It does so as Calcium Carbonate. This removes carbonate (ie Alkalinity) as well as calcium. Liquid calcium is usually Calcium Chloride, and exchanges your Alk (Carbonate) for extra Chloride ions (I don't know what this effects).
Your makeup water in the fish only (if you didn't use RO) could have had high PH or Alk. When I did freshwater, my PH and Alk of the were way off the top end of the charts (but I had well water, and kept cyclids). Also, some salt mixes are less consistant.
Carbonate can form from Co2 (in our atmosphere), and this lowers PH. Carbonate can release CO2 and raise PH. This balance is what makes carbonate 'buffer' the PH. If your PH is off, your Alk will be too.
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