20 dKh due to AFR overdose

[DexterKarin]

I have to laugh that there is always something isn't there? Any time I get to where I'm really liking the tank and things seem stable....BAMM.... crisis!!!!

For some reason, the BRS single doser that is on a KASA programable plug decided to dump all of the AFR into my 30 gallon tank. I had been dosing about 5-6ml of AFR a day in 3 doses and last week at a glance I would say there was 2 cups of AFR in the source jug. Been busy where I live with a community crisis (I'm a mental health therapist) and was not paying attention until I noticed that the corals looked off or were closed up especially the duncan, frogspawn, and leather and paly too.

So tested and the hanna tester said 20 dKh and was flashing which I think means more than upper limit. Not a testing error... the color of the solution was way blue not green. At the same time both nitrate and phosphate are 0 (hanna). My phosphate in particular has always been high... like 0.4. (P.s. Just finished with dinos)

I have done two 4 gallon WC in two days in a tank that has about 23 gallons of water. Still flashing 20 dKh. With every WC the corals are looking a little better. I'm also dosing neonitrate and feeding more and using reef roids as a source of phosphate. The way I understand it is that the corals are trying to grow so need more nitrate and phosphate given the high ALK.

My plan is to keep doing daily 4 gallon WC until that ALK comes down. I do have Seachem acid buffer coming tomorrow.

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD BE DOING?

P.S. 8 month old BRS single doser for sale... free!!!! Will throw in a programable Kasa plug.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While one can lower alk by adding acid, in that size tank I’d stick with water changes.