Help!!!!!! ATO just pumped 8 gal kalk into 90 gal

Charley75

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So luckily I was home and heard the alar go off. My ATO just emptied into my tank….mixed reed salinity normally right at .026 or just under. So salinity dropped to .024, but my biggest concern is all the kalk being dumped in. I’m already making water, but that’s gonna take a while. I removed about 5 gal, added salt, now adding that back slowly to raise salinity back up. Kinda freaking out ….any ideas????
 

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So luckily I was home and heard the alar go off. My ATO just emptied into my tank….mixed reed salinity normally right at .026 or just under. So salinity dropped to .024, but my biggest concern is all the kalk being dumped in. I’m already making water, but that’s gonna take a while. I removed about 5 gal, added salt, now adding that back slowly to raise salinity back up. Kinda freaking out ….any ideas????
Dilution via water changes. What species of coral are in the system and what is the pH currently?
 

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Haven’t tested ph….will though…euphyllia, styli, monti dig, zoas, acans, couple leathers, Duncan’s, ricordea.
I’d just do some water changes. Most of those corals are pretty hardy. I remember Ryan at BRS had a Kalk overdose and nothing died. Not sure how much went into the tank, but it was pretty white. Sometimes it’s best not to do anything. In your case it’s quite a bit. Was the Kalk fully saturated?
 

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I’d just do some water changes. Most of those corals are pretty hardy. I remember Ryan at BRS had a Kalk overdose and nothing died. Not sure how much went into the tank, but it was pretty white. Sometimes it’s best not to do anything. In your case it’s quite a bit. Was the Kalk fully saturated?
2nd this, I totally understand how long it can take to make that much SW but maybe there is a LFS that you can purchase enough to do like a 50% WC over the next day or 2 if you can't make it fast enough?
 
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Charley75

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There is a LFS that I went a bought 30 gal from. So did a 30 gal water change (it’s a 90+ sump). I’m also making water to do another WC either tonight or tomorrow. Alk tested at 10, didn’t have a b4 number. Probably dumped about 8 gal I figure. I mix my kalk ( 2 tspn/gal + 500ml vinegar for the entire 10 gallons). Don’t remember where I got that formula, just what I’ve always used. We’ll see I guess. Lots of slime coats everywhere so def ticked some coral off.
 

sfin52

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There is a LFS that I went a bought 30 gal from. So did a 30 gal water change (it’s a 90+ sump). I’m also making water to do another WC either tonight or tomorrow. Alk tested at 10, didn’t have a b4 number. Probably dumped about 8 gal I figure. I mix my kalk ( 2 tspn/gal + 500ml vinegar for the entire 10 gallons). Don’t remember where I got that formula, just what I’ve always used. We’ll see I guess. Lots of slime coats everywhere so def ticked some coral off.
10 isn't crazy high but that depends on what your number was at before the over dose
 

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There is a LFS that I went a bought 30 gal from. So did a 30 gal water change (it’s a 90+ sump). I’m also making water to do another WC either tonight or tomorrow. Alk tested at 10, didn’t have a b4 number. Probably dumped about 8 gal I figure. I mix my kalk ( 2 tspn/gal + 500ml vinegar for the entire 10 gallons). Don’t remember where I got that formula, just what I’ve always used. We’ll see I guess. Lots of slime coats everywhere so def ticked some coral off.
2 tsp per gallon is fully saturated.

So you did the 30/G water change. pH is fine. ALK is fine. We don’t have a pre overdose number, but the corals in the tank should be ok.

I’d wait till tomorrow to do another water change. There’s been enough instability today.
 

Fishingandreefing

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It happened to me. Just do water changes and keep checking alk. My suggestion is don’t fill up 10g. Even on my 120 I got a 5g, when it happens it’s not as bad.
 
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Charley75

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I’ve actually been having issue with my ATO forever…always beeping for no reason. Will have to turn off, then back on, but never this. Usually it just won’t pump at all. It’s a Smart ATO. Guess it’s time to invest in a Tunze.
 

Fishingandreefing

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I’ve actually been having issue with my ATO forever…always beeping for no reason. Will have to turn off, then back on, but never this. Usually it just won’t pump at all. It’s a Smart ATO. Guess it’s time to invest in a Tunze.
Tunze? I got problem with them
 

outhouse

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Been using that for close to 20 years maybe a little less, so long I forgot how long.

Anyway its bulletproof and I pull using an aqualifter and a 10g pale that feeds my kalk reactor. Cheap effective, no alarms bells or whistles, it just works
 

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I imagine a 10% totally concentrated kalk overdose would make your pH skyrocket. I don’t think it added as much as you think.
 

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Yikes what a mess. Hopefully the para aren’t to far off and some water Changes bring everything slowly. My ATO did this constant beeping for a while. I spent some time throughly cleaning the inside and outside of the glass where it’s mounted and it stopped. The optics inside them are sensitive.
 

Fishingandreefing

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Well, it happened the second time. Come on Tunze! I am just praying my corals and fish be ok. what the heck.
 

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