How does one go about lowering your alkalinity and calcium? I followed directions from brs calculator on adding a 2 part to my tank. DkH was 13.5 and calcium was 423. It said to add 13.7 ounces. I thought that was a lot and only added 4 ounces. This morning DkH is 13.3 and calcium is 523
Tank is 230g total
Hi - First, double check that your tests are accurate. Second, Time will lower them. I recently had a problem - whereby 800cc of
BRS Ca, and Alkalinity were added to my tank by a doser. The alkalinity went up to 22. Now with just 'waiting' (about 3 weeks), with some coral loss, the alkalinity is down to 13. Never any effects on the fish, etc. My guess is most of the Ca/Alkalinity precipitated (there was never any cloudy water, etc). The soft corals were all fine.
The other thing you can do is do a water change with a lower alkalinity salt (a couple) - each day for several days. Sometimes its best to let things work out rather than immediately try to correct.
PS - I would consider a doser, so that you can release the Ca and Alkalinity slowly into the tank - and set it, rather than using daily dosing.
PPS. Consider that your rock, etc will take up space in your tank. Its curious - something seems off - either your volume or something - because if you used the calculator, and your initial tests were correct, AND you mixed the
BRS solution correctly (did you use sodium carbonate instead of bicarbonate, etc) there should be no way that (since you used 1/3 the dose) - that your alkalinity shoudl be the high? (What did it start out at?)
