High ALK level!!!

[reefknight]

So yesterday I did a waterchange(approx 22gal) and switched from RC to Salinity. I tested my tank water before the w/c and just a few minutes ago and am extremely concerned.

Before: Alk - 9, Ca - 400, Mg - 1100 (Elos kits), pH - 8, SG% - 1.025 refractometer.

Today: Alk - 18, Ca - 475, Mg - 1300 (Elos), pH - 8, SG - 1.026

I ran out of the Elos kit that I was using between yesterday and todays readings. I know that the "new" Elos kit is about 6 months out of date, but it should not effect the results this badly.

I have an "in date" Salifert Alk and it is reading 11.2.

Which do I believe? And how badly am I shocking my corals at this point?

I do have a Profilux 3ch doser, dosing a total of 36ml of each Alk/Ca/Mg per day. I have since taken it offline until this is figured out. I know that the doser didn't dump a ton due to where the levels are in each of the jugs, they're all even across.

Thoughts or ideas are appreciated folks, I've got a nice shipment of fresh corals arriving tomorrow morning from Worldwide Corals. WHat a lovely time to have this issue!

 

[rkseaslug]

do you corals look unhappy? buy new test kit or have store check KH before your new corals arrive. If Kh is really that high, do water change with instant ocean salt. that should bring kh back down. I would not use any chemicals to correct problem.

 

[reefknight]

Things appear alright for the moment, lights were out when I got home tonight. They appear fine currently though. I do have a bit of Reef Crystals left, and will have to mix it up. I just took some readings of the pre made Salinity; Alk - 6.7/ 11 (Salifert/Elos), Ca - 330/375 (Same) @ 1.026 SG%

 

[VegasRick]

What size tank is this? I wouldn't do anything too drastic until you have another set of tests done.
My best guess is testing errors. Even at a 50 percent water change the amount of Mg needed to jump from 1100 to 1300 means the mix would have to test at 1500. More than most salt levels have.

 

[Salty Dog]

no way thats correct, if all your corals are dead than I would say you had a major problem but I think the test was wrong, Dont panic . Go out and get aother test kit . DONT CHANGE ANYTHING untill your positive

 

[Paul_N]

I would get another kit and test or take water to a lfs to test. If your alk jumped from 9 to 18 you would probably have coral with tissue peeling off.

 

[Murfman]

I would go with your in date Salifert. The Elos is out of date and the reagent could be bad.

 

[reefknight]

Just picked up a friends Red Sea Pro Alk kit. Going to run it and see where it's at.

185gal display, 50gal sump ~ 209gal calculated by Randy's online calculator.

 

[fish&corals]

reef i had the same prob over a week ago .. alk went through the roof .. was at 17 DKH of hardness .. lost a bunch of corals cause of it .. its come way down im like 12 DKH now .. did alot of water changes .. i figured i would lose my clam 1st but she made it through the ordeal ...

 

[MoneyPit]

I have to agree that the Elos kit must be wrong. If you changed 22 gal on a 209 gal system, the amount of Alk in that salt mix would have had to be huge to go from 9 to 18. I really think at that level most of your corals would show major signs of stress.

 

[reefknight]

Completed Alk test with Red Sea Pro kit, 9dKH. So I feel somewhat relieved but the difference between it and the Salifert are still troublesome. Does anyone know which of these kits runs high/low? I know every brand will be different. I can't remember which Salifert is. Have no idea about the Red Sea kit either.

Thanks

 

[reefknight]

A fellow club member just pointed something out to me;

Elos went from 1 drop = 1dKH to a higher resolution test of 1 drop = 0.5dKH!

It's printed on the color card stock, but not the directions as such. Since I was using the kit I proceeded as habit.

Thanks to all for your assistance!