KH too high

[Reefer_Marc]

I wrote this short article that may be helpful: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/the-ways-alkalinity-can-accumulate-in-a-reef-tank.902/

Thanks, will check it tomorrow. Time for sleep here

 

[Reefer_Marc]

I wrote this short article that may be helpful:

The Ways Alkalinity can Accumulate in a Reef Tank

The Ways Alkalinity can Accumulate in a Reef Tank @Miami Reef "Why is my alkalinity rising?" is a seemingly simple question that consistently pops up in the chemistry section of Reef2Reef. However, it is a complex question since there are...

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Thats quite the helpful article, thank you very much!
Since im not dosing anything and my ro/di is at 0, i guess my high alk is due to low demand, just a few kenya trees, a leather coral, a small clavularia and an anemone.

Could it be that the low demand in my tank triggers some algae problem? I have quite a bit of macroalgae growing in my display tank and some red slime algae.
So if the nutrients are not used up by corals then the algae will take it and grow, right?
I had this suspicion before but was never sure, my local lfs couldnt say anything about that theory

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thats quite the helpful article, thank you very much!
Since im not dosing anything and my ro/di is at 0, i guess my high alk is due to low demand, just a few kenya trees, a leather coral, a small clavularia and an anemone.

Could it be that the low demand in my tank triggers some algae problem? I have quite a bit of macroalgae growing in my display tank and some red slime algae.
So if the nutrients are not used up by corals then the algae will take it and grow, right?
I had this suspicion before but was never sure, my local lfs couldnt say anything about that theory

Nutrients are not generally the best way to beat algae, despite that being a popular idea. Having sufficient nutrients for corals is typically enough for algae to thrive. Herbivores are usually an easier path to success.

In this case, like many soft coral tanks, low alk demand does not itself contribute to excess nutrients or algae.

 

[Miami Reef]

If you really want to lower the alkalinity, you can use either muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate to drop the new saltwater near 0dKH and use that as a water change.

Just make sure you aerate the water for about a day to drive off the excess CO2 that was produced from the reaction before using it.

The current alkalinity won’t cause any problems for your inhabitants. The main issue with very high alkalinity is that it increases the risk of precipitation.

 

[Genvid]

Excuse me, could you please advise what acid or sodium bisulfate to use, in what proportions, where to buy. I have been struggling with increased alkalinity for three months now. I do not dose anything, after changing the water Noyos, 8dkh, in two days it reaches 12. I raised the issue on the forum, but no one definitely helped. I read the information from 2019-2024. I stopped dosing additives for corals, nitrates 20. I will wait another week and the last thing I will probably do is change the sand, although I changed it four months ago. Sorry for interfering with the topic, but I have already tortured myself thinking about it every day. LFS advised to reduce the salinity to 1.023. I am desperate.

 

[Miami Reef]

Excuse me, could you please advise what acid or sodium bisulfate to use, in what proportions, where to buy. I have been struggling with increased alkalinity for three months now. I do not dose anything, after changing the water Noyos, 8dkh, in two days it reaches 12. I raised the issue on the forum, but no one definitely helped. I read the information from 2019-2024. I stopped dosing additives for corals, nitrates 20. I will wait another week and the last thing I will probably do is change the sand, although I changed it four months ago. Sorry for interfering with the topic, but I have already tortured myself thinking about it every day. LFS advised to reduce the salinity to 1.023. I am desperate.

Don’t reduce the salinity unless it’s above 35ppt. Corals don’t really like 1.023dKH.

This is the thread you’re looking for. If you have any further questions, you can ask here or in that thread:

Sodium Bisulfate to Reduce Alkalinity in New Salt Water or in Display Tanks

I just want to record these calculations in their own thread to refer back to in other threads. When alkalinity is too high in new salt water or in a display tank, acid can be used to lower the alkalinity. You can easily use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), or sodium bifulfate (e.g...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Miami Reef]

If you want to go the muriatic acid route:

Volume of container in gallons * desired dKH drop * 0.123 = the mL of muriatic acid required to reduce the alkalinity in your container.

Like with the sodium bisulfate , you will need to aerate heavily for about a day prior to using.

 

[Genvid]

Thank you very much, could you tell me what is better to use, hydrochloric acid or Seachem Acid Buffer?

 

[Miami Reef]

Thank you very much, could you tell me what is better to use, hydrochloric acid or Seachem Acid Buffer?

Better in what way?

 

[Genvid]

Some people write that they don't trust Seahim for you to use

 

[Genvid]

Better in what way?

Thank you very much, I saw your message in other threads, I will try sodium bisulfate loudwolf

 

[Genvid]

Better in what way?

Thank you very much, I saw your message in other threads, I will try sodium bisulfate loudwolf

 

[Miami Reef]

I just don’t know what seachem acid buffer contains.

The muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate is inexpensive and people use it for this purpose. It’s possible the seachem buffer would work, I just don’t know what it contains.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Seachem acid buffer is sodium bisulfate, but I recommend you get a product of known purity instead. The sodium bisulfate is a little easier to use since there are no fumes, but in the end, both are fine.

 

[Miami Reef]

The ammonium bisulfate is a little easier to use

Did you mean to say sodium bisulfate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sorry, yes.

 

[Genvid]

Thank you very much.