Lowering alk

[Jaden9933]

My alk is at 17 dKH and I was told a water change would fix this. However, after changing out about 5gal from my 20gal tank, the alk stayed the same. I’ve read in other threads that some people suggest acid, but others heavily warn against it. Is this a problem I just have to wait out?

 

[redfishbluefish]

How did it get to 17? What test kit are you using? And what salt at what salinity? And how are you measuring salinity?

 

[ClearRain]

Doing multiple small water changes should lower it slowly. Check the alk of the water going into the tank though, if it's high you'll never bring it down. I've seen well water 20+

 

[Jaden9933]

How did it get to 17? What test kit are you using? And what salt at what salinity? And how are you measuring salinity?

I think I may have dosed too much Fusion 2 and Seachem reef builder. I was adding Fusion 1 & 2 every other day as stated in the directions on the bottle assuming that’s be sufficient for my tank. I’m using an API test kit but I’ve tested it multiple times and it always has the same results. Salinity is 1.025 SG and I use a Red Sea refractometer to measure it. I calibrate it before every use as I’ve learned the hard way to always check that it’s calibrated

 

[Jaden9933]

Doing multiple small water changes should lower it slowly. Check the alk of the water going into the tank though, if it's high you'll never bring it down. I've seen well water 20+

I use RODI water that has an alk of around 8 dKH after using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals

 

[BiggestE222]

My alk is at 17 dKH and I was told a water change would fix this. However, after changing out about 5gal from my 20gal tank, the alk stayed the same. I’ve read in other threads that some people suggest acid, but others heavily warn against it. Is this a problem I just have to wait out?

How did you get such a high alkalinity? I try to dose 2+ gallons of kalkwasser in a 50 gallon
tank every day and my. DKH never gets above 12.3

 

[BiggestE222]

I think I may have dosed too much Fusion 2 and Seachem reef builder. I was adding Fusion 1 & 2 every other day as stated in the directions on the bottle assuming that’s be sufficient for my tank. I’m using an API test kit but I’ve tested it multiple times and it always has the same results. Salinity is 1.025 SG and I use a Red Sea refractometer to measure it. I calibrate it before every use as I’ve learned the hard way to always check that it’s calibrated

I always hated alk buffers. That is why I turned to kalwasser.

 

[Jaden9933]

I always hated alk buffers. That is why I turned to kalwasser.

How did you get such a high alkalinity? I try to dose 2+ gallons of kalkwasser in a 50 gallon
tank every day and my. DKH never gets above 12.3

How does kalwasser work? My guess is the Fusion 2

 

[BiggestE222]

How does kalwasser work? My guess is the Fusion 2

I dose it in the same amount as evaporation. Ditched the ATO pump all together. Kalk binds CO2 and turns it into calcium carbonate. Does not add salt to your water and raises PH and provides ca/alk. But unless you are dosing a good amount. In my case 2 liters per day into a 200 liter system. It won’t be as effective

 

[BiggestE222]

My corals survived before. Now they thrive and noticeably grow daily.

I dose it in the same amount as evaporation. Ditched the ATO pump all together. Kalk binds CO2 and turns it into calcium carbonate. Does not add salt to your water and raises PH and provides ca/alk. But unless you are dosing a good amount. In my case 2 liters per day into a 200 liter system. It won’t be as effective

 

[Jaden9933]

I dose it in the same amount as evaporation. Ditched the ATO pump all together. Kalk binds CO2 and turns it into calcium carbonate. Does not add salt to your water and raises PH and provides ca/alk. But unless you are dosing a good amount. In my case 2 liters per day into a 200 liter system. It won’t be as effective

Oh okay, good to know! I’ll have to try that instead of the reef builder

 

[dedragon]

Oh okay, good to know! I’ll have to try that instead of the reef builder

yea i hate those buffers like reef builder as well. 2 part like fusion 1 and 2 is fine as well if dosing is well monitored

 

[Jaden9933]

yea i hate those buffers like reef builder as well. 2 part like fusion 1 and 2 is fine as well if dosing is well monitored

If I want to raise the calcium, but not the alkalinity, am I able to use only Fusion 1, or does it have to be both parts? If not, I also have Seachem Calcium and Complete that I typically use to raise it

 

[dedragon]

Fusion 1 should only raise calcium

 

[dedragon]

if an lfs sold you all that, it is way too much for just controlling alk and calcium. I control using 2 part and a magnesium additive as i didnt love using kalkwasser personally, but many people find kalk easier. When using kalk u still need to dose magnesium at some point but in a low demand tank water changes will replace most of what is missing.

 

[R33fDaddy]

Doing multiple small water changes should lower it slowly. Check the alk of the water going into the tank though, if it's high you'll never bring it down. I've seen well water 20+

Unless his Saltmix is at 17dkh or around that. I would suggest testing your saltwater prior to putting it in the tank just to make sure.

 

[Jaden9933]

if an lfs sold you all that, it is way too much for just controlling alk and calcium. I control using 2 part and a magnesium additive as i didnt love using kalkwasser personally, but many people find kalk easier. When using kalk u still need to dose magnesium at some point but in a low demand tank water changes will replace most of what is missing.

I bought it on Amazon assuming I was going to need every product they offered because all I knew was that corals were demanding and sensitive to change and I thought they would absorb it like crazy. I bought the products before even knowing the names of any corals. A lot of a amateur mistakes have been made and I’m sure many more will be. I haven’t tested my magnesium in a while, but it never seems to change as long as I keep up with water changes. I do have magnesium though, so I’ll try just using the two part Fusion and cutting out the Calcium and Complete, and then adding magnesium if needed.

 

[Jaden9933]

Unless his Saltmix is at 17dkh or around that. I would suggest testing your saltwater prior to putting it in the tank just to make sure.

The water was a 8 dKH in the bucket after mixing in the salt. It still didn’t lower it after the water change according to my test

 

[BiggestE222]

If I want to raise the calcium, but not the alkalinity, am I able to use only Fusion 1, or does it have to be both parts? If not, I also have Seachem Calcium and Complete that I typically use to raise it

Just add your calcium supplement.

 

[homer1475]

IORC mixes up way over 8dkh @ 1.025- 1.027

I would suggest a better test kit before making any further adjustments.