Ph spike while adding alk?

Notsolostfish

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Hey question for randy. I added by mistake the whole portion while raising my alk from 7.8 to 7.8 i added the whole 50ml my tank is a 150G total water volume. And i noticed spike in PH from 8.23 to 8.93 and it dropped back to 8.36 and stayed there how bad did i mess up?
 
You have 5 to 6 experienced Reefers, telling you everything is fine in the other thread...

pH Spike: The initial spike from 8.23 to 8.93 was due to the sudden addition of the alkalinity supplement, which can temporarily raise pH. The subsequent drop to 8.36 is likely because your tank's buffering capacity and natural processes (like CO2 exchange with the air) brought it back down.

Alkalinity Impact: Adding the entire 50ml dose at once likely caused a significant increase in alkalinity. This can stress corals and other sensitive organisms, especially if the alkalinity level rose too quickly. However, if your pH has stabilized at 8.36, it suggests the system is recovering.

What to Do Now:
  • Monitor pH and Alkalinity: Keep an eye on both parameters over the next few days to ensure they stabilize.
  • Observe Livestock: Watch for signs of stress in your corals, fish, and other inhabitants. If you notice any issues (e.g., coral bleaching, fish gasping), take steps to stabilize the tank further.
  • Avoid Further Adjustments: Let the tank stabilize naturally. Avoid adding more supplements unless absolutely necessary.
Prevention: In the future, always dose alkalinity supplements slowly and in smaller increments, especially in a large tank like yours. This helps avoid sudden swings in pH and alkalinity.


If your tank seems stable now and your livestock isn't showing signs of stress, you likely didn't cause any long-term harm. Just keep monitoring and take it slow with adjustments in the future!
 
I was at 7.8 kh. And then i raised it to 8.7

If you used carbonate, that should not have raised pH by more than about 0.25 pH units when mixed in. The higher values likely reflect incomplete mixing.
 
If you used carbonate, that should not have raised pH by more than about 0.25 pH units when mixed in. The higher values likely reflect incomplete mixing.
I used redsea alk. It raised ph to 8.93 from 8.26 and dropped it back to 8.36 is that could be because i dosed next to the PH probe area?
 
I used redsea alk. It raised ph to 8.93 from 8.26 and dropped it back to 8.36 is that could be because i dosed next to the PH probe area?

Yes. It was extra concentrated there before it mixed in. :)
 

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