Reeflowers pearlwhite sand problem

[FelipeCarv]

Hello all,

Anyone with KH increase problem associated with the Reeflowers pearl white sand?
After 6 months or so my KH started to increase like a rocket. I've stopped my balling and it continued to increase, at some point it reached 9.8 or so.
I've dosed Acid Buffer in an attempt to bring my KH back, but my calcium levels increased as a consequence. I slowly brought my KH back to 8.
However it is still raising again.
After some research I've siphoned all my subtrate and now my KH is stable.
Anyone using Pearl white has had the same problem?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello all,

Anyone with KH increase problem associated with the Reeflowers pearl white sand?
After 6 months or so my KH started to increase like a rocket. I've stopped my balling and it continued to increase, at some point it reached 9.8 or so.
I've dosed Acid Buffer in an attempt to bring my KH back, but my calcium levels increased as a consequence. I slowly brought my KH back to 8.
However it is still raising again.
After some research I've siphoned all my subtrate and now my KH is stable.
Anyone using Pearl white has had the same problem?

Are you dosing anything at all?

Is nitrate declining?

Are you using tap water?

 

[FelipeCarv]

Are you dosing anything at all?

Is nitrate declining?

Are you using tap water?

Hi Randy,

it's my second reef, my first one was a very successful one. I ran it for 5 years. I'm not dosing anything. Nitrates are on the high side, 13.
As I said earlier I just dosed Acid buffer from seachem to decrease the KH. And as a result my calcium increased. But my KH normalized.
The susbtrat is probably the cause. Ive heard from some people here in Brazil that they had the same issue.
I use a complete RO/DI unit, with 6 cartridges and one membrane. I monitor it constantly and the TDS is zero.
KH is 8.3
Ca 480
Mg 1250
Nitrate 13
Phosphate 0.25

 

[FelipeCarv]

And thanks for your answer!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have no idea what that sand is, or why it would take so long to raise alk if it was dissolving due to an unusual composition, but calcium carbonate sand will slowly dissolve in a reef tank and if demand is low, it may raise alk over time.

The acid buffer is an ok plan. Sodium bisulfate (same ingredient) is generally available in the US and there’s a recipe thread on using it.

Easiest use is to drop the alk in water change water as low as you want, then aerate to bring the oh back done, and use it. In tank use directly risks a big pH drop.