Sodium Metabisulfite, is it bad?

[BannerFish]

So my tank alkalinity is in the higher range so i decided to reduce it with Sodium bisulfate. But the guy at the chemical shop has given me Sodium Metabisulfite. I didn't notice the error till much later. So i used this and my Alkalinity is about 11 now. it was in 12 range. I'm targeting at 8.5

i realized they have given me the wrong chemical when i was going through the bills. I don't see any reaction in the tank .


My question: Can i continue to use Metabisulfite to reduce the alkalinity?

PS: where i live we can't buy hcl or h2so4 without license. so those are out

Thanks
Faz

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Definitely stop using it. I specifically recommend against it in my sodium bisulfate thread (below).

It has different chemistry, is quite reactive, will drop ORP a lot, and is sometimes used as a preservative. Nothing you can do not about it, unless the tank looks bad, in which case water changes can remove it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/s...in-new-salt-water-or-in-display-tanks.362825/
from it:

"DO NOT USE BISULFITE. Note the "i" in the ending vs an "a""

 

[nereefpat]

Bad winemakers use it to kill yeast, so I assume it is bad for microbes in our aquarium.

 

[BannerFish]

Thanks Randy


I've read your article before that's why I remembered a bit about it and stopped it immediately when I saw the “i” J. Thankfully, I don't see any negative reactions so far


Is there anything else I can dose to bring the alkalinity down?



Thanks

Faz

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy


I've read your article before that's why I remembered a bit about it and stopped it immediately when I saw the “i” J. Thankfully, I don't see any negative reactions so far


Is there anything else I can dose to bring the alkalinity down?



Thanks

Faz

The choices are:

1. waiting for it to decline naturally
2. Water change with a low alk mix (maybe made especially low then pH brought back up using #3 or #4)
3. Very slow addition of sodium bisulfate
4. Very slow addition of hydrochloric acid

Keeping calcium and pH at the high end may accelerate consumption

 

[BannerFish]

Thank you :)