Reef Discussion

joey13 · May 1, 2014

G'day guys,

Today I was using Randy's Recipe #2 to raise my Alk. I was using the Reef Chemistry Calculator.

Alk was at 130ppm (7.28 dKH) and I was intending to raise it to 147.5 ppm (8.26 dKH). My system volume is 620 Litres. I dosed 868ml!

I dosed it about 3 hours ago and I have just tested the Alk to be 192ppm (10.752 dKH)!!!

I now realise that I had the calculator on gallons and not Litres and I was only actually supposed to dose 229.3ml!

Calcium is at 405ppm. pH is 8.4. Salinity 1.025.

Best course of action from here!??? I can change up to 160L of water at a time but that will take time to heat and dissolve which I've already started doing in case you guys suggest this!

Corals and fish all seem fine for the moment.

0421 158 zero three six

Cheers guys,
Joey

joey13 · May 1, 2014

The only ASW I have on hand atm is Red Sea Coral Pro which says it mixes to 12.2dKH so I'm not even sure that it's worth a water change?

riley · May 1, 2014

10.752 isnt that bad. but the rapped change in alk is a problem.

1. water changes as many as possable(whats the differance in water temp if its only a few degree i wouldnt bother waiting for it to heat.
2. watch your cal and mag as they will react with the exess alk and most likely decrease.
3. turn off bio-pellet reactor

thats all i can think off.

riley · May 1, 2014

how close are u from the ocien

joey13 · May 1, 2014

riley said:
how close are u from the ocien

Hey mate.

I'm ages away from the ocean and have no way of actually collecting any NSW.

Don't have a bio pellet reactor. Difference in temp is at least 7-8 degrees

Changing with the salt I have will be useless because the alk is higher than what's in my tank right now. So would be a waste.

Should I just wait it out for now and just keep an eye on things?

riley · May 1, 2014

could add cal to reduce alk but I've got no experience doing it. @aussieant32 mit ebe able to help

MagicJ · May 1, 2014

I agree the the actual level is not a major problem, more the significant increase. Are you noticing any effect on the corals?

joey13 · May 1, 2014

MagicJ said:
I agree the the actual level is not a major problem, more the significant increase. Are you noticing any effect on the corals?

No noticeable effects what so ever at this stage.

OSCAR85 · May 1, 2014

Just do water changes. I personally wouldnt worry about the temp issue, but if u wanna do it fast you could add some boiling water to container (not display tank)

aussieant32 · May 1, 2014

most of a tanks issues will be solved by a water change/a few water changes. That is where I would start.

Worst thing you could do at this stage is try to buffer with anything else

joey13 · May 1, 2014

I'm not sure the water changes will help at this stage as previously stated.

The only ASW I have on hand mixes to 12.2dKH which is higher than my tank atm. I don't normally use this salt as I've been using tropic Marin. I purchased it when I started the tank but decided to change my mind at the last minute. I'm fresh out if tropic Marin as of Tuesday just gone.

I will have to try and source some tropic Marin pronto or wait it out

joey13 · May 1, 2014

There are still no noticeable signs of any ill effect as of yet either.

MagicJ · May 1, 2014

If your corals aren't reacting badly, then I would do nothing else but keep an eye on things.

aussieant32 · May 1, 2014

sorry skimmed over and missed that bit. :banghead

Agree with @MagicJ just let it be for now, I would get other salt on hand ASAP though as typically with a reef tank the corals will start struggling on a day you cannot get to a shop!

joey13 · May 1, 2014

Will do. Thanks for the help guys.

Just tested again and it seems it's already on the way down. Now at 189ppm (10.584dKH).

At least it's not on the way up.

All fish are feeding and seem fine as do all corals.

Major lesson learnt today!! Double check your measurements when you gutt tells you "this seems like a lot"

aussieant32 · May 1, 2014

lol hahaha. Once you do it once, you won't do it again. Well, in theory :P

joey13 · May 1, 2014

Let's hope so. Caused me way too much stress today!!!!

Agent M · May 1, 2014

joey13 said:
There are still no noticeable signs of any ill effect as of yet either.

I don't say this confidentally but I 'think' in your case its no dramas. Alk swings can kill corals, if you had an SPS tank I'd be stressing a lot more than LPS & softies. If anything the LPS are going to recede suddenly, hopefully not entirely so they will grow back.

Joshwaaaa · May 2, 2014

I have had a couple of huge alk swings, bigger then that, due to faults of my own (forgetting to turn my dosing pump back on etc). Only thing bad to come from it was a couple of SPS frags bleaching, other then that you wouldnt even notice it.

I say just leave it till it finds it's balance again

holly · May 2, 2014

I overdosed alk about a month ago, some of my LPS bleached a little but a few weeks later and colour is back to normal for most of them. I've only got a little lobo on the sand that is taking a longer time to recover. Should be fine, I think I probably raised mine way more than yours.

Plus at the tanks stage, you'll be using a bit of alk up anyway as everything balances out.