[maxrady]

I just did a test on my tank, my nitrite level is .05 ppm, i have a pH of 8.6, and my alkalinity reads HIGH.....what should i do?!

[jmscarl]

Are You Adding Things To Your Tank,,like Buffers Or Calcium Supplements??

[reefnoob1991]

.05 ppm is not that bad, but your alkalinity is probably throwing your pH out of balance...what is the level of your alkalinity at?

[maxrady]

Im adding calcium supplements to my tank. And my alkalinity test is rather NOOB and just gives me a reading of low, normal, and high...needless to say its very high. Thank you all for working with me on this.

[reefnoob1991]

Take it to your LFS and get it tested or get a better kit, dosing without testing is a no no!

[maxrady]

Ok, i will, but are these levels unsafe for fish? My purple dottyback has been very inactive but by two clown fish are acting normal. My yellowtail damsel however is MIA this whole day.

[reefnoob1991]

8.6 is too high

[maxrady]

All this being said, what should i do to make my levels safe again?

[reefnoob1991]

Water changes and keep testing

[maxrady]

Any need to remove fish?

[reefnoob1991]

As long as you do water changes with salt...making sure to test, you should be fine because your levels should become balanced again

[maxrady]

What should i do if my fish get sick? One of my clowns looks a little pale and i now have two fish MIA.... should i be putting any medication in? And should i continue adding the calcium supplement, or should i stop adding it till my levels are back again. Also, im using Tap water from Lake Erie, and i was told that if i end up letting the chlorine evaporate i should be fine. But should i just use RO water?

[reefnoob1991]

Your using tap without prime or any conditioner?! Use prime or some sort of water conditioner or use RO if you can, and there's no medicine for high pH except water changes

[maxrady]

Well im using Aquasafe and then the salt additive to make the tap water saltwater.