[MasonKiller]

I tested my reef on KH I was low I have been adding seachem carbonate alkalinity alll damn day and according to the test I keep lowering the KH.... im confused very very confused........

[Lightsluvr]

Originally Posted by MasonKiller

I tested my reef on KH I was low I have been adding seachem carbonate alkalinity alll damn day and according to the test I keep lowering the KH.... im confused very very confused........

Measure the KH today - you may have overdosed...the test kits don't necessarily give you instant readings because your dosing hasn't reached "critical mass" in the water yet...

When increasing KH with any supplement, it must be done in baby steps over several days...trust me, I have enough burned acro tips to testify about rushing this procedure.

Add the suggested dose: wait a day and measure. Repeat as necessary, but over several days... don't just keep dumping stuff in...

Hope your tank is okay.

LL

[MasonKiller]

I put in about 8 tablespoons over the course of about 12-14 hours... I most likely did screw up how long does it take to register cause I did a dose of 2-4 tablespoons the other night and I tested it the next day and it said I had put my kh down not up so I dont know if the API test is working right or not

[unclejed]

Hi Jonny, what are your Mag and Calc? Higher Calc will hinder raising DKH.

[MasonKiller]

I just have the master reef API kit so no mag test thats the next one I am getting soon... but the last time I tested my calcium it was only a tad off... I am doing another test this morning to see if my dosing did Anything last night I am going to do the only tests I have Calcium, Nitrate, Phosphate and KH will notify the thread after I test this morning....

[MasonKiller]

OK I AM FREAKING OUT every time I add more KH buffer it doesnt get better I am using API test and first time I tested it I needed 16 drops second time 18 third 20 fourth time 22... calcium test turns pink with 1 drop I actually decided not to do phosphate and nitrate unless someone proposes the idea.... so any thoughts?.... I am not doing too good here and its upsetting me...

[unclejed]

Originally Posted by MasonKiller

OK I AM FREAKING OUT every time I add more KH buffer it doesnt get better I am using API test and first time I tested it I needed 16 drops second time 18 third 20 fourth time 22... calcium test turns pink with 1 drop I actually decided not to do phosphate and nitrate unless someone proposes the idea.... so any thoughts?.... I am not doing too good here and its upsetting me...

I am unsure what you mean. When you say 16, 18, 20 drops etc. are you talking about for the Calc test or the Alkalinity?

[MasonKiller]

the alk the calc is fine the API test requires you to drop 1 drop at a time and it should turn yellow after 1 drop mine took 16 first time 18 second and so on, so yeah I don't know what the heck to do

[pogodzib]

First off, API aren't the most accurate test kits so I've verify that yours is giving accurate results. Secondly, if your calcium or magnesium levels are off, it can prevent you from raising your alkalinity. And finally, like everyone else has said, try raising/lowering your water parameters slowly or you can do much more harm than good. Take a look at this link for solving calcium/alkalinity issues.

Chemistry and the Aquarium

[MasonKiller]

how slowly should I raise it ? Cause I haven't done any major harm yet from what I can tell...

[jimw369]

API you count the drops until the blue turns yellow. Where did the one drop thing come from?

Yeah like jed said and get a mag test kit. Just do a water change and let the tank sit until you get readings within a normal range then start raising them where you want them a little at a time.

[CyberJester]

As everyone here has said slow down, you should be raising or lowing parameters of days or weeks not hours.

If I read correctly you are say that your KH testing is now taking 22 drops to turn yellow.

This is equivalent to a dKH of 22 or 393.8ppms CaCO3 equivalents. This is not to low. IT IS TWICE AS HIGH AS IT SHOULD BE. You need to calm down and stop throwing stuff in there before you cause serious damage!

Also as pointed out here, for calcium you add solution 10 drops of solution #1 to 5 Mils of tank wather then add solution #2 drop by drop, it should pink immediately (or right to blue if Calcium is less then 20 ppm, unlikely), you then keep adding drops counting them until the solution goes to purple then usually a few more drops until blue. You then multiple the number of drops of solution #2 times 20 which gives you your Calcium PPMs which should be in the range of 380ppm - 450ppm.

Please slow down redo your tests and post the above information so that we can better help you.

Also you should get a Mag kit as suggested.

[MasonKiller]

yeah I noticed I was reading the test wrong... I have been sleeping on a broken futon for 2 weeks and getting 2-4 hours of sleep a night so I misread the test and freaked... so yeah I have stopped lucky I didnt kill anything and I am doing a 20-30% water change thanks everyone just was really really REALLY sleeping and was in no shape to be messing with my tank... not good so yeah...

[MasonKiller]

yeah I thought It needed to turn yellow after 1 drop and the ppm was how much I was off not how much it was didn't know it needed to turn yellow after 8-12 so My Bad from the sleep deprivation...

[pogodzib]

OK Johnny, as a response to your other thread, there are two main ways to lower your alkalinity, water changes or time. Water changes will lower the alkalinity fairly quickly, but just waiting it out and let the alkalinity fall naturally is often your best bet.

[unclejed]

Originally Posted by pogodzib

OK Johnny, as a response to your other thread, there are two main ways to lower your alkalinity, water changes or time. Water changes will lower the alkalinity fairly quickly, but just waiting it out and let the alkalinity fall naturally is often your best bet.

The 3rd way (not mentioned) is to raise Calcium if it is not already at 500 ppm.