HELP!!! URGENT!!!!

pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
I checked my levels, and my alkalinity was low (8.0 and all of the other readings were fine), so I added enough supplement (Bulk Reef Supply) to bring it up to 11. I have added that much several other times, and haven't had a problem.
About 10 minutes after adding the supplement, I fed my fish 1/2 cube of brine. About 15 minutes later, I checked the tank, and it was extremely cloudy, to the point I could not see the rocks or fish. The only things I can see are a few corals that are very close to the glass.
I did a 5 gal water change (my tank is 34g), which is all of the water I have right now, and the lfs is closed for the day. Is there anything else I can do? I checked my alk, and its up to 11.2, and my pH is 8.2.
HELP!!!!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I don;t think you are supposed to raise things that fast.....
I would make some more water up...just in case....DO you have to buy it????
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
I would wait and check my parameters in a little while. You dont need to send it up and down with chemicals. Slow is the way to go.
 
pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
I ran out of salt and I haven't bought a new bag yet. I just have been buying premixed water.
I have raised it that much before and have never had a problem with it.
The corals I can see seem to be doing fine. They're not closed up or anything, and my clown seems to be behaving normally. I guess there's not much I can do now. I'll just have to wait it out...
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Do you run carbon? Maybe it would help if you put some new carbon in.....that is supposed to help with cloudy water
 
pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
No, I don't run carbon. Its starting to clear up a bit, and things seem to be ok for the time being. Hopefully all will be good in the morning.
I guess lesson learned to not raise things so fast....
 
pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
Update: I woke up today, and the tank was clear again, except for a white layer on the glass that I was able to clear with a magnet.
I checked my levels, and my pH dropped from 8.3 to 7.9 overnight, and my alk dropped from 11.2 to 7.0 overnight. It was originally 8.0 before I added the supplement. Anyone have any ideas why this would be? Should I add more alk supplement? SLOWLY this time?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by pthoma79 http:///forum/thread/381414/help-urgent#post_3322215
Update: I woke up today, and the tank was clear again, except for a white layer on the glass that I was able to clear with a magnet.
I checked my levels, and my pH dropped from 8.3 to 7.9 overnight, and my alk dropped from 11.2 to 7.0 overnight. It was originally 8.0 before I added the supplement. Anyone have any ideas why this would be? Should I add more alk supplement? SLOWLY this time?
This probably isn't your problem, but it's worth mentioning: One of my issues with purchasing salt water from the LFS that they mix is that you have no idea what brand they're using at any given time. If you can not afford an RO unit, purchase the RO water from them, but mix the salt yourself. Many LFS's will just add whatever salt they got a good deal on for the week.
How old are your test kits?
It sounds like you had a precipitation event. Testing while the water is still cloudy, even if it's only slighting cloudy will not give you an accurate reading.
Before you add any more supplements, have your LFS double check your readings. My gut feeling is that your test kits are inaccurate. Alkalinity should not drop that fast. That is a big drop in pH, but if you tested last night after lights had been on all day, and then again this morning after lights had been off all night, it's not that uncommon.
 
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