HELP! Why is my Alk so high? pH so low?

[yearofthenick]

Checked my levels today and my Calcium was a bit low at 400, but my alk was 12!!!

My pH has been low... 7.8
I like keeping my pH at 8.2, alk at 10. Are they somehow connected? I've never had this problem with either my pH being so low and my alk being high. I use brightwell's A+B code reef, but I've only been adding calcium... I've not added buffer for the last week because the bottle says it RAISES the alk.
So what should I do? Where is this coming from?

 

[scubachris]

got the same problem! Hope we get some advice soon

 

[yearofthenick]

C'mon people, there's got to be a solution to this.

 

[windlasher]

Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/3053188
Checked my levels today and my Calcium was a bit low at 400, but my alk was 12!!!

My pH has been low... 7.8
I like keeping my pH at 8.2, alk at 10. Are they somehow connected? I've never had this problem with either my pH being so low and my alk being high. I use brightwell's A+B code reef, but I've only been adding calcium... I've not added buffer for the last week because the bottle says it RAISES the alk.
So what should I do? Where is this coming from?
Here is a great article on this.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php
And another on water. Hope they help.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[yearofthenick]

Mine evened out. I just kept adding calcium and today the levels were good calcium = 480 alk = 10
my pH is still low, but I think that's because there's something in the Chemi-pure that keeps it balanced at 7.8, which isn't ideal, but not dangerously acidic.

 

[natclanwy]

You might try the mason jar test to see if you are getting adequate gas exchange to keep CO2 from building up in your system. Also check your magnesium.