Problem with my alkalinity

[mskylie7]

I'm very new to the nano world.... I have a 29 JBJ nano its been set up since this July and I have not been able to get coralline to grow... so doing some reading on here and everyone seems to say check the alkalinity, so I got a test today and I just checked my alk and it says its 8.5 meq/L!!! I am using Instant Ocean alk test kit and it took 17 drops to change the color of my water! Thats double what it should be right?!?

I did a 80% water change on monday and when I test my water it reads
Nitrites=0
Nitrates=10
Ph=8.1
Ammonia=0
Calcium= 440
Specific gravity is 1.024
Temp 82
In my tank I have:
maybe 15 pounds of live rock
live sand
a lawnmower goby
black cucumber
torch coral
fogspawn
purple leather frag
zoas
candy cane
a few mushrooms
8 hermits I think
4? white turbos
3 tiger turbos
5 nassarius snails
coral banded shrimp
What do I need to do to lower it? Why in the world is it that high? Any help would be great!

 

[subielover]

Are you dosing anything. If not, then the test must be bad. I don't see any other way why or how your alk would get that high.

 

[mskylie7]

Im not dosing anything because all of my readings have been fine .... I just tested my 55 FOWLR tank and it read 6.5 meq/L

 

[subielover]

Get a new test kit.

 

[mskylie7]

I took a water sample to my LFS and they said that my alk was 8.5 meq/L as well.... he said that he wouldn't do anything about it, since my other water parameters are good.... he said that it will get used up and not to worry.... does anyone else agree? Is it ok to leave it that high?

 

[gnjeff]

i have been having the same prob high alk to the point of being twice as high. I've been doing water changes. i have a 12 gal nano. I've had the water tested before and everything was good including mag and calc. the tank is doing well nothing has died so i do a change every week.

 

[rotarymagic]

You sure those readings aren't in dKH?
I keep my tanks pretty alkaline (12dKH and now experimenting with 14dKH on my 15gallon.)
14dKH=5meq/L