Emergency with PH after Kalk overdose

[adova]

Hi all,

I refilled my kalk reactor and must have gotten too much or something as the output came out almost pure Kalk. The tank started to cloud up with the kalk and the ph shot to 9.1 from 7.5.

I have done a 20% water change and tried to empty out most of the sump where the concentration was pumped into, but the PH is still at about 9.0.

Is there any recommendations? The fish are started to look bad (at least my purple tang - can't see much of the rest)?

Tank is a 250g with SPS and leathers, etc.

Thanks!

Shawn

[steelerguy]

perhaps some vinegar.

check out the chemisty section, there is some information there about lowering ph if you accidently overdose.

[adova]

Thanks - just added 250ml of Vinegar (for 250g water) based on an article I read after posting this.

Fingers crossed

Shawn

[steelerguy]

Here is the snippet....although it seems you already found it...let us know how it works out!

The best option is to add carbon dioxide, either by bubbling the gas directly, or by adding soda water/seltzer (or blowing into a skimmer inlet if it is your only option). At least in the normal aquarium pH range, a teaspoon of soda water per gallon of tank water will lower pH by a couple of tenths of a pH unit. Overshooting with carbon dioxide, while undesirable, is less of a concern than is overshooting with any other option.

A second option is to add vinegar. Be especially careful to not overshoot pH 8.5 or so, because when bacteria begin to metabolize the acetate, the resulting CO2 will further lower the pH, and oxygen will be consumed (equation (14)). For this reason, it is especially important to maintain aeration when using vinegar in such a fashion. I’ve added vinegar to my aquarium in similar situations without difficulty, although the pH was only marginally high and I did not need to add much.

A third rung of options involves adding a mineral acid such as muriatic acid (HCl or hydrochloric acid) or sulfuric acid. I’ve added HCl to my aquarium in similar situations without difficulty. When performing such a mineral acid treatment, be very careful not to overshoot, and to monitor the pH during any acid additions. I would intervene in this fashion only if I could monitor the pH in real time, and could add the acid to a high flow area far from any organism. Diluting the acid in water (say, 20:1 or 100:1) prior to adding it to the tank is highly recommended for the safety of both the aquarist and the tank’s inhabitants (diluting vinegar, which is already dilute, isn’t necessary). One other drawback to adding a mineral acid is that it reduces the alkalinity. In such a case, the result may be elevated calcium and reduced alkalinity that will require significant correction.

[mattboy]

If the vinegar you already added doesn't do the job, go for the seltzer water, just get a bottle of soda water and start adding it. Your ph will come down pretty quickly. To head off any near-future disasters, you might want to mix up a whole lot of new water and get ready for a large water change, maybe some carbon too. I don't know too much about leathers, but if I'm not mistaken they can release some chemicals when stressed that your stony corals won't appreciate. Good luck!

[Sk8r]

Don't panic too much: I've done it too, when first starting up. I'd run carbon because of the leathers. They hate ph/alk changes and will be cantankerous, may 'wax' up and shrivel, but should be ok.

[adova]

Thanks - I think I have some carbon around, but it will have to be passive rather then having a canister to run it through.

Shawn

[bertoni]

In general, dosing seltzer water has been found to be safer than dosing vinegar, so I agree with that suggestion.