Chemistry out of control!

[grasshopper]

Had my calcium reactor set up for just over a week. According to the instructions I should test Ca and Alk. and adjust. Well, my Ca is at 500 and my Alk reads about 16dKH! How bad is this, and should I worry about getting it down manually, or just turn down the Ca reactor and let the corals and all take up the excess Alk and Ca?

TIA
GH

[Boomer]

Reduce your CO2 to the reactor and yorr leves won't get so high, manually if you have to. For now, just shut off the CO2 until the Ca and Alk go down

This should help

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[grasshopper]

Thanks boomer. I turned down the CO2, and slowed the drip rate of the Ca reactor back into the sump.

One more question - I have some sps frags coming in tomorrow. Will these levels be vary bad for them, or can I acclimate them like usual and intriduce them into the tank?

Thanks again,
GH

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree, turning down the CO2 is the way to go. No the levels will not harm anything. It just wastes the media and may clog pumps faster. It may also be driving the tank pH down too low.

This article may also be helpful:

Simon Huntington's CaCO3/CO2 reactor article
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.htm

[grasshopper]

Thanks all. pH (BTW) is 8.2.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome. :)

Good luck!