Adding caustic soda to control Aiptasia

[dchemist]

Let me know if this isn't the appropriate forum for this topic...

I have a new 40 gallon breeder. I added the sea salt to DI water 2-3 weeks ago and I added 47 lbs of live rock last Saturday.

Since then I noticed 1 large Aiptasia and two small ones. I hit them with <1 ml of 1 N NaOH (caustic soda, lye, etc.) each. It appears to do the job killing them (I'll continue watching).

My question... Should I be concerned about my alkalinity and pH yet?

Any other advice?

[Du]

Originally posted by dchemist
My question... Should I be concerned about my alkalinity and pH yet?


Imho no due to little amount of NaOH.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree that is not likely too much. 1 mL of 1 N NaOH has 1 meq of alkalinity. That is being added to 40 gallons, so the alkalinity rise is about 0.01 meq/L. The pH rise will also be small. :)

[dchemist]

Thank you, it looked as if the large one needed another dose- I hit it with another .4 mls.

If anyone expresses interest (give me a reply) I'll let you know how this goes.

-Darren

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome. It should work fine, as many folks (myself included) have used high pH additives to kill aiptasia by injection. :)