oops- I put way too much Bicarb in tank

[Ryan Garlington]

Basically, I need to know if I should maybe do a 1/2 water swap. I got my KH test, but thought adding the po-bicarb would lower test levels rather than raise. I kept testing then adding. Today's test took 42 drops for the color to change. My pH is 7.6 so it still needs work.

[Ryan Garlington]

Well, I got no advice on this so I just dove right in and did it. Here's the before and after info:

Before: pH:7.6, Am:0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 120? (hard to match test color), dKH: 40

I drained 40 gal of water out of the FT, and filled my 40gal trash can and let it off-gas a couple days.

I added 2 whole bottles of API pH Down to the water in the trash can. After stirring, Its pH was 6.0.

I then transferred all of the new water into the FT. (I know this is a little reckless).

After: pH:6.8, Am: 0.25, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 40, dKH 23

No fish died- in fact they acted happier almost instantly after the water addition. More swimming and less loitering.

A note on my Nitrites being 0- They were at 5 last week, but I added 1lb of aquarium salt to fix that.

[Steve R]

Yea while raising it all the way to 40 isn't the best thing in teh world its not lethal to anything. Sorry for the delay i just saw this post. You can let your kh drift back down to 5 or 6 and ten dose it back up to 10 or 12 again

make sure for the time being to use calcium carbonate as your ph up should you need it until your kh comes down more

[Steve R]

That is also one benefit to using carbonate base additives because if you had overdosed by that much with a hydroxide your system would all be dead right now. Instead your fish and plants are a little freaked out but no worse for the wear. 

[Ryan Garlington]

Thanks for your comments. You know, Im actually very happy after this- I finally got the pH at a good level.