Can carbon overdosing raise alkalinity?

jjencek · 01/12/2019, 11:07 AM

I have accidently overdosed my Bacto Balance while working on the dosing tubes. I normally dose about 1ml per day. I drained the whole 3-foot tube into the tank (maybe about 10x of normal).

Within 36 hours I had a slime bloom on the glass. I assumed that was the expected bacteria increase.

Within 48 hours my ORP shot to 460 at night. Again I assumed that was to be expected.

That morning I measured my alkalinity and I was shocked to see that it shot up from about 7.8 to 10.4. Is that also to be expected?

Daddi0 · 01/12/2019, 07:05 PM

I would not expect it to raise alk but there is a lot more in Bacto Balance than just a carbon source. I would just go back to dosing as normal and keep an eye on the alk. What is done is done - right?
Cheers! Mark

Uncle99 · 01/12/2019, 10:00 PM

Couple of back to back water changes would dilute the overage.

bertoni · 01/12/2019, 11:00 PM

Generally, carbon won't affect the alkalinity, but it will reduce nitrate in the water column, and in the process release some alkalinity. This article has more:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.htm

It discusses the effect of water changes, but the chemistry is the same.

jjencek · 01/13/2019, 03:41 AM

ORP seems to be back to normal range since the accident 3 days ago.

Alkalinity still above 10.

I plan to do 15% water change and will keep watching it.

Another problem due to the overdose is that my filter sponge got clogged with slime and the water started to bypass the mechanical filtration. Solved by rinsing the sponge.

Now there is one plus to the whole situation. I had a small starting cyano in the tank. After the accident, it is nowhere to be found. It lost to the slime. I would never recommend overdosing the system with carbon to get rid off cyano.

bertoni · 01/13/2019, 05:57 PM

Well, that sounds like progress. I wonder whether the cyanobacteria will return.

jjencek · 01/16/2019, 06:35 AM

I like to give updates/conclusions to any of my problems. It is fair after all the help and advice.

So ... after 6 days since the overdosing of BACTO BALANCE about 10 X of normal, things seem to be back to normal. No sign of bacterial slime and my alkalinity is down to 8.4. Here is the daily history:

Day 1. OVERDOSE
Day 2. Water not clear - bacterial bloom
cyano not doing well - good :-)
15% water change
stopped dosing BACTO
Day 3. noticed alkalinity 10.4
stopped dosing alk
Day 4. Bacterial slime getting bad - plugging up filters
Alk 9.2
Day 5. Bacteria getting better
Alk 9.0
Day 6. Bacteria signs gone
Alk 8.4

01/12/2019, 11:07 AM	#1
jjencek Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 366	Can carbon overdosing raise alkalinity? I have accidently overdosed my Bacto Balance while working on the dosing tubes. I normally dose about 1ml per day. I drained the whole 3-foot tube into the tank (maybe about 10x of normal). Within 36 hours I had a slime bloom on the glass. I assumed that was the expected bacteria increase. Within 48 hours my ORP shot to 460 at night. Again I assumed that was to be expected. That morning I measured my alkalinity and I was shocked to see that it shot up from about 7.8 to 10.4. Is that also to be expected?

01/12/2019, 07:05 PM	#2
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	I would not expect it to raise alk but there is a lot more in Bacto Balance than just a carbon source. I would just go back to dosing as normal and keep an eye on the alk. What is done is done - right? Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

01/12/2019, 11:00 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Generally, carbon won't affect the alkalinity, but it will reduce nitrate in the water column, and in the process release some alkalinity. This article has more: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.htm It discusses the effect of water changes, but the chemistry is the same. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/13/2019, 05:57 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, that sounds like progress. I wonder whether the cyanobacteria will return. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/12/2019, 10:00 PM	#3
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Couple of back to back water changes would dilute the overage.

01/13/2019, 03:41 AM	#5
jjencek Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 366	ORP seems to be back to normal range since the accident 3 days ago. Alkalinity still above 10. I plan to do 15% water change and will keep watching it. Another problem due to the overdose is that my filter sponge got clogged with slime and the water started to bypass the mechanical filtration. Solved by rinsing the sponge. Now there is one plus to the whole situation. I had a small starting cyano in the tank. After the accident, it is nowhere to be found. It lost to the slime. I would never recommend overdosing the system with carbon to get rid off cyano.

01/16/2019, 06:35 AM	#7
jjencek Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 366	I like to give updates/conclusions to any of my problems. It is fair after all the help and advice. So ... after 6 days since the overdosing of BACTO BALANCE about 10 X of normal, things seem to be back to normal. No sign of bacterial slime and my alkalinity is down to 8.4. Here is the daily history: Day 1. OVERDOSE Day 2. Water not clear - bacterial bloom cyano not doing well - good :-) 15% water change stopped dosing BACTO Day 3. noticed alkalinity 10.4 stopped dosing alk Day 4. Bacterial slime getting bad - plugging up filters Alk 9.2 Day 5. Bacteria getting better Alk 9.0 Day 6. Bacteria signs gone Alk 8.4