Kh @ 13

I just tested my KH and it has jumped to 13. It has been running at 9/10 consistently. The PH is still testing @ 8.2. The only thing that has changed was I added a skimmer this afternoon. Anyone know if the skimmer could affect the KH. Also is 13 to high and do I need to do a water change to bring it down or wait until tomorrow and test it again.

 

Let it drift down naturally, just dose alkalinity a little less.

 

+1 on 2in10's advice

 

+1 on 13 not being a problem in its own right
some people run higher as these upper levels discourage certain algae types

as long as its not up there at the detriment of your calcium level thats the main thing
every 1 degree of DKH can possibly reduce Calcium level by 20ppm
(example if your Calc was 420 and your DKH was 9 - and you have maintained the same SG and the same Magnesium, then adding Alk buffer to arrive at 13 could possibly have reduced your Calc level to 340
so its best to check the other levels in addition to your DKH

as long as your Calcium is still within acceptable reef tank parameters then its not an issue


Steve

 

+1 on the +1's

 

Thanks to everyone who responded. I will test the rest of the levels tomorrow. It was weird that it shot up like that in one day.