ph high / alkinity strip says ideal

ph slightly high/ alkinity above 300 ppm. what to do its a brand new setup

 

First of all, get rid of the test strips as they are junk, you want a quality test kit such as Salifert.

Secondly, you can add small amounts of white vinegar to bring the pH down. Just add it slowly and observe the changes. Do you have a pH probe, or are you using test strips for that as well?

 

You should be testing for alkalinity, calcium and adjust accordingly with a " reef aquarium." It is not as critical in a fish only tank.
This link will help explain the relationship and what to add depending upon your PH. Enjoy

Jim

Also I would get a quality test kit if I were trying to maintain a reef aquarium with mainly corals.

 

When you are talking about pH, calcium or alkalinity, you have to look at all three together!!!!!!!!! You cant really adjust one without the other rising or falling possibly with detrimental consequences.
First of all, are you dosing with Kalkwasser?
What is your salinity level?
When did you test your water?
Calcium levels will tend to rise with a hightened salinity level. A high calcium level(+450mg/l) can cause a loss of alkalinity due to calcium carbonate can precipitate when the saturation point has been reached for calcium absorption.
High calcium level will more than likely result in a lower alkalinity level. Low calcium level in your tank will result in a higher alkalinity level. A high alkalinity usually maintains a high pH.
Your pH may be high due to Kalkwasser supplementation. Kalkwasser has a pH of around 12!!!!! which many people don't know). To correct this try as mentioned above, adding a little vinegar to your kalkwasser solution. Also this will increase the amount of calcium to your water than by using Kalk alone.
If you have a high pH level, which you say you do(how high by the way?) you can correct this by increased skimming, water aggitation or adding vinegar (acetic acid)as it breaks down to form carbon dioxide. Do you have alot of algae growing in your tank? That can be a reason for a higher pH level as well.
Now if your pH is low, dosing with Kalkwasser will help, also you probably have to much carbon dioxide in your tank. Poor gas exchange and transfer with the environment are possible causes. Adding algae will also allow excess co2 to be removed.