I just added a bunch of sps corals yesterday and today i did my usaul tests but I also did a alk test and it is at 2.0 .How do I get it up to 2.9 ?What is considered to low and to high?Is there a way to automatically adjust this?Thanks Ryan
alk
- Thread starter nielsen2773
- Start date
Amonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
ph 8.67
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
ph 8.67
waverz
Slave to the reef!
Also, you should check your calcium, you are going to want your calcium and alk in balance. Basically you want you alk to be between 2 and 4.45 if your calcium is in between 400-450ppm which is where it should be. As long as it doesn't get any lower and doesn;t bounce around you should be ok. Raising VERY slowly a tad would be a good idea though.
Theres lots of products you can use to get it up. Use this calculator and it will tell you how much to use of whatever it is you choose to use.
http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html
Theres lots of products you can use to get it up. Use this calculator and it will tell you how much to use of whatever it is you choose to use.
http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html
kau_cinta_ku
New member
don't forget to check mag. also. that will also help keep your alk. and cal. in balance
leeweber85
New member
Have you calibrated your PH instrument recently?
Do you have any Calcium or Magnesium test kits? These three are closely tied together in keeping things balanced. If your PH is really that high you can use baking soda to raise the alk and lower the PH.
Check out some of these articles in the chemistry forum under Calcium and Alkalinity
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605
Do you have any Calcium or Magnesium test kits? These three are closely tied together in keeping things balanced. If your PH is really that high you can use baking soda to raise the alk and lower the PH.
Check out some of these articles in the chemistry forum under Calcium and Alkalinity
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605
Thanks guys I will have to go get a mag and cal test kit?that web site said i could use baking soda to bring up alk this this right has anyone ever tried before?
kau_cinta_ku
New member
that is what alot of ppl use and I do also till my cal. reactor finally gets hooked up.
here is an article about randy's 2 part
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
here is an article about randy's 2 part
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
leeweber85
New member
yup, it's what I use. If you look in those chemistry articles there is a recipe for a DIY 2 part Ca/Alk additive.
leeweber85
New member
Man, everyone is just one step ahead of me!
Thanks guys I am adding the baking soda a tsp at a time about every 20 mins .I am disolving it in a cup of water first.So how many of you guys go to hody do and buy the calcium and make your own brew???Its sounds like a great idea and I am going to hody do first thing in the morning so I can have this issue fixxed by lunch.
I have put 2 tsp in and it ph went from 8.67 to8.59 is that to fast ??Maybe Ill just stop for the night /What do you think a tsp every 4 hours??IN the chemistry guide it said I would need 9 tsp to get to 3.5.
Well I ve stopped I went out and got my calibration solution and when i put it in the 7.o it was reading 7.71 so that could be a problem with my ph but that still doesnt fix my alk problem so I am done until tomorrow.
einsteins
Premium Member
First off you need to test the other parameters mentioned above then you need to find out what is a good balance for your tank....THEN you need to start making adjustments and monitoring all of the parameters to ensure you are staying balanced.
Use this BALANCE calculator:
http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/cacalc.htm
See where calcium and alk should be in relation to each other. Then get them balanced and either raise or lower them together until you get where you would like it to be, I recomend that you try to get alk and Calcium in the red box on the chart of this calculator:
http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/cacalc.htm
My point is that if you just adjust one thing to where you want it....you could be throwing other elements out of balance or out of balance to each other.
Get a plan on where you want your parameters to be in a balanced state before you go and just start adjusting things.
Hope this helps...
eins
Use this BALANCE calculator:
http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/cacalc.htm
See where calcium and alk should be in relation to each other. Then get them balanced and either raise or lower them together until you get where you would like it to be, I recomend that you try to get alk and Calcium in the red box on the chart of this calculator:
http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/cacalc.htm
My point is that if you just adjust one thing to where you want it....you could be throwing other elements out of balance or out of balance to each other.
Get a plan on where you want your parameters to be in a balanced state before you go and just start adjusting things.
Hope this helps...
eins
bgreenlee
Member
magnesium should fall in about 3:1 with calcium. Calcium of 450 you should see magnesium around 1350.
I strongly suggest that any change you make to your tank you make over days, and make sure you are testing everything everytime you are adjusting until you are comfortable with what is going to change when you add a chemical to the tank.
