Alkalinity Help

[Torghn]

So I just tested my water and my Alkalinity is pretty low Ca is 500ppm, KH is 130PPM. I have a 90g tank, approximatly how much baking soda should I add?


All results:
Specific gravity 1.025
ph 8.1
ca 500 PPM
KH 130 PPM
NH3/NH4 Ammonia 0.0-0.1
NO2 Nitriet 0.0
NO3 Nitrate 0.0
Fe 0.0

 

[bertoni]

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

That calculator should help. Ignore the "balance" point suggested. I'd target 175ppm or so. Your KH is acceptable, so there's no emergency.

 

[Torghn]

It seems normal but way below what I've seen as balanced with that high of a CA. I've got a yellow tang that isn't doing so well and everything else seems fine.

 

[bertoni]

The alkalinity won't directly help the tang. The "balance" concept doesn't really make much sense. The chemistry forum has more information.

If the pH is a tiny bit low, raising the alkalinity might help, but, more likely, the tank has too much CO2 in it.