Alkalinity is low

[bertoni]

Baking soda will lower the pH a tiny bit when added because it adds carbon dioxide, as well. As the carbon dioxide is outgassed, the pH will rise a bit. Both effects are so small as to be unimportant, and possibly not even measurable with some hobbyist equipment, depending on the size of the dose and the precision of the measuring equipment.

 

[dtum]

Sodium bicarbonate will only increase ALK. While soda ash will increase PH, and ALK..

But I'm not a chemist just my experience.

I have been dosing daily with Aquavitro 8.4 which should raise both PH and Alk. PH stays the same, just under 8, but my Alk is dropping. It is now at 6.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I have been dosing daily with Aquavitro 8.4 which should raise both PH and Alk. PH stays the same, just under 8, but my Alk is dropping. It is now at 6.

If you want to raise pH, try a different product. Use baked baking soda or sodium carbonate. It will have a higher pH raising effect than that product, and will provide a bit more alkalinity per unit weight.

 

[dtum]

If you want to raise pH, try a different product. Use baked baking soda or sodium carbonate. It will have a higher pH raising effect than that product, and will provide a bit more alkalinity per unit weight.

Thanks Randy. I am noticing that Aquavitro 8.4 is not doing too much. I've just switched back to Kent Pro Buffer dKH and seem to be getting better results. Would you recommend another product to try?

 

[bertoni]

If baked baking soda doesn't do enough, you could consider trying limewater. After that, the only options are fresher air or carbon dioxide scrubbers.