Alkanity Low?
- Thread starter drillsar
- Start date
chaseracing
Premium Member
High Calcium brings it down.
6.4 is VERY low and would cause noticeable issues with the tank. I would double/triple check your test results (how are you testing)? Dont do anything until then. If you need to raise it, dont use Kalk since it will raise both alk and ca. Use Baking soda (not baking powder) to raise alk only.
I used salifert kit, I will check it again. Maybe I did test wrong, It was like greenish and it turned another color I think pink then put another drop and took reading. Well my calcium is a little low as well so it wouldnt hurt to raise both. I have a mini pump with a valve can I use that to drip it? Im just afraid of getting this stuff in my mouth, lol
Again 6.4 is very low. Low enough to start to dissolve a calcium based sandbed and rock. Likely everything in your tank would be dead, so I would really recheck before you make any changes.
Sailifert has had some serious problems with their alk test kits. I would not trust it.
Sailifert has had some serious problems with their alk test kits. I would not trust it.
Compare it against another test kit. Is there anything wrong with the tank? If the alk was 6.4, there certainly would be big problems. If the tank is OK, leave it alone. Get another test kit and verify the readings. The API alk test kits are good and are $5.50 from Dr F&S.
Last edited:
C. Friesen
New member
Hi, do a search on addition of kalk or limewater. This will give you DIY plans for a siphon based kalk dripper. Basically it is a food grade container with a screw top lid. The lid has two holes drilled in it and two airline tubes inserted. One you blow in to start the sipon and a longer tube you run to your tank. You then either use an inline air valve to control the drip or a small clamp on the tube itself.
Very simple and anyone can do it.
Chris
Very simple and anyone can do it.
Chris
seapug
Premium Member
I think you have Alkalinity confused with pH. A pH of 6.4 could dissolve a sandbed, not Alkalinity. Alkalinity is the measurement of the water's ability to resist downward changes in pH, not the pH itself. 6.4 is low but nothing to panic over. It's very common for tanks to have low alkalinity and an easy thing to raise.
Baking soda will raise Alk only (why I metnioned it first), but if Kalkwasser is what you have on hand it is fine to use as well.
Kalkwasser is a balanced method to maintain Calcium and Alk with the additional benefit of providing a pH boost and precipitation of Phosphate. It will raise Calcium as well as
Alkalinity, but when done correctly (slow drip) it won't cause in harmful effects. Any additional Calcium will harmlessly precipitate in the tank. As long as you don't pour it in all at once and cause a massive pH spike it's perfectly safe to use.
