high dkh

[Alexbanman]

i have 80 gallons of water in my tank
i use a delteck 509 reactor it works great, and my ph is around 7.9 or 8 and it goes up to 8.2 when i add a ph buffer. the problem that im having is that my dkh is at 16 and i would like it to be at 11
whats the best way to do this?

 

[bertoni]

[welcome]

pH buffers are really just alkalinity supplements, so you'll need to stop dosing that. This article covers low pH problems:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

Most often, low pH problems are due to high CO2 levels. The article describes an aeration test that might help check your situation. Also, getting a second opinion on the pH measurement might be useful. Test kits often seem to have problems.

To drop the pH, you'll need to turn off the reactor and dose calcium only while alkalinity declines. Kent Turbo Calcium or a similar calcium chloride product is a fine way to go.

 

[ERTLEY]

Not to jump on this thread but this may help someone else too!
So anyway.. I also use a calc reactor and ran up my dkh...I then shut down my reactor until alk reached 10.0,,,I turned down the reactor from 52 effl./18 bubbles co2,to 40 effl. and 12 bubbles of co2.And started it back up.My ? is with my topoff water which the ph is like 6.8
My tank ph is 8.0 ..Would it help to dose kalkwasser,say 2 teaspoons for 5 gal. of topoff?Or does'nt ph topoff water matter?I was concerned my topoff being only 6.8....And my ph in the tank 8.0.....could this be a problem and what can i do to fix it?Will the calc reactor eventually level out the ph in the tank? Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[bertoni]

The topoff water is likely RO-DI, right? Its pH is irrelevant since it contains no buffering. A pH of 8.0 is fine, in my opinion, but a lime drip might help.

 

[ERTLEY]

Yes RO-DI,,Would you say a teaspoon for 5 gal. topoff for now to start?I would like my ph to be atleast 81/8.2 Will that little bit of lime drip affect alk?I don't want my alk to rise again.....Some of the critters did'nt seem to like it all that much.IYO how much kalk would you add to 5 gal. of RO/DI topoff?Thanks again,I appreciate your help!!!!!

 

[bertoni]

You could start with 1 tsp per gallon and see how it goes. That's what I did.

 

[ERTLEY]

Thanks for your advice!!Call me gunshy, but i think i will start slooow with 2 tsp. to a 5...I'm a nervous wreck over this alk...Go to work / come home go to fish room,ya know!LOL.......So if i see the alk go up would you either slow down on bubble rate or would you stop kalk?Not really sure where to go from here!