Increasing Dkh

Evolley1

Evolley1

New member
So I have tried the method of baking 1 box of baking soda and adding it to my tank via drip topoff. I think this has helped out a little bit but not as much as I hoped. Not to mention it just clouds my tank worse than a heavy dose of kalk. I just changed my salt for the first time ever this weekend by using Reef Crystals. Hopefully that change will help out my Cal/dkh values. I was using IO before that. Any other methods being used out there that increases alkalinity? I always prefer going the generic way to keep costs down (for instance pickling lime, driveway salt, baking soda). Anyone have luck using the Kent super dkh buffer or is that the same as the baking soda route? Suggestions?
 
How low is it? What is your magnesium at? Are you adding Mg?

If mine dips below about 7, I'll mix a few tsp of baking soda in a cup, dissolve with RO and pour it in.

Other than that, a steady drip of saturated kalk for all topoff, and supplement with 2-part as needed.

My hunch is you have low magnesium though.
 
Drip topoff may be adding alk slower than you are consuming it, so there may be little positive effect. I would still use baking soda per Randy's method, but add a little more at a time. Approx. 6 tsps of baking soda will increase your alk by 1 Dkh, but I would not add that all at once. IMO, I wouldn't bother with buffer solutions, as baking soda is similar. What are your values for Ca and Alk anyway?
 
I would still use baking soda to get your Alk to where you want it. Check the reef chemistry calculator and figure out how much and then mix into RO.
Without baking the baking soda, your pH will lower so I split the dosage in two.
Once you get your Alk and Ca balanced then use your dripper to drip Kalk to keep it where you want it.
 
I don't think the baking soda will have a noticeable effect on a system if kalk is in a continual drip mode. In my experience it certainly does not lower it. Baking the baking soda will raise pH. I have not ever detected a drop of any significance, and what I did see stabilized to normal within half an hour or so.
 
I don't think he's dripping Kalk now but I do agree. I just add mine in one dose but I figured I'd give him the safe directions and let him experiment after getting comfortable with everything!
 
As for dkh readings I think the last time I checked it was between 4 and 5. I do have an auto kalk topoff (Precision Marine). I also dose the driveway salt on occasion. As for cal measurements...I've never had much luck with my tests so I've never come up with a conclusive number. The first box test I figured that the kit was out of date. The next brand new box didn't really give me a reading either. I am using the salfilert test kit and it seems like I am using the whole syringe without getting a reading. I'll be honest I haven't been much for testing as my system has be up and running for some time and I have had good luck. However the more I've been into the SPS thing I've wanted to know where I was at. I'm hoping the new salt, contiuous kalk topoff, driveway salt and the occasional baking soda will give me better parameters in the long run. The reason for testing is because I have lost a couple smaller SPS colonies lately, why? Not sure! Not to mention I have had the most difficult time keeping millipora's. They seen to do well at first...minimal growth/good color...and then they eventually take a crap on me.
Can someone send me the link to the baking soda page. I have been told to bake one box and add to 1 or 2 gal. of fresh RO water. From there mix and drip like you would any other supplement.
 
Your Ca and Alk numbers must be way off in relation to each other. Please try to correct these (but slowly) before adding any more SPS. What do you mean by driveway salt? Isn't that calcium chloride? This would effectively raise your calcium and lower your alk. I would suggest several medium sized water changes to get you back on track, along with small additions of baking soda. Here is a link to a chemistry calculator.
http://www.kademani.com/reefchem.htm
Good luck
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8628454#post8628454 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Evolley1
RO water. From there mix and drip like you would any other supplement.
Click to expand...

:eek2:

Use this for calculators and for 2-part recipe:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605

Note Jose Dieck's name re: calculators!

First, that alkalinity is low. Raise it with larger toss-ins. I'd do it in 2 or 3 "chunks" to get your level to above 7. But get a second Alk kit to make sure the alk reading is right.

Second, refill the syringe and keep going until you get your calcium reading. Add drop by drop until it goes solid blue. Hold it with good light in the room and a white backgroung (I always test in front of an IO bucket). Get the #s!

Third, test magnesium!!! If you are making these things yourself, you MUST add magnesium. I would bet a lot that you are under 1100 Mg and that will throw things off for you.

Know your numbers before adjusting anything. If my hunch is right, start with the magnesium. Then do the alk (you can start the alk with the Mg). Then test before adding anything else. And remember to keep testing calcium. You want to avoid a dramatic see-saw.

Test your kalk to make sure it is saturated too...
 
You should always add the calcium (driveway salt) and alkalinity supplement (baking soda) in equal amounts or else you will cause these swings. If you were adding calcium without testing and without adding buffer then yes, you caused imbalance.

But see RHF's articles on homemade 2-part for more info...
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far! Let's get one thing straight though...it's not like everything is going to hell. So far I have had great sucess however I want to make it even better and have better growth patterns. It's difficult to make things perfect but I guess it's about time I do more testing and follow a game plan. Ahhhhh I hate the idea of testing but I guess it's worth it.

One thing I never thought I would test is Mg. Hopefully the Reef Crystals will help a little more with Mg. Otherwise how do you supplement Mg?
 
Kent has a product called Tech M which I am currently using to increase my Mg due to the fact that it is only at 1200. I want it at 1300+ I am having the same problem with Alk but not as bad mine is about 6.5-7 and I am also using IO and about to switch to RCs. I also drip Kalk but only at night in an attempt to keep PH stable mine runs at 8.2 during the day but I must confess I have never tested it at night. I will be adding a controller soon with a dosing pump to control the kalk added.
 
Ok so after reading a lot tonight I have decided to change my ways. As mentioned I am dosing kalk (auto-topoff) and will continue to do so with no change. I occassionally dose peladow in thinking that all my calcium additives should have been coming mostly from the kalk. Am I or was I wrong to think that? I also recently started adding baking soda as my alk source. To this point I have never supplemented Mg. So here is my gameplan. Test my current levels and plug into Jose's calculator. From there decide what I need to adjust the most starting with Mg probably. I plan on following Recipe 1 to the T. It seems as though I was doing this already but not in measured amounts, not to mention not consistent enough and not at the same time. It sounds more and more like consistency and equal values of supplements will make the biggest changes to my parameters. I will mix the peladow and baking soda in separate 1 gal containers.

Question: Once dissolved do I shake up and mix the two together in a 2 gal. container or do I not shake up the precipitates at the bottom of each gal. container and just mix the dissolved portion? I never knew whether the precipitates should have been discarded or not. Thoughts?

When dosing the 2 gal. how often and how much should be added per day? In the past I have dripped a 2 gal container of Pelladow in one day. Considering the recipe requirements I would go through a lot of supplements if I added like I have done in the past.

Question: Should I ever consider adding the 2 part mixture to my Kalk auto-topoff? Or should I keep it completely separate?

Final question: Where should I look for the Mag flake? Seen any locally? It looks as though I would mix this with Epson salt in order to accomplish my Mg addition.
 
To your questions:

1. NO do not mix them together! 2-part is 2-part. Mix em and everything precipitates into snow and is useless!

2. Once each part is dissolved it'll stay dissolved, it's not like Kalk that needs to be stirred regularly.

3. Dose as needed (read: test!) I have a dosing pump (masterflex) that adds in a slow drip that is on a timer. Took me all of a week to figure out how many hours to run it. The Kalk I dose 24/7 (except during "stir" times).

4. Kalk maintains. It is hard to increase levels with Kalk alone. A good kalk addition means much less, or no supplements, needed -- that all depends on load, growth, etc.

5. NO do not add anything to the kalk!

6. Most of the magnesium ice melts I have seen are not sufficient. www.harveysalt.com will get you a 50lb bag of the MAG pellets. That'll last you a long time. I split a bag in Aug. 05 and have used half of it. The way I dose the 2-part, I am adding about 2 cups of a 50-50 mix of Epsom salts and MAG every Friday.

HTH

p.s. -- I may have an extra Masterflex available -- 2-channel dosing pump. Email me if interested and we can discuss.
 
Eric -

I have Salifert test kits for ALK, Ca and Mg. If you would like I can bring mine over and we can compare results between my kits and yours. If we match then you will have a better idea of where you are starting from.

Can't come by tonight (kits are at home), but either Wednesday of Thursday after work would be fine.

Let me know.

Chris
 
Chris,

I tried calling your number but I think I might have an old one. Anyway, we can definitely get together after work this week. Just let me know.

Joel,

Thanks for the offer on testing but mornings are not good for me due to work. If you wanted to get together after work let me know. I emailed you about the masterflex pump. Definitely interested.

Would anyone be interested in splitting a bag of the MAG pellets? I know Auroradave probably would but is there anyone else?
 
I only have a 50gal tank, but I'd like a bit of the mag pellets. If anyone is willing to part ways with a small amount, I'll get in on the buy.
 
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