Kalk Plus to raise pH

[Debbie64]

Hi -

So, low pH is my issue. About 7.8 - 8.0, am to pm. About a week or so ago, I started mixing a slurry of kalk - 2 tsps/gal - and I added it to my top off cube. I add another couple of tsps in a slurry every couple of days to make up for the automatically added RO water. It's only bumped it up to 7.9 - 8.17 or so. (I evaporate about a gallon in 24 hours.)

I'm planning on a peristaltic pump to ease my suffering in trying to keep the drip adjusted properly. FYI - http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/ - refurbed medical dosers. Pretty cool and good price. It will also dose 2 part (2 channels).

My question: My calcium reactor keeps my alk and calcium steady at 10.8 dKH and ca at 425. The only thing I need to elevate is pH. What would be the best method? If I up the dose to 3 teaspoons of kalk per gallon and 45 ml per gal of vinegar as per Randy's article, will that raise the pH a more significant amount? What about B-Ionic dripped via the pump I'm getting? It may raise my alk and ca a bit, but a slow drip of about 60 ml over 24 hours should keep a stable level, right?

Advice greatly appreciated!

Debbie

 

[bertoni]

If your calcium and alkalinity are stable, then you could try more aeration to raise the pH, or perhaps a refugium. Either could remove CO2 from the water. A larger skimmer might help, for example.

If you want to dose lime, that should help, too, but you'll probably want to tune back the calcium reactor a bit, or the Ca-alkalinity levels would likely start to rise.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would not use the vinegar. It will reduce the pH raising effect, even though you are adding more solid lime.

If you are close to replacing all evaporated water with saturated limewater, and the pH is still low, the options become more limited. Your home air probably has a lot of excess CO2 in it. The article below shows some tests to diagnose that. Assuming it is, bringing in fresh air somehow would be among the best options.

Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

 

[Debbie64]

Thank you, both. I am replacing all evaporated water with limewater. I have a fuge. I have surface agitation. I did the aeration test this morning and it indicated that I do have excess CO2 in the house. pH actually dropped when I used inside air! Raised from 8.00 to 8.14 with outside air.

Unfortunately, getting outside air to the fishroom won't happen. I'm on an inside wall. pH will go up in the summer when doors and windows are open all over the house, but otherwise, raising pH can't be achieved with air. As I see it, I have 2 options:

1. Slow dripping 2 part via the peristaltic pump I mentioned before. It's a 2 channel pump and it would drip each part separately, slowly.

2. And this option might kill two birds - get this new skimmer I've been pining for. I've got a red sea classic berlin now and it's pretty lame. I've been looking at the AquaC EV-120. This can be had with a John Guest fitting so that the Calcium reactor effluent can be dosed right into the skimmer which would blow off the excess CO2. I'm thinking that would bring my pH back up a little higher.

Any thoughts on which option would be better?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The skimmer might not help the pH if your aeration test took the pH down.

The two part will help, either slow dosed, or dosed all at once. A lime slurry can also be dosed that way.

 

[Debbie64]

Great! Thank you very much for all your help, Randy. I'll forgo the skimmer for now (still want it eventually) and get the pump. And thank you for the recipe for 2 part. Just found out about it and I'll be using that!

Thanks again!

Debbie

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy reefing.