Kent Kalkwasser Mix same as limewater?

[Hvy_Dty]

Randy...I've been having a PH problem with my tank and suspect it's due to excess CO2 in my house. I use a Pinpoint PH meter and it's been getting as low as 7.6 at night and 7.8 during the day. I've been reading your articles and see that you suggest a few things to raise it. I'm looking at using limewater and have some Kent Kalkwasser mix laying around. Reading the label, it indicates that dosing it will not cause the pH to rise significantly. Would you suggest I buy something else?

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Kalkwasser mix is calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide. In either case, it has a pH raising effect. Kent says it doesn't raise pH significantly when added slowly, but that is presumably just to keep from scaring people away from the product.

It is the best way to raise pH.

 

[steve the plumb]

I use the seachem brand of kalk.I find that works with my auto top off.ph goes 8.2 -8.3.I used to have a ph of 7.98.I started using an air pump in my sump.I am using it to raise brine shrip.I found my ph has raised to 8.4-8.5.I have never had this high a ph before.I am running 2 skimmer and found ph never went that high.I only noticed this high ph since adding air pump.I have not opened any windows and I noticed when I shut the pump off I went down to a regular ph.

 

[Hvy_Dty]

I tried Randy's aeration test earlier today using a cup of water from my tank. Using a pump with inside air, my pH went from 7.86 to 7.7 in about an hour. When I put the pump outside, the same cup of water got up to 7.96, so I know it's excess CO2 in the house. I'll be dripping kalk in a few days and hope to bring my pH back up to par. After cleaning my tank and testing yesterday, my Ca should be at 420, Mg should be 1400 ppm and my alkalinity is 2.51 meq/L (which I'd also like to raise). Randy...is there anything else you think I need to do to raise my pH and ALK? Your articles are amazing and helped me understand a lot more already!

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Randy...is there anything else you think I need to do to raise my pH and ALK

Let's see where it gets with the limewater.

 

[steve the plumb]

I made an error the pump didn't bring up the ph as much as I thought.It was the baking soda.I use the doser and I probably tested just after the unit went off.I am back to a ph of 8.2-8.3 its the kalk that maintains my ph.I don't find that the kalk does much for alk levels in my tank because of high demand.

 

[jdieck]

Also note that if you have an old can of Kalk mix insure that it has been properly sealed. Moisure and CO2 from the air may degrade the powder a bit.