My Acro is starting to bleach out!!!

[RichConley]

pH is tied in with Alk New School. If your Alk Goes up, so does your pH.

When you add baking soda, you're also adding CO2. While baking soda will not cause pH spikes, it will still cause a rise in pH after the CO2 outgasses.

 

[Jaime_309]

lol, you guy's are to much... this is all great info from all side's i really appreciate your help... this has turned out to be a great forum for me...

 

[NewSchool04]

Fine Rich, you add 2.5 GALLONS (100 gallon tank) of limewater to raise your Alk from 6 to 9 dKH and kill your tank with an enormous pH swing. Remember, the pH of saturated limewater is around 12.
I'll stick to baking soda, 5 teaspoons mixed in a little RO water which will lower slightly the tanks pH.

 

[Serioussnaps]

get a two part supplement like c-balance and you will raise both levels and keep it balanced at the same time...do it over a week or 2...not 1 day or anything drastic...i thought Baking soda raised ph?????????

 

[DrBDC]

Baked baking soda a.k.a. washing soda will raise pH considerably. Regular baking soda will actually lower it temporarily towards the 8.0 mark.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7818387#post7818387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC
Baked baking soda a.k.a. washing soda will raise pH considerably. Regular baking soda will actually lower it temporarily towards the 8.0 mark.

like I said, the pH reduction is TEMPORARY. once the CO2 is outgassed, baking soda drives your pH up.


THATS EXACTLY WHAT I SAID.

 

[Pat_13]

Not to hijack, but I have problem and a quick question. What happens if your Alk is too high? Do I just add Ca supplement until the Alk lowers?

 

[NewSchool04]

Yeah Pat_13, you can balance the Ca w/ Alk and then let it drop naturally.

 

[NewSchool04]

don't just add it though, I just re-read your question. Find out what the balaced Ca is for whatever your Alk is and then add accordingly by using the calculator.

 

[acropora213]

This is a great Thread !!! I've had this same question and issue for about a month now.

It happened when I ran out of Kent Turbo Calcium. Alot of my frags have whitened considerably.... Eeek

 

[NewSchool04]

I mentioned this before acropora213 but incase you missed it, a cheaper but just as good calcium supplement is Prestone Driveway Heat. You get a big jug of the stuff at the hardware store for about 8 bucks. Probably 4 X as much as in the big Kent Turbo can.

It's used to melt icy driveways in the winter so not sure how many stores in Tampa will carry it . . ?

 

[Jaime_309]

and you use this on your tank for how long??? if you dont mind me asking...

 

[NewSchool04]

going on three months now Jaime_309

 

[Jaime_309]

keep us updated to the results... who lead you to this great inexpensive way of adding calcium to your tank?

 

[NewSchool04]

sounds like your being sarcastic Jaime. Either way, head over to the Chemistry forum and check out this article:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I figure if Randy Holmes Farley gives a thumbs up, it's good enough for me.

 

[Jaime_309]

no sarcasm here just trying to see who really knows their stuff... i appreciate all the info...

 

[Jaime_309]

great article, always looking on how to save a few buck on this hobby!!! gracias...

 

[NewSchool04]

If it wasn't for that forum, I wouldn't have a reef tank today. Makes everything a little easier, a little more understandable for the average layman that wasn't a Chemistry major.
You can have the best lights, the best skimmer and the most expensive tank but if your water isn't right, then nothing lives.

 

[Jaime_309]

AMEN!!!

 

[DrBDC]

2 years using the homemade 2 part with the prestone driveway heat. It is Dow pellet. Or you can use the Dow flake but we don't get that around here.