Need to know how slow is slow in raising Alk

[10" Red Devil]

Hello I want to raise my Alk to 4.0 because this is inline with my Salt mix. I use Reefcrystals and at sg1.024 the alk mixes up at 4.0 so instead of lowering it in my mix somehow or changing brand I think I am just going to try and keep my alk at 4.0.

What I was wondering is how slowly do I raise it? I use this calc:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

It determined that I need 19ml of Alk supp of B-ionic to raise the alk to 4.0 from 3.42 in a 25gallon system, but it says to add it slowly and not let it impact ph more then .20.

This is highly confusing so how much of the 19ml should I be adding and how often?

Thanks in advance!

 

[merlock116]

with a 25 gallon system, a couple water changes would raise it to 4.0.

i wouldn't mess with the additives if you don't need to.

 

[10" Red Devil]

Hmm, yeah what percentage w/c? If my sps go belly up Im holding you personally responsible! lol! ~

 

[10" Red Devil]

Seems like its a lot easier to add the b-ionic though.

TIA.

 

[merlock116]

do a 100% water change.

there's nothing to be scared of.

just match the salinity and temperature.

 

[10" Red Devil]

Merlock,

Yes but how many gallons per day or whatever?

 

[merlock116]

all 25 in one shot.

 

[10" Red Devil]

But that goes against your advice in the beginning?!

Which was to do a couple water changes?!

*confused*

Sorry.

 

[Zaphod]

I hope he is joking yiu should never change 100% of the water. good way to recycle your tank.

 

[merlock116]

you can do a couple. it's just more effective with 100% in one shot if you have access to a large container. check out the articles randy holmes farley has done on water changes and dilution percentages.

i'm not joking. i do it all the time as do many other reefers. especially with access to large amounts of water like at scripps in san diego.

i've done it with both artificial and natural salt water.

it's just that many reefers have not done it and it is unchartered territory. i bet you haven't tried it have you nicholasvilppu?

check out the numerous threads where eric borneman advocates 100% water changes.

once you do it the first time it's no big deal just like using interceptor

 

[10" Red Devil]

Doing a 100% change could be okay if everything was the same. But as stated earlier my alk is at 3.42 and I want it at 4.0 which is what my salt mix mixes up at 1.025. So future water changes will be easier. I have been told that I need to raise the alk slowly. If I do your prescibed water change I will shock the **** out of my sps! No?!

 

[merlock116]

3.42 to 4.0 (9.6 11.2 dKh) is not a big change.

the majority of sps keepers here that don't use calcium reactors dose two-part additives once a day. there are a LOT of tanks that drop much more than 0.5 meq/L (what you want to raise). and guess what, they bump it up with their two-part in one shot no problem.

there's no need for all this paranoia. i understand your concern, but you need to realize that going from 3.42 to 4.0 is really not a big deal.

 

[10" Red Devil]

Can anyone else confirm this? Not saying I dont believe you Merlock, but always good to have a second opinion.

 

[10" Red Devil]

I mean I have heard from other aquarist (local guy to michigan who has a 60gallon cube) that a drop from in .22 meq/l per day is a big deal and should not be allowed to happen.

 

[10" Red Devil]

bump

 

[Wiskey]

I don't mean to just kinda' jump in here, but that is a serious change.

I would reccomend no more than a 1 Dkh raise per day,.... if you have a sand bed, cut this in half (1/2 Dkh raise per day), and monitor you levels.

I am not trying to be disagreeable; however once coral has acclamated to a certin system, there is no point in jerking them to another.

Just what I would do, take it or leave it,
Whiskey

 

[BlueStag]

Boomer has done many 100% water changes. Do a search here on RC. He is very knowledgable about water chemistry.

 

[DrBDC]

A lot of authorities do massive sized water changes. A. Calfo talked about his when he came to our local group. I lose about 3 dKh a day although most is replaced with lime I have to give it a boost of about 1-2 with my 2 part at times.

 

[Kip]

i am with whiskey... i wouldnt change dkh by more than 1 in a day. dkh rollercoasters are known to commence necrosis and shutdown reactions

if your dkh is fluctuating by 2-3 a day b/w dosings... i'd look into a k-reactor, a c-reactor, or setting up your 2-part additives on a constant drip, etc.

(all of this in terms of a tank with acros... other stonies, softies, and lps arent as sensitive)

JMO/JME

 

[10" Red Devil]

Well thanks for the comments fellahs!

Yeah I guess Im going to raise it up with the 1dkh a day method. Sounds good to me. Sorry but I dont want to be a guinnea pig for this 100% water change method, just cant afford to lose my sps.

-peace