Not sure how to fix PH and ALK

[TwoShoesOrOne]

Hi,
My ph is low (7.8) and alk (dkh) is high (13.4). I would also like to raise the calcium level.
Would Kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide) do the trick for calcium and ph? How do I lower the alk?
PS- I have done many many large volume water changes to no avail with the dkH).

Thanks

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Some salts are high in DKH, so if you are using one nothing will happen.
Kalk might raise your PH & CA but try not to chase #'s with PH.

 

[outssider]

ph is a function of co2 in the aquarium. As long as you don't have a lot of people in a closed up house, I'd forget about ph ...7.8 is doable anyway …..

dkh will drop on it's own over time. If you want to increase calcium, use calcium chloride....dissolve some in some ro/di water and add it to the tank....here is a calculator.....

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator/

 

[bertoni]

I agree that 7.8 is a reasonable level. Houses with the windows shut often run around that level. I'd ignore the pH, but fresher air might raise the pH a bit. Sometimes, better aeration helps, but that's uncommon.

 

[TwoShoesOrOne]

THANKS but what about lowering the dkh?

THANKS but what about lowering the dkh?

Great tips on ph. Thank you to everyone.

I still really really need to lower the dkh. I think that 13.4 dkh is way too high.

Any suggestions?

Thanks again.

 

[bertoni]

It should drop on its own if there's nothing being dosed, although it might take a long time. What is the dKH level in your salt product? 13.4 dKH is a bit high, but the animals likely will be okay. If the salt product is the problem, then you could lower the alkalinity by dosing mineral acid into freshly-mixed saltwater, and using that for changes, but mineral acids require careful handling, and I'd just buy a new salt product.

 

[Daddi0]

Kalk will also raise your dkh. What is you calcium?
Cheers! Mark

 

[hkgar]

What salt are you using for your water changes? Have you check the dKH of the water change water?

Like others said, forget the ph. It is a brat who does what it wants and you can't control it except by taking away it co2.

 

[lapin]

+1 above