Oxygenating the Water?

[ReeferNoob4ever]

I am not concerning myself with pH. Now I'm trying to raise my kh to 160ppm while maintaining 420ppm ca++. Currently my kh is 120ppm (7dkh)

 

[nereefpat]

The answer is still baking soda.

 

[Potatohead]

What's the difference between baking soda, pH UP, and api buffer 8.2?

I am not concerning myself with pH. Now I'm trying to raise my kh to 160ppm while maintaining 420ppm ca++. Currently my kh is 120ppm (7dkh)

Ok, sorry I misunderstood

Those products are largely sodium carbonate, which raises ph (temporarily) while also raising kh. Sodium carbonate can also be purchased in bulk from BRS, or at your local grocery, known as 'washing soda.' Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which has the same type of affect on kh but will slightly lower ph (again temporarily) instead. The latter also takes about 50% more to accomplish the same rise in kh.

You can also make your own sodium carbonate by placing baking soda on a cookie sheet and baking it at 300° for an hour.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

So it's the bicarbonate that I was curious about. So a buffer that raises pH to 8.2 and also lifts alk has both carbonates together. I would prefer my pH level didn't go down at all considering that is my issue in the first place.

 

[Potatohead]

So it's the bicarbonate that I was curious about. So a buffer that raises pH to 8.2 and also lifts alk has both carbonates together. I would prefer my pH level didn't go down at all considering that is my issue in the first place.

Most likely it is carbonate alone or some mix of them, yes.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

What I want is to increase the bicarbonate to raise kh, i aldo wouldn't min if my pH went up by .2 also. Is cooking baking soda the only option?

 

[Potatohead]

What I want is to increase the bicarbonate to raise kh, i aldo wouldn't min if my pH went up by .2 also. Is cooking baking soda the only option?

Or get washing soda from the store, same thing.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

OK OK I'm not doing anything differently and just make sure nothing goes lower.

Do I need to use reef crystals or is instant ocean ok?

I don't plan on ever having any hard corals. At the moment I've decided to put the most invasive kind in, gsp and xenia. Next up are mushrooms.

 

[Potatohead]

For soft corals I would probably use RC and mix at 1.023 - 1.024. IO will be pretty low in calcium and mag at that salinity.

 

[Potatohead]

Sorry double post

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Hmmm, haven't tested for mag yet. My calcium is 420ppm

 

[Sk8r]

Your primary sources of oxygenation are 1---your skimmer; a good one matters; and also the downfall of water into your sump, if it has a fall before it hits the water 2--a cheato mass in the refugium---not essential, but helpful 3---most important, roiling the water surface by aiming powerhead up.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Luckily my pH has slowly risen to 8.0, kh 180ppm, and ca++ 480 on its own. Should I concern myself with checking magnesium?

 

[Potatohead]

I would. 1260-1450 is a good range.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

One thing I learned about pH is, the lower the more sceceptable one is to attracting unwanted algae based on high cO2 levels. ..