rasing alkalinity

[dmh41532]

The alk level in my aquarium is low. What is the best method to raise it? Some say baking soda, I have also been told to use kalkwasser. Im looking for some opinions and experiences. My tank is 20 gallons with corals. Thanks

 

[Spar]

IMO, Washing Soda (baked baking soda) is best for one-time/occasional increases, and then using Kalk for more continuous (to keep it stable).

Make sure to raise it slowly as possible and use accurate inputs in the online calculators to make sure not overdosing the stuff.

 

[reefriot13]

when my 20L (the tank in my avatar) drops to about 6dkh it only takes 1 teaspoon of baking soda to raise it to 10dkh. All i do is add it to a 1/2gal of top up water and let the ATO fill it up slowly over a 2 day period. use unbaked soda for raising alk but not PH.
if your PH is low then use Baked baking soda

 

[dmh41532]

Unfortunatley, I don't have an ATO. I will have to add it slowly to the aquarium. The pH is low at times, usually at night when the lights are turned off though it dosen't seem to effect the corals and marcoalgea I have in the tank. Thanks

 

[Dr. Reef]

when u say low what are ur parameters. please list all so we can decide better..

 

[dmh41532]

Kh is about 120ppm, my calcium is low due to adding several new corals, I've since increased the dosage and it's increasing, currently at 320ppm. pH is 8.0, temp. 80 degrees, s.g. 1.024.

 

[downbeach]

Your Ca is a little on the low side too, why not get your salinity up to 1.026 and see where you are. Best to use a calibrated refractometer for this. Kalk will help with both, but bump the salinity a bit first.

PS What test kits are you using?

 

[Dr. Reef]

i agree start with 1.026 ur other levels will naturally increase and may not need additional dosing. i would start there.

 

[dmh41532]

I use API test kits. As I stated earlier, the calcium is atlittle low due to adding alot of LPS corals with out increasing calcium dosage. I've since increased it and calcium level is raising. Increasing the specific gravity won't affect the corals?

 

[downbeach]

Here is an article about water parameters. Your salt mix contains: Ca, Mg and Alk, so by adding more salt mix to increase your salinity to 1.026, you are adding all these elements, so by extension, they will increase too.
I would invest in some better test kits, i.e. Salifert, Elos, Red Sea Pro. I did an analysis of the new Red Sea Pro kit, containing:Ca, Mg and Alk, with Salifert and found that they are very close in accuracy/consistancy, but the Red Sea being more economical. If you don't already have one, I would also invest in a decent refractometer, and some calibration solution(35ppt), to test your salinity.

 

[mandarinfanatic]

kalkwasser is used to raise calcium. it will maintain kh but not raise it in large
large amounts as the reaction between co2 and kalkwasser is what adds kh. it is not added to raise kh specifically
sent from my galaxy s3

 

[reefriot13]

I 2nd the refractometer. They are a cheap investment. 25 bucks and work well. I had an issue when I first started with some corals not opening. I was banging my head trying to figure out as all my test were in the norm. Took a sample to the LFS and she verified that all levels were good. Last thing she did was salanity and what do you know it was at 1.032 because the POS hydrometer from IO was off . Doing more water changes has always worked well for me. Along with using kalk in the ATO

Sent from my MB611 using Tapatalk 2

 

[downbeach]

Saturated kalkwasser has about 800 ppm of Ca and 2000 ppm (40meg/l, 112dKH) of Alk. So, it will add both Ca and CaCO3, but is limited by how much you can add in your top off water every day. So, if you have to increase your Ca or Alk by any substantial amount, you should use a two part method. Or consider using a reactor.

 

[reefriot13]

I use a reactor on my 150g tank and add some neomag on top of my media. I love it. I don't add anything to this tank. A lot of people around me are afraid of them saying they can ruin your tank if you have a problem but its been going for 8 months with great results. Just go slow with it as it takes time for it to release the proper amounts to your tank. A little more investment but so much easier.

Sent from my MB611 using Tapatalk 2