What is a good Alkalinity level for SPS?

[cfishrun]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7347931#post7347931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sara B
My question is how do you all get those levels without pushing PH up too high? More Kalk only drives my PH up even higher.

I'd just add some Distilled White Vinegar. If added to your reactor, it will lower the PH and disolve more kalk, but it will also provide acetate. Once in your tank, the bacteria will metabolize it, thereby consuming oxygen and releasing CO2. In the end, this will allow you to raise your dKH without spiking your PH, and you'll put the bacteria into overdrive, thereby decreasing your phosphates and nitrates (if you use a skimmer).

For more information, see this article written by RHF: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

 

[SaraB]

cfishrun - I had read that article some time ago but I was not sure how I would go about adding vinegar to the K-reactor. If I am using 3-4 gallons of top-off water a day, it most likely would be flushed from the reator in 1 day. Also, I don't have the reactor with the fancy opening at the top that allows you to add items. I would have to take the entire top of the reactor which is a pain.

 

[Kip]

havent really thought this thru.. but in the freshwater that you are pushing thru the k-reactor.. i guess you could add vinegar to that.

i used vinegar years ago when i did regular dripping. when i started using k-reactor, i'd throw some baking soda in daily. then i got a c-reactor and never worried about high pH again.

 

[SaraB]

So adding vinegar in my top-off water at a volume of about 30 gallons is okay? Right now I top off the fresh water in the trash can about once a week and it sits. If I added something like vinegar, would I have to put a powerhead in the trash can to keep it mixed?

I will eventually get the CA Reactor up and running, but I am delaying it due to an upcoming vacation around Memorial Day and I do not yet have a controller that would shut down the system if the CO2 went nuts. Plus to be quite honest that darn thing scares me ... you guys like to tinker with stuff ... I just want it to run and not have to mess with it too much!

Sara

 

[Kip]

may have to ask randy the details, but i think that vinegar would stay in solution in 30g of freshwater for a week at a time. ... then again.. that may depend on if that 30g is sealed from ambient air or not.... hmmmm

 

[cfishrun]

Sara -

You can also add the vinegar directly to tank, preferably in a high-flow area in the sump.

However, I do not see a problem with adding the vinegar to your make-up water, which gets pushed through the reactor. It is my understanding that the vinegar drops the PH by adding acetic acid, so I wouldn't think it would dissipate into the atmosphere. I agree with Kip though; it would be best to get a chemist's input, because I never had chemistry in school.

 

[SaraB]

Thanks! I posted the question and a link to here for Randy on the Chemisty Forum.

 

[GTR]

If you have the CO2 Ca reactor already I'd use both. In my prop system I run the dual chamber CO2 reactor with the output pH around 7.5. Limewater is adding via a Litermeter III at a rate of 4g per day year round. The balance for top off is plain RO/DI. This way I need not make changes in either the limewater amount or re-adjust the CO2 reactor to compensate for seasonal changes in evaporation. The limewater offsets the somewhat lower pH from the CO2.

Adding vinegar will allow you to increase the amount of calcium hydroxide in solution but wont that take the Ca and dkh up in equal proportions?

SteveU

 

[SaraB]

Here is what Randy had to say "Adding vinegar to a limewater reactor is very tricky. You cannot dilute vinegar into a lot of fresh water and then store it, because bacteria will simply consume it, making some CO2 and potentially causing precipitation of calcium carbonate in the reactor".

I guess i need to get over my Calcium Reactor Fear and crank the bugger back up!

Thanks All!

Sara

 

[Horace]

For low nutrient tanks, it is not advised to have Alk over 8.0. I try to keep mine at 7.5 dkh. I keep mine stable via a dual dosing reactor that delivers even dosages of Randy's DIY 2 Part Recipe #1. It keeps the PH up and alk/ca stable. Exactly what you want it to do .

As for plain old baking soda, Im not so sure that will raise your PH. Randy's recipe #2 uses regular baking soda (unbaked) and the calculator says it actually lowers PH. If you bake the baking soda it then will raise PH, that is because it drives off the Co2 in the baking soda that reduces PH. I suggest you hop over to the chemistry forums and talk to Dr. Farley, he will give you any info you need

 

[roons]

i run ozone, why alk not over 8.0 in low nutrient tank?

 

[wbburris]

I would suggest reading the article on mixing vinegar with pickling lime. Vinegar is added to the lime first in the desired concentration, and is then added to RO water. BTW my 400g is having the same alk problem as yours. I am going back to the vinegar method before using baking soda. Good luck.

 

[Lobster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7357094#post7357094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Horace
For low nutrient tanks, it is not advised to have Alk over 8.0.

I've been seeing this a lot recently, but what is the reasoning for it? My replacement saltwater comes out at 11dkH using Instant Ocean; do I need to switch brands?