AmySC Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 My tank looks fine, but when I test my water it reads a lower alkalinity then it should. I'm wondering what I need to do to raise the alkalinity in my water. I have been adding super buffer dkh to the water, but it doesn't seem to help much. Please give me some advice. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef-fisher Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 can you drip Kalk? Milk jug, some airline tubing and pickling lime.. Whatever you do, go slow. you dont wat to shock the system with an overload Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadReefer Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 How low is lower than it should be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 What are you useing to test it with? and how low is low? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Baking soda would be an acceptable way to raise Alk. Double check your test kit. Some of the tests can go bad with age and give you a false reading. Whatever the solution you find, go slow to not shock your animals. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Hmm if you are adding superbuffer dKH and are not seeing any increase in alk you have a problem. The first thing is to have your test kit double checked. Take some water to a LFS and see if they can test for you. Next, how much of the superbuffer are you adding? If i need to boost alk, i also use kent superbuffer dKH and add about 2 teaspoons to my 75gal. I have found that will raise my alk about 1dKH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 agreed with above, what is low? baking soda will raise alk without raising ca, but if you need to raise both, kalk drip can do so, but slowly. dont expect to use kalk to adjust in a couple days, do it over a week or two. here is a calculator by Randy Holmes-Farley, the Reef Chemistry MASTER. Put in the volume, and the supplement you are using to adjust. http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Of course, I don't have a strange internet relationship with Randy Holmes-Farley like some people do (nono) (a good link, I must grudgingly admit). I use two test kits when I get an unusual result. I would bring alk up slowly with buffer and then stabalize with a balanced two part or use Kalk. Give us some more info and we will solve this for you, even if you don't want us to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanmike01 Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I dont mean to hijack this thread but i have the same problem. I just tested my RODI ATO water and it has a dkh of 2 does anybody think this is a problem or more specificly the source? I cant seem to get the tank above 7-8 dkh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanmike01 Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Sorry Amysc i just figured we have the same problem so all angles and information will benifit both of us. Kind of like brainstorming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 brainstorming is always good....isnt' it?(scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 RODI water needs to be aerated/buffered prior to introduction into the tank because RODI water has no/little buffering ability. You are adding to the problem by not doing so, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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