Help raising Alk

[JonBoy]

So i descovered my alk was at 5 Dkh so i started dosing using BRS soda ash and it was going well ph went from 8.1 to 8.3 and i got it to 7 dkh over a couple days but now it doesnt seem to want to go anymore. Its hard to dose when im working all day but the ph has gone up to 8.5 and the alk hasnt gone up anymore. The BRS calculator says that i would need 350ish ml to get 180gal to my 10 dkh target. Since i got it to 7 i've dosed 120 ml over the past 3 days and nothing. Last i checked cal was at 400 and mag was at 1250 if that helps.

[NoobtoSalt]

when and how much of a water change have you done recently?

[rgrcrain]

BRS also makes something that raises the ALK but not the PH. I need it too, I'm dosing and staying around 9 or 10 but my PH goes from 8.35 at night to 8.48 during the day.

[JonBoy]

I did 25 gal 2 weeks ago

 

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[lewisriverfisherman]

the BRS Sodium bicarbonate will not raise the ph only the alkalinity.

[ReeFit]

So i descovered my alk was at 5 Dkh so i started dosing using BRS soda ash and it was going well ph went from 8.1 to 8.3 and i got it to 7 dkh over a couple days but now it doesnt seem to want to go anymore. Its hard to dose when im working all day but the ph has gone up to 8.5 and the alk hasnt gone up anymore. The BRS calculator says that i would need 350ish ml to get 180gal to my 10 dkh target. Since i got it to 7 i've dosed 120 ml over the past 3 days and nothing. Last i checked cal was at 400 and mag was at 1250 if that helps.

 

120ml is only 4 oz. Dosing by the calculator is based on no coral load. I have a 120 gallon frag tank full of sps and i dose 3 oz a day just to keep it the same level.

[Lowman]

Did you know you can save a ton of money on the bicarbonate and use Arm and Hammer baking soda?

[Rick]

Yep, I bought a large box box of baking soda and then spread it out on a cookie sheet and baked it at 350 (If I recall right) for an hour or so. Been using that same box for a year or more now. (Since I started using Kalk I seldom ever need it anymore)

[JonBoy]

Thanks for the input, between some ideas i got off RC and the help from baking soda and BRS I've got all my parameters where i want them, PH 8.3, KH 9, Cal 420, and mag 1300 now to just keep them there lol

[Harold B]

I also use sodium bicarb somthing like kent superbuffer and it will raise alk up endlessly leaveing PH at 8.3

[impur]

Baking soda will cause the pH to dip slightly, so that would be best to dose in your case.

 

 

I also use baking soda along with kalk in my ATO. Like Rick said, bake 2.25 cups for an hour or so at 300 to drive off CO2 then mix with 1 gal of RO. I dose about 1/2 a cup a week.

 

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#5

[Beckie]

Newbie question, If one makes weekly,bi-weeky water changes what drives the Alk down? My cal, mag and ph stay fine but Alk drops.

 

Beckie

[Smann]

This may help, from WWM. Always there for everyone to read

 

Alkalinity depletion is caused sometimes by the misapplication of calcium supplements and/or a lack of water changes. It occurs naturally, as stated, from the neutralization of acids and removal of carbonates for calcification primarily. Ironically, it is obvious to aquarists that corals need calcium to grow, but carbonates are often ignored. Calcium supplements are some of the first and only products that many aquarists use for reef invertebrates culture. It is often forgotten, however, that coral skeletons are comprised of calcium carbonate. Calcium additions without balanced carbonate additions are about as useless as the keys to one thousand cars in an empty parking lot. And so, misinformed aquarists may continue to dose calcium without noticing any significant growth among corals in the collection (and in observance of an alkalinity that continues to fall). To some extent, an imbalance between free calcium and carbonate levels is natural, although unfriendly at times to successful reef aquariology. Grossly stated, high alkalinity and high calcium levels are mutually exclusive. Simply stated, seawater can only hold so many dissolved solids. As alkalinity increases (the levels of carbonates and bicarbonates) there is less "room" for the saturation of other dissolved elements such as calcium.

[lewisriverfisherman]

corals use up alk for growth, i will lose 1 point of alk a day in my tank.

[grassi]

7 is not bad, actually you are at the same level as natural sea water.

Be sure that your alk kit is working well.

[impur]

Newbie question, If one makes weekly,bi-weeky water changes what drives the Alk down? My cal, mag and ph stay fine but Alk drops.

 

Beckie

 

What is the alk in the new water?