Low Alk

[hiimsean]

I'll admit it's been a while since I've tested my tank. Corals have looked very good since I swapped tanks, good PE on SPS and growth, LPS look very happy. So today I did some testing since I'm going to be adding a CA reactor soon.

nitrates - 0
nitrites - 0
ammonia - 0
pH - 8.11 at the time of testing via Apex probe
sg - 1.027
temp - 78
ca - 415
mg - 1450
alk - 6.5

Up until recently my pH has been 8.2-8.0 on a 24hr cycle. When it started getting warmer the pH has been 7.9-8.1 on a 24hr cycle. Based on this I assume my alk has/is dropping a bit. Like I said I haven't tested in a while so I'm not sure what my initial levels were but I will contiune to monitor the alk and check at different times of the day. I last did a waterchange about 10days ago so I'll check it out before my next change.

Is my alk being at 6.5 an issue? Everything seems very happy. It will be a few weeks until I get the reactor going and I have been thinking of adding kalk to my ATO to help bump my pH and alk.

 

[heathlindner25]

I would slowly raise it to 8.0 or whatever you like to maintain it at.

 

[acroholic]

Raise it up to 8 at least, preferably 9. Very little buffering capacity available at 6.5. Bottom could drop out of it easily at that level.

 

[hiimsean]

I've been researching and it looks like baking soda/soda ash will be my best bet since CA is in a good place. Any of you guys have experience dosing this?

 

[chefrepo]

That's all I used to use. I got a great deal on a big container of the BRS soda ash from another member so I am currently using that but when it's gone I will go back to baking soda.

I just used the recipe from Randy Holmes Farley. It mixes well. And it's a very cost effective alternative. That's the best part.

 

[hiimsean]

I've been reading that putting baking soda in the oven at 350* for an hour or so will give you soda ash

 

[heathlindner25]

I use seachem "reef builder"

 

[chefrepo]

HiImSean;951124 wrote: I've been reading that putting baking soda in the oven at 350* for an hour or so will give you soda ash

Yep. About 2 1/4 cups of baking soda makes a gallon of Alk.

 

[hiimsean]

Do you recommend putting it in my ATO water?

 

[declanisadog]

I add it directly to my sump daily. It's the same as the Alk part of 2-part

 

[bulkrate]

Alright, I'm officially confused... I thought you used baking soda (or Reef Buffer) to raise alk & ph; and soda ash (aka Reef Builder) if your PH was OK but your alkalinity was to low to ensure proper buffering. Not so?

Regardless I'm in HiImSean's boat - nothing but water chemistry issues this winter. But there's practically nothing in my tank that uses CA or alkalinty besides the crabs & fire shrimp, anymore.

 

[declanisadog]

Just because I have this in my desk drawer for some reason...

>

class="gc-images" title="ImageUploadedByTapatalk1398096614.054688.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:400px" /></a>

Doesn't really answer your question, but it says soda ash,2-part, and alkalinity on it

 

[declanisadog]

Baking soda will raise PH and Alk, but is not buffered, therefore it only raises your PH for a short time. If you continue to dose baking soda to raise PH, your Alk will get crazy high...at least that's my understanding. Never really looked into it. I know soda ash is good for Alk only

 

[sewer urchin]

This might help clarify, then again it may raise more questions:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php</a>
[B]Recipe #1[/B] is for use in reef aquaria whose pH is normal to low.
[B]Recipe #2[/B] is for use in reef aquaria whose pH is on the high side (above 8.3 or so)


The difference is baking the baking soda.



oh this helps to get close to the right amount:

[IMG]http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html">http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html</a>

 

[hiimsean]

Well I made up some soda ash and mixed it with some rodi. I'm adding the first part of it to my tank now and will test later tonight and tomorrow before adding more.