Alkalinity

MattCarm · 03/11/2010, 11:52 PM

Alkalinity makes little to no sense to me. I've read all the stickys and whatnot but I still can't wrap my head around how to control it.

All of the other parameters in my tank are alright but my alk is low:
Temp: 78.6
pH: 8.0-8.2
Salinity: 1.025
Nitrate: 0
Calcium: 450ppm
etc.

but my Alk is 7. I use Red Sea Coral Pro salt, and when it is mixed w/ water it comes out to 7. How do I go about raising alk?

I'm just really confused

Shane Hoffman · 03/12/2010, 12:02 AM

I use kalkwasser mixed in 5 gallon buckets to keep mine up. IMO 7 isnt that god awful bad though. I am not to sure I would be stressing over that. I mix up 5 gallons of kalkwasser at a time. I keep the 5 gallon bucket on a table in my basment. Whenever I need top off water I stick a hose in the kalkwasser bucket and siphon it into a bucket on the ground. When you mix a 5 gallon bucket of kalkwasser you have to let it sit seveeral hours before using it. When there is a thin crust on top it is ready. On the bottom will be a fine layer of precipitated or un absorbable kalk. You want the water between the bottom layer and the top crust. I stick my siphon hose in all the way til I am 2 inches off the bottom of the bucket then siphon down til I cant get anymore water. The to[ crust layer will stay in tact through out the siphoning process as long as you dont move your hose all over the place. I have found this to be the cheapest easiest method for me. You can get 2 part solution from BRS also. You can also set up a kalkwasser ato. this keeps my dkh around 9 to 11. If you do it like I do when you mix up a new batch I do NOT rinse the bucket I just mix up the precipitate and the crust into the new water with a new dose of kalkwasser powder and the process starts all over again.

Michael · 03/12/2010, 12:31 AM

if all params are right, but alk low then some baked baking soda added to the water will raise the alk level, usually though for low alk you have high calcium and an unsteady magnesium level, if your using red sea and keep calcium around 400-420, and mag around 1300 ish or 1350 then alk should stabilise around 8-9 imo, but if it does get low and 7 is actually ok then bake some baking soda.

rogersb · 03/12/2010, 10:58 AM

I was having the same problem with the same salt. I made my own alk mix by adding about 2 1/4 cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of water. I got it from an article in reefkeeping. I use a plastic syringe and dose as needed.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/12/2010, 12:03 PM

What confuses you exactly?

Corals and other organsims and processes use it, and you need to replace it somehow.

Baking soda is a fine way, if that is all you want to raise. But 7 dKH is also fine and you need do nothing right away.

This shows how much to use:

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

This has more on why you need it:

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

03/11/2010, 11:52 PM	#1
MattCarm Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 13	Alkalinity Alkalinity makes little to no sense to me. I've read all the stickys and whatnot but I still can't wrap my head around how to control it. All of the other parameters in my tank are alright but my alk is low: Temp: 78.6 pH: 8.0-8.2 Salinity: 1.025 Nitrate: 0 Calcium: 450ppm etc. but my Alk is 7. I use Red Sea Coral Pro salt, and when it is mixed w/ water it comes out to 7. How do I go about raising alk? I'm just really confused

03/12/2010, 12:02 AM	#2
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	I use kalkwasser mixed in 5 gallon buckets to keep mine up. IMO 7 isnt that god awful bad though. I am not to sure I would be stressing over that. I mix up 5 gallons of kalkwasser at a time. I keep the 5 gallon bucket on a table in my basment. Whenever I need top off water I stick a hose in the kalkwasser bucket and siphon it into a bucket on the ground. When you mix a 5 gallon bucket of kalkwasser you have to let it sit seveeral hours before using it. When there is a thin crust on top it is ready. On the bottom will be a fine layer of precipitated or un absorbable kalk. You want the water between the bottom layer and the top crust. I stick my siphon hose in all the way til I am 2 inches off the bottom of the bucket then siphon down til I cant get anymore water. The to[ crust layer will stay in tact through out the siphoning process as long as you dont move your hose all over the place. I have found this to be the cheapest easiest method for me. You can get 2 part solution from BRS also. You can also set up a kalkwasser ato. this keeps my dkh around 9 to 11. If you do it like I do when you mix up a new batch I do NOT rinse the bucket I just mix up the precipitate and the crust into the new water with a new dose of kalkwasser powder and the process starts all over again. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

03/12/2010, 12:31 AM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	if all params are right, but alk low then some baked baking soda added to the water will raise the alk level, usually though for low alk you have high calcium and an unsteady magnesium level, if your using red sea and keep calcium around 400-420, and mag around 1300 ish or 1350 then alk should stabilise around 8-9 imo, but if it does get low and 7 is actually ok then bake some baking soda. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

03/12/2010, 12:03 PM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	What confuses you exactly? Corals and other organsims and processes use it, and you need to replace it somehow. Baking soda is a fine way, if that is all you want to raise. But 7 dKH is also fine and you need do nothing right away. This shows how much to use: Reef chemicals calculator http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html This has more on why you need it: The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/12/2010, 10:58 AM	#4
rogersb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: white haven Posts: 1,135	I was having the same problem with the same salt. I made my own alk mix by adding about 2 1/4 cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of water. I got it from an article in reefkeeping. I use a plastic syringe and dose as needed.