Alkalinity Question

ppenza · 03/15/2009, 09:46 PM

Hello- I have a question on water quality. I have a 28 gal JBJ Nano and am having a hard time with Alkalinity. I have a pH of about 8.0 and an Alkalinity over 5.0! Any ideas on how to raise the pH and lowering the alkalinity besides water changes??

Thanks

hamiltonguy · 03/15/2009, 10:01 PM

Hey, first off Welcome to Reef Central. Second, your pH is perfect, and your alkalinity is way too low, should be around 8-11dKH. I'm not exactly sure how to raise it as I've never had an issue since I have no calcium/alk demanding corals. But I'm sure you can use Seachem Carbonate to raise alk but if you do that MAKE SURE you test to see how it's going up AND make sure you get Seachem Calcium as well and test for that also.

I'll let others chime in and fill you in on anything I've missed.

ppenza · 03/15/2009, 10:10 PM

The 5.0 is Alkalinity, not KH. Does that change your answer??

hamiltonguy · 03/15/2009, 10:25 PM

Do you mean its 5.0 meq/L? What test kit are you using? And what is your calcium level?

Also, here are two great articles:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php

MTB · 03/15/2009, 11:22 PM

Are you using tap water or RO/DI? PH is good. 5.0 meq/L alk is about double what you want. Should come down on it's own unless you are topping off with very hard tap water(I had this problem when I started out).

tmz · 03/16/2009, 01:17 AM

8.0 ph is good. I prefer 8.2 to 8.3. 3 .0meq/l to 4.0 meq/l is a good range to shoot for.. To convert meq/l to dkh just multiply by 2.8.

Check your newly mixed salt water for alkalinity and see what you get. Some mixes are high in alk or variable from time to time. BTW. what is your salinity? How are you measuring ph, sg and alkalinity?

longdangler · 03/16/2009, 09:09 AM

along for the ride on this one. I have the exact opposite problem. Ph 8.4 which is fine. alk barely registers on my test kit (red sea). I top off with kalk. I use ro/di water out of a filterguys set up

03/15/2009, 09:46 PM	#1
ppenza Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	Alkalinity Question Hello- I have a question on water quality. I have a 28 gal JBJ Nano and am having a hard time with Alkalinity. I have a pH of about 8.0 and an Alkalinity over 5.0! Any ideas on how to raise the pH and lowering the alkalinity besides water changes?? Thanks

03/15/2009, 10:01 PM	#2
hamiltonguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 906	Hey, first off Welcome to Reef Central. Second, your pH is perfect, and your alkalinity is way too low, should be around 8-11dKH. I'm not exactly sure how to raise it as I've never had an issue since I have no calcium/alk demanding corals. But I'm sure you can use Seachem Carbonate to raise alk but if you do that MAKE SURE you test to see how it's going up AND make sure you get Seachem Calcium as well and test for that also. I'll let others chime in and fill you in on anything I've missed. __________________ Knowledge, the only thing that's cheap in this hobby. Current Tank Info: 75G, RO NW-150 Skimmer, MP40W, MP20, 48" 4x54W TEK light, Mag 9.5, TLF 150 Bio Pellet Reactor, JBJ ATO

03/15/2009, 10:25 PM	#4
hamiltonguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 906	Do you mean its 5.0 meq/L? What test kit are you using? And what is your calcium level? Also, here are two great articles: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php __________________ Knowledge, the only thing that's cheap in this hobby. Current Tank Info: 75G, RO NW-150 Skimmer, MP40W, MP20, 48" 4x54W TEK light, Mag 9.5, TLF 150 Bio Pellet Reactor, JBJ ATO

03/15/2009, 11:22 PM	#5
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	Are you using tap water or RO/DI? PH is good. 5.0 meq/L alk is about double what you want. Should come down on it's own unless you are topping off with very hard tap water(I had this problem when I started out). __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

03/16/2009, 01:17 AM	#6
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	8.0 ph is good. I prefer 8.2 to 8.3. 3 .0meq/l to 4.0 meq/l is a good range to shoot for.. To convert meq/l to dkh just multiply by 2.8. Check your newly mixed salt water for alkalinity and see what you get. Some mixes are high in alk or variable from time to time. BTW. what is your salinity? How are you measuring ph, sg and alkalinity? __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

03/15/2009, 10:10 PM	#3
ppenza Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	The 5.0 is Alkalinity, not KH. Does that change your answer??

03/16/2009, 09:09 AM	#7
longdangler Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Omaha,NE Posts: 224	along for the ride on this one. I have the exact opposite problem. Ph 8.4 which is fine. alk barely registers on my test kit (red sea). I top off with kalk. I use ro/di water out of a filterguys set up