Need help raising Alkalinity from 6.1 DKH

Jyetman · 02/10/2014, 04:38 PM

My API test kit reads 7.5 DKH and always thought it was fine until I took a sample to the LFS last Friday. Their Salifert shows it at 6.1 DKH they told me to raise the ALK. So I have some five year old Seachem Reef Builder which raises carbonates. I followed the directions for top off. It states for top offs use t=0.05va (t=teaspoon to add to top off water, v=volume of tank in gallons, a=amount to raise alk in meq L)

So what I did was for 80 gallon tank I put 4 Teaspoons into a six gallon bucket of RO. It has been dripping for three days now. This morning I tested the ALK and my API kit still reads 7.5 DKH why? I added another teaspoon to the remaining top off water tested five hours later its still not going up? What am I doing wrong?

My other parameters are:

Salinity : 1.026 (Red Sea Coral Pro Salt)
PH : 8.1
CAL : 480
Phos : 0
Nitrate : 0

downbeach · 02/10/2014, 04:57 PM

It might be prudent to get a better test kit before doing any more dosing. Red Sea Pro has a kit containing all three; Ca, Mg and Alk that won't break the bank, and is reasonably accurate.

ska d · 02/10/2014, 05:09 PM

If you go back and read your own post, something will jump out at you. Give you a hint. You could probably dump the whole bottle in with little affect. Also, Google reef chemistry calculator.

Jerzey · 02/10/2014, 05:14 PM

reef calculator is perfect for knowing how much to dose alk, ca, and mg... it's self explanatory and has a list of common dosing products http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

Jyetman · 02/10/2014, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ska d

If you go back and read your own post, something will jump out at you. Give you a hint. You could probably dump the whole bottle in with little affect. Also, Google reef chemistry calculator.

Are you referring to the constant 7.5 test reading as the problem?

Jyetman · 02/10/2014, 05:21 PM

I have another smaller reef tank and just did a ALK test with the same kit. This tank reads 9.5 DKH so I'm figuring the kit is ok.

bertoni · 02/11/2014, 10:38 PM

A lot of tanks consume 2-3 dKH per day, so you probably just need to add more supplement. I'd try adding 1 dKH or so in one shot, using baking soda, and then test the tank after 10 minutes or so.

02/10/2014, 04:38 PM	#1
Jyetman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,712	Need help raising Alkalinity from 6.1 DKH My API test kit reads 7.5 DKH and always thought it was fine until I took a sample to the LFS last Friday. Their Salifert shows it at 6.1 DKH they told me to raise the ALK. So I have some five year old Seachem Reef Builder which raises carbonates. I followed the directions for top off. It states for top offs use t=0.05va (t=teaspoon to add to top off water, v=volume of tank in gallons, a=amount to raise alk in meq L) So what I did was for 80 gallon tank I put 4 Teaspoons into a six gallon bucket of RO. It has been dripping for three days now. This morning I tested the ALK and my API kit still reads 7.5 DKH why? I added another teaspoon to the remaining top off water tested five hours later its still not going up? What am I doing wrong? My other parameters are: Salinity : 1.026 (Red Sea Coral Pro Salt) PH : 8.1 CAL : 480 Phos : 0 Nitrate : 0 Last edited by Jyetman; 02/10/2014 at 04:44 PM.

02/10/2014, 05:14 PM	#4
Jerzey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Cape may, New jersey Posts: 375	reef calculator is perfect for knowing how much to dose alk, ca, and mg... it's self explanatory and has a list of common dosing products http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html __________________ 54g corner BB, 30g acrylic sump, SRO 1000 int skimmer, Jebao dual controller WP25+(2)WP10, dim4, DIY (142w) cree led(142w)/t5(96w) hybrid fixture, refugium, media reactor, ATO, 70lbsLR, mixed reef

02/11/2014, 10:38 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A lot of tanks consume 2-3 dKH per day, so you probably just need to add more supplement. I'd try adding 1 dKH or so in one shot, using baking soda, and then test the tank after 10 minutes or so. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/10/2014, 04:57 PM	#2
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	It might be prudent to get a better test kit before doing any more dosing. Red Sea Pro has a kit containing all three; Ca, Mg and Alk that won't break the bank, and is reasonably accurate.

02/10/2014, 05:09 PM	#3
ska d Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: toronto Posts: 508	If you go back and read your own post, something will jump out at you. Give you a hint. You could probably dump the whole bottle in with little affect. Also, Google reef chemistry calculator.

02/10/2014, 05:21 PM	#6
Jyetman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,712	I have another smaller reef tank and just did a ALK test with the same kit. This tank reads 9.5 DKH so I'm figuring the kit is ok.