alk buffer

[quillin35]

my alkalinity is low 7.8 and I need to raise it to 9 what is the best way to do it ? without bring my calcium to low.

 

[tomtom2245]

I would just use an additive like soda ash from BRS. They have a calculator on their website to tell you exactly how much to add based on your system volume. A good rule of thumb is to keep the increase at or below 1dKh per day.

 

[quillin35]

thanks

 

[Jeremiah]

Why do you think alkalinity is low? you are within the natural salt water range.

[TABLE="width: 91%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]

Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Parameter:[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]Reef Aquaria Recommendation:[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]Typical Surface Ocean Value:[SIZE=-1][SUP]1[/SUP][/SIZE][/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Calcium[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]380-450 ppm[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]420
ppm[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Alkalinity[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]2.5-4 meq/L
7-11 dKH
125-200
ppm CaCO[SIZE=-2]3[/SIZE] equivalents[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]2.5 meq/L
7 dKH
125 ppm
CaCO[SIZE=-2]3[/SIZE] equivalents[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Salinity[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]35
ppt
sg = 1.026[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]34-36 ppt
sg =
1.025-1.027[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Temperature[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]76-83° F[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]Variable[SUP]2[/SUP][/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]pH[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]7.8-8.5 OK
8.1-8.3 is
better[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]8.0-8.3 (can be lower or higher in
lagoons) [/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Magnesium[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]1250-1350 ppm[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]1280
ppm[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Phosphate[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]<
0.03 ppm[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]0.005 ppm[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 20%"][SIZE=-1]Ammonia[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"][SIZE=-1]

 

[quillin35]

calcium 460
ph 7.8
mag 1400
alk 7.4 or so
should I just leave it everything is growing great and looks good...

 

[scchase]

I would leave it

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

calcium 460
ph 7.8
mag 1400
alk 7.4 or so
should I just leave it everything is growing great and looks good...

Consistent peram are more important than setting a number and chasing. If everything looks good just try to keep it stable. How are you keeping the calcium and alkalinity currently?

 

[quillin35]

Just weekly water changes

 

[Jeremiah]

Continue with that and just test periodically to make sure that your water changes are keeping up with the needs of the tank...as long as you are in the range i wouldn't worry.

Eventually your tank will have enough growth that you may need to start dosing, I miss the days that I could just do water changes to keep my levels right.

Just weekly water changes

 

[quillin35]

Yeah right now its working my levels stay the same with my water changes it doesnt change. Can i grow sps with those prams?

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

Yeah right now its working my levels stay the same with my water changes it doesnt change. Can i grow sps with those prams?

Sps will do fine with those params. Once they start growing you'll need to supplement to keep them.

 

[jda123]

Sodium Carbonate is sold as washing soda at the grocery store. Sodium Bicarbonate is the same thing as baking soda - it will drop your PH a bit (for like a few hours) as it releases some CO2, but you can bake it at 450 for a few hours and drive off all the CO2 and then it becomes Sodium Carbonate. Both washing soda and baking soda are food grade. There is no need, ever, to buy something made especially for the reef, IMO.

I just use baking soda if I need anything. Cheap, easy and effective.

 

[SynDen]

Agree that you should leave it as that is very near NSW levels. I personally keep mine around the 7-8.0 level and the corals couldnt be happier with it. I used to keep it around 9 but since leaving it at about 7 things have really started to take off in the tank, and I have a mixed reef with many sps and lps