Alk dosing

[HUNTER01975]

ok so my tank is running about 7.0 on the alk with no dosing and i have been using brightwell 8.3 to bring it up to 8.0-9.0
My goal is to bring it up to 11.0 and to keep it stable there.

I am thinking about going baking soda route. any advise?

my question is can I mix it in with my ato water?

I have 15 gallon ato tote I have a mj400 running in there all the time to keep water turning and I have a mj 600 to transfer water to the sump. The water enters the sump where the skimmers is so it has to go pretty much the whole sump before getting pumped into the tank.


cal is @ 480-520

mag is @ 1380-1420


yes I run ro/di water and I use seachem reef salt.


salt @ 35 ppm


thanks for your help..

 

[DTECH07]

If I'm right using straight baked soda will require you to use a lot to get a small rise, meaning if your Ph is say 7.2 you'll use more baking soda than if you use Kalk or Pickling Lime or Soda Ash from BRS. Unless you bake (in the oven turning it into Soda Ash) this will make the baked soda more potent. But with all that work just buy the BRS Soda Ash or run Kalk, I use Mrs Wages Pickling Lime
Here's a good read on it also:
Dosing baking soda for alkalinity - Water Chemistry - Nano-Reef.com Forums
And
Chemistry And The Aquarium: Solving Calcium And Alkalinity Problems — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

 

[NanaReefer]

I've been using Kalkwasser in my ATO, 3tbs per 5g of RO/DI, for the last month and my ALK has been a very steady 9.2
I took the easy route, just add and mix then let settle for 24hrs. No cooking required


Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

 

[DTECH07]

You would only need to cook Baken Soda not Kalkwasser. Kalkwasser is already prepared but as you said you have to find out how much your tank is absorbing to know exactly how much you'll need to add.

 

[HUNTER01975]

The tank is using about 1.5 dkh per day.

So I mixed up some baking soda and ro/di water last night. 2.5 table spoons in about 3/4 of a quart of water. Then added about 3/4 of a cup to the tank after it had sat and cleared. I test the water a hour or so later. It bumpped the ALK up to 10.5 so I will test when I get home today after work then maybe dose a little more if needed or just let it run if it is still at 10.5
I know thats a pretty big jump to do in one day so I plan on going a little slower tonight I did not think it would have that strong of a affect..
I used unbaked soda..

 

[DTECH07]

10.5 is good but you so want to monitor your other parameters Ca, Mag, to ensure your maintaining a balance between the three Ca, ALK, Mag I would also keep a eye on your salinity to ensure it stays stable or low meaning 1.23~1.26. You will probably see your corals start to grow but once you get the parameters maintaining a stable levels is what's key. Post your results as you progress.

 

[HUNTER01975]

cal is 480
ph is 8.0
mag tested a month ago was 1380
salt is 35ppm

i need to buy a mag test so i can test at home. I go to the LF to get a mag test.

 

[DTECH07]

Hunter in sent you a PM, hope it helps.

 

[-=dieseldave=-]

Hunter1975,

Baking soda with raise your Alk just fine, it will slightly dip the PH. You need to use a calculator so you know how much to dose to get the level you want. You should not increase the DKH more than 1.4 in 24hours it causes stress to corals and fish. Find out how much water your ato is adding to the tank a day. Then add the baking soda to the ato container to keep you levels stable. I'm not sure why you want to go over 9dkh but thats your thing. 7.5-8.5dkh is what I prefer, close to seawater.