Dosing Alk supplement question

[saltfishlover]

The salt i use, Oceani, sometimes mixes high calcium and low alk. I know the history but this salt has been good to me until now. I recently noticed Ca well over 500 and my alk was down to 6. this was fresh mix too. So i was wondering if any ill affects would happen if i just dosed my 2 part dosing of Ca and Alk to raise alk. Soi would not dose equal amounts as suggested just the Alk bottle. Hope this makes sense.

 

[DonW]

Although it does make sense to want to dose alk, at 500 the salt IMO is worthless. The precip damage is just not worth it. Test the mg also you'll probably find that its through the roof also. Most of us tried it when it first came out and our tanks are much happier without it.
To answer your question. Yes you can just dose alk.

Don

 

[burning2nd]

check out tropic marin, and sell your dose'n equipment will probly make it self up in cost diffrence

 

[saltfishlover]

yea i plAN ON CHANGING SALT WHEN THIS IS GONE. PROLLY GO WITH IO

 

[mmkeeper]

Why doses both part you only want to raise the alk. correct?

 

[DonW]

check out tropic marin, and sell your dose'n equipment will probly make it self up in cost diffrence

Hu! I dont get it. Explain

Don

 

[returnofsid]

I would leave your Ca alone, dose Alk to the level you want. Check Ca until it's balanced with Alk and then go from there.

 

[saltfishlover]

and ican do this with baking soda?

 

[scytale]

Absolutely, baking soda dissolved in a jug of RO/DI water and then dosed slowly (to prevent a ph drop) is great way to help set your target ALK level....

This is a great tool to help you figure out exactly how much chemical to use:

http://reef.diesyst.com/

 

[returnofsid]

I'd suggest checking your pH first. There are two ways to use baking soda. One is to bake the baking soda first to drive off any moisture in it. The other way, you don't bake. They have very different effects on pH. You also use different amounts of baking soda, depending on which way you go. Check this out for further info.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

[plack]

Just for info :

Baked baking soda at say 300º F for 1 hour will raise your PH
Plain Baking soda will initally lower your ph

I'd vote for you to use reef crystals made by instant ocean
you dont have to add calcium to bring it up and the alk is fine to me !!

 

[sc18702]

what are the effects if calcium too high ? Mine seems to be around 550 ppm and I don"t even dose but occassionally add "purple up". Also, is water hardness the same as alkalinity ? My test strips say "water hardness" and not alkalinity. Also, anyone know the impact when water hardness is at the high end of the test scale ?

 

[DonW]

what are the effects if calcium too high ? Mine seems to be around 550 ppm and I don"t even dose but occassionally add "purple up". Also, is water hardness the same as alkalinity ? My test strips say "water hardness" and not alkalinity. Also, anyone know the impact when water hardness is at the high end of the test scale ?

Here is a article to read.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php

Stop using the purple up.

Don

 

[returnofsid]

Ditch the Purple Up!!! High Ca can result in precipitation. The Ca, reaches a point where it is too high to stay dissolved and it re-solidifies in the water. It'll coat everything in a white dust. Once the Ca levels fall below a certain level, it'll dissolve again.

I hope I'm explaining this correctly...lol.

The reason I say Ditch the Purple Up is because there's much more proven methods to promote Coralline growth. Balanced Ca and Alk are your best bets. Also, Purple Up has stuff in it that accumulates in your tank and can eventually cause unhealthy levels. Not to mention throwing your Ca/Alk balance out of whack.

 

[returnofsid]

Don, you're too quick...lol. Did I explain it correctly? Listen to Don, he knows his stuff!!!

 

[sc18702]

I'll take that advice as I have read recently a number of similar opinions. How about "hard water" ? effect ? treatment ?

 

[DonW]

I'll take that advice as I have read recently a number of similar opinions. How about "hard water" ? effect ? treatment ?

Hard water = water with excess minerals
Effect = Precipitation
Treatment = Water Changes


Don

 

[scytale]

I'll take that advice as I have read recently a number of similar opinions. How about "hard water" ? effect ? treatment ?

"Hard water" in the tank, or hard water from the faucet?

(if water from the faucet) Treatment = RO/DI Filter

 

[sc18702]

I tested the tank water but I only use a water filter cartridge from my LFS not an Ro/DI filter. I need to test the water before it goes into the tank to check the reading.

 

[scytale]

You got it!
(because if your top-off or WC water is already "hard" to begin with.... then no amount of water changes will bring your tank level down....)