How Raise the Alkalinity

[Jen30]

Alkalinity 7.00
Ph 7.8
This is the numbers I want to know how to raise the alkalinity and PH?

 

[tike]

Whats your calcium reading? You can raise alk by using a 2 part dosing solutions. What time of the day did you measure pH? What salt are you using? These answers can better help us with your problem.

 

[Jen30]

Whats your calcium reading? You can raise alk by using a 2 part dosing solutions. What time of the day did you measure pH? What salt are you using? These answers can better help us with your problem.

Calcium 460 I measure on the evening like 6 o 7pm and I used Instants Ocean purple color thank you

 

[NanaReefer]

Are you mixing to 1.025 or 1.026?

 

[Jen30]

Are you mixing to 1.025 or 1.026?

Mixing to 1.025

 

[tike]

I.O runs on the low side for alk. You will need to dose it to get it around 8-9 dKh

 

[Jen30]

I.O runs on the low side for alk. You will need to dose it to get it around 8-9 dKh

I'm sorry but what is this I.O??

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
IO is short for Instant Ocean brand of salt mix.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[Jen30]

Hello,
IO is short for Instant Ocean brand of salt mix.

Regards,
Kevin

Ok thank you!

 

[rayjay]

First thing to do is to take a water sample from the tank and place it outdoors with aeration for an hour or two.
If the pH reading improves even by .1 from before aeration and after aeration you have a gas exchange problem.
IMO, an alk reading of 7 should not by itself be a problem for pH.
You can have an even higher alk reading, but if the gas exchange at the surface is insufficient then it is not going to solve a low pH problem.
Solution then would be to get more turmoil of the water's surface, and/or get less CO2 laden air to the surface from perhaps an outside source.
This problem is exacerbated in situations where the home is shut up (windows closed) for heating reasons or for air conditioning reasons.
If you find alk is insufficient to control the pH, you can buy ordinary baking soda and add some dissolved mix to the tank which will initially lower the pH but shortly after the pH should rise again.
I prefer to bake the baking soda at 300°F for an hour (it makes washing soda) and then with that mix, the initial pH will rise first and then settle back to what you need, assuming it is the problem.

 

[Jen30]

First thing to do is to take a water sample from the tank and place it outdoors with aeration for an hour or two.
If the pH reading improves even by .1 from before aeration and after aeration you have a gas exchange problem.
IMO, an alk reading of 7 should not by itself be a problem for pH.
You can have an even higher alk reading, but if the gas exchange at the surface is insufficient then it is not going to solve a low pH problem.
Solution then would be to get more turmoil of the water's surface, and/or get less CO2 laden air to the surface from perhaps an outside source.
This problem is exacerbated in situations where the home is shut up (windows closed) for heating reasons or for air conditioning reasons.
If you find alk is insufficient to control the pH, you can buy ordinary baking soda and add some dissolved mix to the tank which will initially lower the pH but shortly after the pH should rise again.
I prefer to bake the baking soda at 300°F for an hour (it makes washing soda) and then with that mix, the initial pH will rise first and then settle back to what you need, assuming it is the problem.

Ok thank you so much and yes my tank is close to Window and i have my Window closed..

 

[NanaReefer]

Or you could just buy BulkReefSupplys 2part and by using their reef calculator dose accordingly...easy peezy

 

[rayjay]

Additives are NOT the answer if gas exchange is insufficient.
I should have also mentioned that as the calcium is already sufficient, a two part addition is not needed, just the alk part IF ACTUALLY NEEDED.
In that case, the baking soda works just fine is is cheaper than commercial buying.

 

[Jen30]

Additives are NOT the answer if gas exchange is insufficient.
I should have also mentioned that as the calcium is already sufficient, a two part addition is not needed, just the alk part IF ACTUALLY NEEDED.
In that case, the baking soda works just fine is is cheaper than commercial buying.

how much baking soda I need to used for 120 gallons tank? In case of I do it

 

[NanaReefer]

Increase your tank surface agitation

 

[rayjay]

how much baking soda I need to used for 120 gallons tank? In case of I do it

Every tank is different so you have to experiment until you see how much is needed. Obviously best to do smaller amounts until you find out what your tank has need of.
AGAIN THOUGH, don't do it unless you find it isn't going to be helped by proper gas exchange.

 

[NanaReefer]

Best reads concerning the relationship between calcium, alkalinity and PH. According to the expert Randy Holmes-Farley
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

 

[tike]

What I would do first is.......mix up a batch of saltwater, test that for pH, alk and cal...magnesium if you have the test, and match that with the readings from your tank. Post the readings here and then we will all go from there.

 

[Jen30]

Every tank is different so you have to experiment until you see how much is needed. Obviously best to do smaller amounts until you find out what your tank has need of.
AGAIN THOUGH, don't do it unless you find it isn't going to be helped by proper gas exchange.

Ok thank you so much!

 

[Jen30]

What I would do first is.......mix up a batch of saltwater, test that for pH, alk and cal...magnesium if you have the test, and match that with the readings from your tank. Post the readings here and then we will all go from there.

Ok thank you!!!!