Alk not raising and clumpy sand
- Thread starter sk8elenex92
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sk8elenex92
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You think not enough????. Calculator says 1.5 fl oz to raise .5 DKH for a 130 gallon. I don't even think I have 130 gallons of water. I should have seen some type of rise in ALK after dosing that. It tested exactly the same just 2 hrs before.
I probably put a little more than 1.5fl oz. Im so scared to dose more. So people say 1dkh in one day. In what amount of time can I dose all that in. hour, two, 3,4.......
I probably put a little more than 1.5fl oz. Im so scared to dose more. So people say 1dkh in one day. In what amount of time can I dose all that in. hour, two, 3,4.......
Try a very small amount of baking soda. Use that calculator. For 45 gallons 1 teaspoon raises one whole dKH.
Kalk never raised mine, but that's because it took 1 gallon of DI water to dissolve only 1 teaspoon of it. 1 tsp of baking soda will dissolve in 1 cup of water.
Kalk never raised mine, but that's because it took 1 gallon of DI water to dissolve only 1 teaspoon of it. 1 tsp of baking soda will dissolve in 1 cup of water.
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sk8elenex92
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What do you mean? The solution I made was from baking soda. Made a whole gallon using Randy's recipe 1. Just made it a week or so ago.
Could the high mag be causing it not to raise at all?
Could the high mag be causing it not to raise at all?
Jimbo
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What are you using to test your Alk ? Have you checked your result against another test kit? I would never make any drastic changes to your Alk without double or even triple checking your test results.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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It is just being used up and the reproducibility/precision of the kit is not allowing you to see any rise.
As long as you made the solution correctly, it cannot "not" raise the alkalinity.
As long as you made the solution correctly, it cannot "not" raise the alkalinity.
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sk8elenex92
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This is so frustrating. I am going to the LFS today to get it checked again and possibly pick up some other ALK additive. They will just give me some for free just enough to dose for the night and then retest.
I do not believe I can be dropping .6 right after dosing. Very strange.
I do not believe I can be dropping .6 right after dosing. Very strange.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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You aren't, unless you are adding it so fast to a low flow area the you get precipitation. It is dropping over time. No mystery, really (IMO).
Do not try to overintrepret test results. They are often not reliable enough for fine distinctions.
Forget the recipe you made. Something is wrong.
Do this:
Get 1 liter of top up water. Add 7.4 grams of baking soda to it. Mix it in the water. Pour 1/3 of this into your sump. Wait 15 minutes. Pour another 1/3. Wait 15 minutes. Then pour in the rest. Wait another 15 minites. Test alklainity. your alklainity should be 7.5dkh from 7dkh.
Or:
1.135 grams of baking soda in 1 gallon of pure water = 10dkh. Check your kit (may not work with hanna). If you dont have a scale, ask a pharmacist to weigh out the baking soda.
Or:
Make a batch of saltwater @ 35ppt. Whats the alk?
Do this:
Get 1 liter of top up water. Add 7.4 grams of baking soda to it. Mix it in the water. Pour 1/3 of this into your sump. Wait 15 minutes. Pour another 1/3. Wait 15 minutes. Then pour in the rest. Wait another 15 minites. Test alklainity. your alklainity should be 7.5dkh from 7dkh.
Or:
1.135 grams of baking soda in 1 gallon of pure water = 10dkh. Check your kit (may not work with hanna). If you dont have a scale, ask a pharmacist to weigh out the baking soda.
Or:
Make a batch of saltwater @ 35ppt. Whats the alk?
Maybe that's why your sand is clumping low flow = more co2 in turn dissolves sand causing clumping of sand same way a calcium rx works which will raise your ca and lower your alk if precipitating. Try adding more flow and less dead spots around sand which also causes red slime.
What was your ph at the time you started dosing?
What was your ph at the time you started dosing?
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sk8elenex92
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Alrightyyyy.. So Yesterday I had to dose 4.2 Fl OZ to raise it .6 - .7dkh. Should be 3floz for 1dkh Tested after and it came out to 7.7. Woo. That is way more then what the calculator came out to. I am choosing 130 gallon. I am not even sure if i have 130 gallon. 120 Gallon tank plus about 20 gallons in sump, Minus all the rock and water. I was estimating 130 gallons.. anyway. I tested again this morning and it came out the same 7.7
I am pretty positive I did exactly as recipe 1 says. I have a scale, so I weighed all the baking soda to what randy says, and then baked it.. Who knows. AGH.. unless the tank magically fixed it self over a week. I should have seen some type of jump in alk all the other times. If the tank was just using it that fast I except my test tonight to come out to 7.1 7.2 again if its getting used that quick.. guess well see.
Cory I tested my mixed salt and it was at 9.2ish.
I also do not think i have a lack of flow. I have 2 RW8's plus a Gyre 150. When I start dosing ph is about 8.2
I am pretty positive I did exactly as recipe 1 says. I have a scale, so I weighed all the baking soda to what randy says, and then baked it.. Who knows. AGH.. unless the tank magically fixed it self over a week. I should have seen some type of jump in alk all the other times. If the tank was just using it that fast I except my test tonight to come out to 7.1 7.2 again if its getting used that quick.. guess well see.
Cory I tested my mixed salt and it was at 9.2ish.
I also do not think i have a lack of flow. I have 2 RW8's plus a Gyre 150. When I start dosing ph is about 8.2
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Just keep adding if you want it higher, but 7.7 dKH is fine. 
