Alkalinity

[dtracy1119]

If my alkalinity is low and my calcium is 380 ppm can I raise alkalinity with baking soda???

 

[homer1475]

Most certainly can!

Google Randy's DIY 2 part for the recipe. Then use this calc to figure out how much to use.
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html

Fill in your water volume, what your current ALK is, then what you want it to be, and it will give you how much to put in.

Just remember not to raise it more then 1dkh a day so you don't cause issues with your corals.

FYI, I would raise the calcium too.

 

[dtracy1119]

Most certainly can!

Google Randy's DIY 2 part for the recipe. Then use this calc to figure out how much to use.
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html

Fill in your water volume, what your current ALK is, then what you want it to be, and it will give you how much to put in.

Just remember not to raise it more then 1dkh a day so you don't cause issues with your corals.

FYI, I would raise the calcium too.

If I were to raise the alkalinity with baking soda can I use Seachem calcium since I already have 2 bottles.

 

[homer1475]

Most certainly.

I use randy's recipe for alk, because baking soda is so cheap, but use BRS bulk calcium chloride for calcium.

 

[dtracy1119]

Most certainly.

I use randy's recipe for alk, because baking soda is so cheap, but use BRS bulk calcium chloride for calcium.

That seems to be the only straight forward calcium chloride out there. Is there a cheaper alternative that you might use?

 

[ryeguyy84]

That seems to be the only straight forward calcium chloride out there. Is there a cheaper alternative that you might use?

Ice melt. It's been a while since I've used it but Preston driveway heat, a 50lb bag would last a lifetime.

 

[SeaDweller]

That seems to be the only straight forward calcium chloride out there. Is there a cheaper alternative that you might use?

I’ve used the “hardness plus” from Leslie’s pool supply, which is 98%+ CaCl in the form of peladow pellets. Search for it.

 

[dtracy1119]

I got my alkalinity to 8.5 without any issues. Corals look 3ven better now. Thanks to all of you who helped me out understand the bond between alk and calcium. I couldn't grasp it. Now I have to dose calcium but waiting until Friday until I get my salifert kit in the mail. Hard to find that kit over here and if you do it's to expensive. From my understanding seachem calcium is just fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I got my alkalinity to 8.5 without any issues. Corals look 3ven better now. Thanks to all of you who helped me out understand the bond between alk and calcium. I couldn't grasp it. Now I have to dose calcium but waiting until Friday until I get my salifert kit in the mail. Hard to find that kit over here and if you do it's to expensive. From my understanding seachem calcium is just fine.

Which Seachem calcium?

Reef Advantage Calcium is ok.

Seachem Reef Calcium (the polygluconate one) is not desirable, IMO. It provides some alkalinity as well, with the amount supplied possibly varying tank to tank (Seachem seems to ignore this despite my alerting them to it years ago). It’s a poorly thought out product, IMO.

 

[dtracy1119]

Which Seachem calcium?

Reef Advantage Calcium is ok.

Seachem Reef Calcium (the polygluconate one) is not desirable, IMO. It provides some alkalinity as well, with the amount supplied possibly varying tank to tank (Seachem seems to ignore this despite my alerting them to it years ago). It’s a poorly thought out product, IMO.

Yes the seachem calcium. I seen on their lable it's for maintaining but not great for big calcium jumps. I might just get the BRS calcium chloride or the ice melt. It's called something driveway heat melter.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes the seachem calcium. I seen on their lable it's for maintaining but not great for big calcium jumps. I might just get the BRS calcium chloride or the ice melt. It's called something driveway heat melter.

It’s not optimal for any purpose, IMO. Don’t believe everything manufacturers claim. Many do not understand their own products.