Aquavitro Balance KOH solution - review and caution

[Biologic]

So a lot of talk and threads on that recent infamous video on the use of KOH in reef tanks. There was a separate thread on the general discussion but here’s a review on a commercial product “Aquavitro Balance”

This isn’t a bash on the product, it works. However, the effect is of course temporary. Do Proceed with caution.

balance™ is an optimized blend of sodium and potassium hydroxides with a NSW ratio (27:1) of sodium to potassium to avoid ionic imbalance with long term use.

For reference purposes only, 5 mL will raise 55 L (15 US gallons) of salt water by about 0.1 pH units.

Which in my case for my 100L experimental system volume, I find this product is stronger, almost 3x stronger on the initial dose. A word of advice, be careful dosing this product. Use half the first dose.

See graph below. The first dose was 10 mL. The following doses were decreased to 5 mL as a result to keep the pH from jumping so quickly. This was done over hours at night.

Also, use gloves, eyewear, and double bag the product, as like how strong drain cleaners are stored, and keep away from children.

I saw no ill effects using the product.

 

[GoVols]

Thanks for the heads up.

FWIW:
We just raise our windows from time to time to get Co2 out of our home.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So a lot of talk and threads on that recent infamous video on the use of KOH in reef tanks. There was a separate thread on the general discussion but here’s a review on a commercial product “Aquavitro Balance”

This isn’t a bash on the product, it works. However, the effect is of course temporary. Do Proceed with caution.



Which in my case for my 100L experimental system volume, I find this product is stronger, almost 3x stronger on the initial dose. A word of advice, be careful dosing this product. Use half the first dose.

See graph below. The first dose was 10 mL. The following doses were decreased to 5 mL as a result to keep the pH from jumping so quickly. This was done over hours at night.

Also, use gloves, eyewear, and double bag the product, as like how strong drain cleaners are stored, and keep away from children.

I saw no ill effects using the product.

What do you mean the first dose?

This product is a high pH alkalinity supplement, like my DIY high pH alk and calcium two part using hydroxide.

DO NOT ACCEPT the chemical stupidity that Aquavitro supplies in claiming it doesn't raise alkalinity.

"Raises pH without affecting calcium and alkalinity"

That is just dumber than dumb. Of course it boosts alkalinity.

Terribly sad that companies continue to promote such hogwash

 

[Biologic]

What do you mean the first dose?

This product is a high pH alkalinity supplement, like my DIY high pH alk and calcium two part using hydroxide.

DO NOT ACCEPT the chemical stupidity that Aquavitro supplies in claiming it doesn't raise alkalinity.

"Raises pH without affecting calcium and alkalinity"

That is just dumber than dumb. Of course it boosts alkalinity.

Terribly sad that companies continue to promote such hogwash

With the first dose of 10 mL to my total 100 L system water volume raised my pH to from 7.80 to 8.07 instantly, a difference of 0.27, when it should have raised it roughly a difference of 0.10 units. Unless my system volume is calculated wrong, which I doubt.

I don't disagree, that adding hydroxides won't affect alkalinity. I saw your stoichiometry explaining it. I cannot disagree. I've been through enough schooling to at least understand that. I know that's more of a PSA for others.

For the people who do decide to use these products, go very slow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

With the first dose of 10 mL to my total 100 L system water volume raised my pH to from 7.80 to 8.07 instantly, a difference of 0.27, when it should have raised it roughly a difference of 0.10 units. Unless my system volume is calculated wrong, which I doubt.

I don't disagree, that adding hydroxides won't affect alkalinity. I saw your stoichiometry explaining it. I cannot disagree. I've been through enough schooling to at least understand that. I know that's more of a PSA for others.

For the people who do decide to use these products, go very slow.

OK, thanks.

FWIW, the amount that adding hydroxide raises pH will depend on both the alkalinity and the absolute starting pH.

Double the alk means half the pH rise from a fixed amount of hydroxide.

The pH rise at pH 8.4 is much less than the pH rise at pH 7.8, because the buffering capacity of seawater is less at lower pH in the range of pH 7.8 to 8.6.

 

[Biologic]

OK, thanks.

FWIW, the amount that adding hydroxide raises pH will depend on both the alkalinity and the absolute starting pH.

Double the alk means half the pH rise from a fixed amount of hydroxide.

The pH rise at pH 8.4 is much less than the pH rise at pH 7.8, because the buffering capacity of seawater is less at lower pH in the range of pH 7.8 to 8.6.

Ah, very interesting. I was trying to understand the pH rise relationship isn’t 1:1 linear as I thought. So after the initial 10 mL dose, each successive 5 mL dose that I put in, the pH boost result was less.

So reducing my dose by half on the second dose to 5 mL, seen on the graph, I went from 7.98 to 8.10. A difference of 0.12 units.

From then on, each time I dose 5 mL, the affect was then 0.10 units.

Still stronger than I expected.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In my test many years ago, adding 1.4 dKH (0.5 meq/L) of alkalinity to artificial seawater using hydroxide boosted pH instantly from 8.10 to 8.67. Carbonate at the same alk dose boosted pH about half as much, as expected, to 8.44. Bicarbonate slightly dropped ph from 8.10 to 8.06.

After extensive equilibration with the air, they all ended up teh same at pH 8.33.

Chemistry And The Aquarium: The Relationship Between Alkalinity And pH

Randy answers many questions in this complex relationship.

reefs.com