How high can I raise alk each day?

[Brian barranco]

I have a 10 gallon tank. I use instant ocean reef crystal . Salinity of the tank is 1.026 .Alk is 7.8 right now without dosing . Want to raise it higher . Since my salt mixes higher alk levels. And in case of emergency of a water change . I don’t want to kill my corals.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Brs recommends no more than 1.4dkh per day. I would suggest less than that on a 10 gallon tank

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

What kind of corals do you have?

 

[Brian barranco]

6 Lps . Zoas. 3 sps .

 

[Hitman]

Personally I wouldn’t raise it more the 0.5 dkh a day in a small tank.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

The softies and LPS won’t be too picky but the sps may be, especially if they are acros. I would increase max 0.5 dkh per day, and ideally a few days break in between. Where are you hoping to end up? If it was my tank, I would shoot for more like 0.1/day or 0.5 per week.

Another option is to get some sodium bisulfite and use that to lower the alkalinity of your newly mixed saltwater (that is what I do since I maintain alk 7-8 dkh).

 

[Brian barranco]

Well my alk from reef crystals is high. So that’s why I want to increase. So I can do a water change 7.8 alkto 12-13 alk (fresh mix) is a huge change . But that sodium bisulfite is a great idea! Thanks . Which product do you recommend?

 

[Brian barranco]

The softies and LPS won’t be too picky but the sps may be, especially if they are acros. I would increase max 0.5 dkh per day, and ideally a few days break in between. Where are you hoping to end up? If it was my tank, I would shoot for more like 0.1/day or 0.5 per week.

Another option is to get some sodium bisulfite and use that to lower the alkalinity of your newly mixed saltwater (that is what I do since I maintain alk 7-8 dkh).

?

 

[MTBake]

Well my alk from reef crystals is high. So that’s why I want to increase. So I can do a water change 7.8 alkto 12-13 alk (fresh mix) is a huge change . But that sodium bisulfite is a great idea! Thanks . Which product do you recommend?

I've used muriatic acid to bring down the alk level of newly mixed seawater. I'll have to dig through my notes to find the dosage amount. And you'll need to mix the water overnight to balance the PH as well. Reply to this post if you want to try it and I'll dig through my notes to find the dosage amount. It works well. Randy actually pointed me in this direction a couple years ago.

 

[Brian barranco]

I've used muriatic acid to bring down the alk level of newly mixed seawater. I'll have to dig through my notes to find the dosage amount. And you'll need to mix the water overnight to balance the PH as well. Reply to this post if you want to try it and I'll dig through my notes to find the dosage amount. It works well. Randy actually pointed me in this direction a couple years ago.

Yes that would be great. I usually premix 5 gallons . I need how much do I need

 

[MTBake]

Yes that would be great. I usually premix 5 gallons . I need how much do I need

I replied to your pm

You should be able to find the muriatic acid at any major hardware store.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Well my alk from reef crystals is high. So that’s why I want to increase. So I can do a water change 7.8 alkto 12-13 alk (fresh mix) is a huge change . But that sodium bisulfite is a great idea! Thanks . Which product do you recommend?

Just search the web for lab grade or reagent grade sodium bisulfite. I used to get the Loudwolf brand from amazon but it wasn’t available last time, so I ordered from Online Science Mall.

I like the sodium bisulfite because I can get something with some grade of purity as opposed to a jug of concrete etcher (muriatic acid) from the hardware store. However plenty of people use that also and have no issues.

 

[MTBake]

Once my sps started taking off, I didn't need to bring down the alk of newly mixed seawater. Water changes just helped bring alk up and acted as a buffer.

However, if I needed to do a large water change, I wouldn't hesitate to use the muriatic acid. It's a very small amount added per gallon to bring down the dkh. Adding 1.2 ml of the undiluted muriatic acid per 5 gallons of newly mixed seawater will lower alk by 1dkh. The 'green' version can also be used. Also known as low odor. It does take a little more of this to lower alk because it's diluted. 1.5ml per 5 gallons will lower alk by 1dkh.

I haven't noticed issues from using this.

 

[MTBake]

I wouldn't change the alk of the tank itself in this case. It's a small tank and changes could end up with coral loses. Best to match the new water parameters to old in this case, imho.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Lowering the alk of the new salt water is good for emergency big water changes (if you keep the tank alk lower), but if you do that every batch, you may need to begin to supplement alk to the tank because the regular water changes will no longer be boosting alk as much.