How to raise AlK and not pH

[Snyderman3]

My tank is a 110 and I just started testing today and my pH is 8.3 and my Alk is 6.3 I wanted to start using kalkwasser but because my pH is good I don’t want make it too high what are other solutions to increase alk but not ph I also only have 3 small corals so the up take isn’t a lot.

 

[Gtinnel]

A solution made from sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will raise alk but have almost no effect on pH.

 

[Gtinnel]

Here is a link to Randy's write up. What you want is recipe 2 part 2.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

[Snyderman3]

A solution made from sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will raise alk but have almost no effect on pH.

Thank you, I will look into it!

 

[Snyderman3]

Here is a link to Randy's write up. What you want is recipe 2 part 2.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Is there not a product I can just buy? I prefer not to DIY because I will probably mess something up

 

[Gtinnel]

Is there not a product I can just buy? I prefer not to DIY because I will probably mess something up

Sorry I don't know which store bought products use sodium bicarbonate instead of sodium carbonate.

I will say that it would be very hard to mess up all you have to do is add the proper amount of baking soda (arm and hammer that you get from the grocery store is what I use) to rodi water. You can actually buy it from BRS in packages made for 1 gal, so just add the bag to enough rodi water to fill up 1 gallon jug and you're done.

Pharma Sodium Bicarbonate 1-Gallon Mix

Ideal for large changes in alkalinity levels or daily dosing in aquariums with high pH. Ultra-pure Sodium Bicarbonate for 2-part dosing in your reef tank! Bulk Reef Supply 2-part additives are the perfect solution to replenish the intake of calcium and alkalinity coral consumes when it grows...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Hopefully someone else can let you know what pre made solution you can get.

 

[Snyderman3]

Sorry I don't know which store bought products use sodium bicarbonate instead of sodium carbonate.

I will say that it would be very hard to mess up all you have to do is add the proper amount of baking soda (arm and hammer that you get from the grocery store is what I use) to rodi water. You can actually buy it from BRS in packages made for 1 gal, so just add the bag to enough rodi water to fill up 1 gallon jug and you're done.

Pharma Sodium Bicarbonate 1-Gallon Mix

Ideal for large changes in alkalinity levels or daily dosing in aquariums with high pH. Ultra-pure Sodium Bicarbonate for 2-part dosing in your reef tank! Bulk Reef Supply 2-part additives are the perfect solution to replenish the intake of calcium and alkalinity coral consumes when it grows...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Hopefully someone else can let you know what pre made solution you can get.

Oh okay thank you, that link made it look like I had to combine a bunch of things

 

[Gtinnel]

Oh okay thank you, that link made it look like I had to combine a bunch of things

His articles are very informational but can seem overwhelming at times to us non-chemist types. There are actually directions on the BRS site that tell what to do. It really couldn't be any simpler.

Also, don't forget if you need to start dosing alk you will probably need to dose calcium as well. Just like the alk part brs sells a dry powder (calcium chloride) and it's just as easy, mix the bag of powder into a gallon of rodi water and give it time to dissolve.

Pharma Calcium Chloride 1-Gallon Mix (Single Use)

Ultra-pure Calcium Chloride for 2-part dosing in your reef tank! Bulk Reef Supply 2-part additives are the perfect solution to replenish the intake of calcium and alkalinity coral consumes when it grows. Using only pharmaceutical based ingredients allows you to keep a cleaner reef with fewer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

The brs soda ash is what i use...it doesn't raise ph? I think it does... lol
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I agree watch your calcium if your alk is dropping.
D

 

[Gtinnel]

Just make sure you get the bag to make a single gallon of solution. They also sell it in bigger bags to where you have to measure it out. The only way I could see messing up would be to add the bigger bag to a single gallon.

 

[Snyderman3]

I agree watch your calcium if your alk is dropping.
D

I will, I am going to get a calcium and mag test kit tomorrow to start test them too

 

[Gtinnel]

The brs soda ash is what i use...it doesn't raise ph? I think it does... lol
D

Soda ash is sodium carbonate and does raise pH, although in my experience it isn't a significant increase.

ETA- to be fair though how much of a pH increase you see would be directly related to how much you have to dose. With the OP only having a few frags I doubt they would see any increase at all, and would probably be able to get away with just water changes for now.

 

[Snyderman3]

Just make sure you get the bag to make a single gallon of solution. They also sell it in bigger bags to where you have to measure it out. The only way I could see messing up would be to add the bigger bag to a single gallon.

Yeah I just glanced at that first link and was going to actually read it tomorrow and it just looked like a lot at first but if it’s just adding one or 2 things to my auto top off I’m pretty sure I can handle it

 

[Gtinnel]

Yeah I just glanced at that first link and was going to actually read it tomorrow and it just looked like a lot at first but if it’s just adding one or 2 things to my auto top off I’m pretty sure I can handle it

These are not adding anything to your ATO. These are to make solutions that you dose. Usually they get dosed at least daily with either dosing pumps or manually.

As far as I know (and I may be wrong I often am) the only alk/cal solution that gets added to your ato is kalk.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

+1 you'll need to dose and test and dose and test to see how your mixture effects your tank.

I like small dosing.
Like say 5ml.
Lol.
Depends on your total.volume of water and the uptake the tank is consuming in alk needs
...
Same for cal and mag
D

 

[Gtinnel]

@Snyderman3 I can't stress enough do NOT mix up a gallon of either of these solutions and add it to your ATO.

 

[Snyderman3]

These are not adding anything to your ATO. These are to make solutions that you dose. Usually they get dosed at least daily with either dosing pumps or manually.

As far as I know (and I may be wrong I often am) the only alk/cal solution that gets added to your ato is kalk.

Ahhh even better sorry once again I am going to go over all of it tomorrow because it’s way too late and I’m exhausted

 

[Snyderman3]

@Snyderman3 I can't stress enough do NOT mix up a gallon of either of these solutions and add it to your ATO.

I won’t! Haha I will make sure to research before doing anything thank you for your help sorry for seeming like an idiot it’s just been a long day!

 

[Gtinnel]

I won’t! Haha I will make sure to research before doing anything thank you for your help sorry for seeming like an idiot it’s just been a long day!

It's always better to learn by asking questions than to learn by doing something wrong. Trust me I've made plenty of stupid mistakes.