How to raise AlK and not pH

[Gtinnel]

I have just one more thing to add. If you make the solutions from the dry chemicals when you dose the solution do so in a high flow area, and do not add the alk and calcium solutions at the same time otherwise they will interact with each other.

 

[gbroadbridge]

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

Aquaforest kH Buffer.

But Baking soda from the grocery store is the same stuff and cheaper

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

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

lol

It is a product. We have exact directions and calculators. You are more likely to go wrong believing a manufacturer making money off you than to believe expert users of such products.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Snyderman3]

lol

It is a product. We have exact directions and calculators. You are more likely to go wrong believing a manufacturer making money off you than to believe expert users of such products.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

How long can I store the baking soda mixture?

 

[Gtinnel]

How long can I store the baking soda mixture?

Forever.

 

[Snyderman3]

For ever.

I figured, just wanted to make sure!

 

[A;exr54]

I had to raise my alk recent from ~7 to ~9 I used baking soda. It had minimal effect on PH.
I recently installed a trident and a DOS. Now i am finally able to keep level much more steady.
My manual testing habits are not good.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How long can I store the baking soda mixture?

Forever, as noted above.

If it gets cold, some may precipitate on the bottom. Warm it to redissolve it.

It is less soluble than sodium carbonate, so be sure to follow a recipe.

 

[Snyderman3]

I have just one more thing to add. If you make the solutions from the dry chemicals when you dose the solution do so in a high flow area, and do not add the alk and calcium solutions at the same time otherwise they will interact with each other.

I’m only going to worry about it about Alk then once I get it to a good level I will see what needs to be done just so I’m not changing 2 things at once and how spaced out should they be like morning and night or like 30min apart?

 

[Gtinnel]

how spaced out should they be like morning and night or like 30min

Either of those is fine. The only thing that matters is that one gets dissipated into the tank water before the other one gets added. I think when I was using my kamoer x1 pumps I had them set about 10 minutes apart. How long you have to wait will depend on the flow where they're being added, but generally a few minutes should be sufficient.

 

[Snyderman3]

Either of those is fine. The only thing that matters is that one gets dissipated into the tank water before the other one gets added. I think when I was using my kamoer x1 pumps I had them set about 10 minutes apart. How long you have to wait will depend on the flow where they're being added, but generally a few minutes should be sufficient.

Today I tested mag(1180) and calcium (500) should I still worry about Alk first or address one of these first or all 3 at once?

 

[Gtinnel]

I'd work on raising alk and mag. Just leave calcium until it drops to the level you want then start dosing to keep it there.

 

[Snyderman3]

I'd work on raising alk and mag. Just leave calcium until it drops to the level you want then start dosing to keep it there.

Okay thank you

 

[scardall]

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.

Question: I have been using BRS sodium bicarbonate powder for 1.5 months now. ( mixing each does manually) Lately my alk daily use has been dropping. ( keeping a log as well) Is there a point when my daily use will stabilize? Reason I need to know is I would like to start dosing liquid instead. Ideas?? Thanks ( using Hanna dkh tester)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Question: I have been using BRS sodium bicarbonate powder for 1.5 months now. ( mixing each does manually) Lately my alk daily use has been dropping. ( keeping a log as well) Is there a point when my daily use will stabilize? Reason I need to know is I would like to start dosing liquid instead. Ideas?? Thanks ( using Hanna dkh tester)

Alk demand is caused y a few different processes, including calcification and net nitrate production.

Calcification depends on several factors, including pH. So demand may change with the seasons if the CO2 level in your home air changes (e.g., windows open vs closed).

FWIW, most BRS users are using sodium carbonate. As you sure you are using sodium bicarbonate?

 

[Gtinnel]

Question: I have been using BRS sodium bicarbonate powder for 1.5 months now. ( mixing each does manually) Lately my alk daily use has been dropping. ( keeping a log as well) Is there a point when my daily use will stabilize? Reason I need to know is I would like to start dosing liquid instead. Ideas?? Thanks ( using Hanna dkh tester)

Why not just make a solution of liquid to start with instead of mixing each individual dose? I always found it easier to dose a pre-made liquid, especially since you can just use a dosing pump.

Technically your alk consumption is always changing due to many factors in your tank but not usually enough that you have to constantly be changing your dosage.

I use a trident and controlled dosing now, but when I used to use cheap kamoer pumps I would just check my alk once or twice a week and adjust my dosage.

 

[scardall]

Alk demand is caused y a few different processes, including calcification and net nitrate production.

Calcification depends on several factors, including pH. So demand may change with the seasons if the CO2 level in your home air changes (e.g., windows open vs closed).

FWIW, most BRS users are using sodium carbonate. As you sure you are using sodium bicarbonate?

I am using sodium bicarbonate from BRS. Would I just base my dosing the liquid form on my present daily average usage?

 

[scardall]

Alk demand is caused y a few different processes, including calcification and net nitrate production.

Calcification depends on several factors, including pH. So demand may change with the seasons if the CO2 level in your home air changes (e.g., windows open vs closed).

FWIW, most BRS users are using sodium carbonate. As you sure you are using sodium bicarbonate?

I just found out (4/11 at 8:10pm) that sodium carbonate is soda ash. This did not work for me, as dkh would swing .8 to 1dkh in one day. ( used liquid version for dosing) but (over time) the sodium bicarbonate dkh swings became smaller and it took upto 4 days to see a .8-1dkh swing. (.2dkh daily on avg. now) . I suppose I will need to monitor and continue dosing as req. to keep my dkh in my desired range ish. ( manual dosing for now) my corals are happest with 8-8.3dkh) Still thank you for your reply