Need to raise alkalinity

[Hincapiej4]

I would test for the next few days. Here what I would do. Dose your alk as needed for the next few days, but test cal mag and alk. This will tell you if it's actually uptake if cal is dropping too. If it's just alk, then you know something else is happening.


Personally, I'd get all three into a good range. Then start testing.

 

[DarkReefer]

hey guys, sorry to hijack thread, but looking to increase my dKH.
I finally got a Hanna Checker and it appears my dKH is at 6.1. (will test again tomorrow night to double check).

A quick internet search is showing me things like using just the good ole kitchen baking soda (and cooking it in the oven for an hour if I need soda ash), is this actually legit, just internet bs or should I be looking at purchasing something probably over priced from the LFS to increase it 'properly' ?

Thanks!

 

[redeyejedi]

hey guys, sorry to hijack thread, but looking to increase my dKH.
I finally got a Hanna Checker and it appears my dKH is at 6.1. (will test again tomorrow night to double check).

A quick internet search is showing me things like using just the good ole kitchen baking soda (and cooking it in the oven for an hour if I need soda ash), is this actually legit, just internet bs or should I be looking at purchasing something probably over priced from the LFS to increase it 'properly' ?

Thanks!

Salifert supply a cheap alk buffer.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

hey guys, sorry to hijack thread, but looking to increase my dKH.
I finally got a Hanna Checker and it appears my dKH is at 6.1. (will test again tomorrow night to double check).

A quick internet search is showing me things like using just the good ole kitchen baking soda (and cooking it in the oven for an hour if I need soda ash), is this actually legit, just internet bs or should I be looking at purchasing something probably over priced from the LFS to increase it 'properly' ?

Thanks!

lol

Yes, baking soda is a perfect alkalinity supplement.

It tends to lower pH a tad, so baking it first will give it a pH boost too.

 

[DarkReefer]

lol

Yes, baking soda is a perfect alkalinity supplement.

It tends to lower pH a tad, so baking it first will give it a pH boost too.

Thanks I ended up just purchasing some Foundation B, at least I know I can use the baking soda method if I need to!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks I ended up just purchasing some Foundation B, at least I know I can use the baking soda method if I need to!

It's mostly a a mixture of baked and possibly unbaked baking soda anyway.

Every direct alkalinity additive uses either sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium carbonate (washing soda or baked baking soda) or hydroxide (can be sodium or calcium).