Raising Alkalinity with baking soda questions

[Ocho Cinco]

So, I was testing my reef for ALK the other day (haven't tested for I in a while) an it came back really low at 4.5! I did some reading on how to raise it and came across most people using baking soda. I used the reef chemistry calculator to figure out how much to dose. It stated 7.6 TSP to raise my 90 gallon from 4.5 to 8. My main question is that if I add all that, does that mean it will raise it to 8 right then and there? I mixed it up in some R/O and added about 1/5th and it raised my ALK .2. How often do I need to add that 7.6 TSP to get it to a correct amount and how much should I add per day? Thanks in advance!

 

[ritter6788]

4.5 meg/l or dkh? 4.5 dkh is really low. You really don't want to raise it more than 1 dkh per day. Have someone double test your results before dosing much.

 

[mcarroll]

Sounds like you should also need to test calcium and magnesium as well.

With alkalinity, all three get used up together, so they generally need to be adjusted together as well or things tend to get very out of balance in the tank.

Be careful if you aren't watching all three levels.

-Matt

 

[Ocho Cinco]

4.5 is dkh. Seems odd to be so low, everything in my tank it doing fine. Thanks for the Info. I did test all 3, Mag and CA seemed fine. I will post those results tonight. I will try to run to the LFS tonight to have them test my ALK to see if its my kit thats messed up.

Do you mean since my ALK is low, the other 2 must be low as well?

 

[mike007]

4.5 dkh is very low it is hard to believe that your calcium and magnesium are okay. Yes I would defiantly have that water retested with another test.

 

[Ocho Cinco]

4.5 dkh is very low it is hard to believe that your calcium and magnesium are okay. Yes I would defiantly have that water retested with another test.

Yes I agree, so I'm hoping that means my test is just bad for some reason.

 

[Ocho Cinco]

LFS tested and it came back as 5.2. I re-tested when I got home and got the same. Test kit is fine. MAG 1260 and CA 360, could use some work but not terrible.

 

[mike007]

Go to the brs calculater and It will tell you how much to dose to bring these levels up. But do It slowly as recommended.

 

[EW_Fish]

Go to the brs calculater and It will tell you how much to dose to bring these levels up. But do It slowly as recommended.

+1 just don't go over 1 dkh a day.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Reef Calculator - Bulk Reef Supply

 

[Ocho Cinco]

To bring it up from 5.2 to 9 it states to add 23.1 tsp. So I would just dilute that in water and add it slowly, then test to see where its at? Obviously some will be used up during that time.

 

[Intricateart]

I've been reading this thread and wondered what testing equipment or kits everyone is using to monitor these three water parameters.This will be the next addition to our growing reef. Thanx

 

[Ocho Cinco]

I have the Salifert tests for MG and ALK. The API for Calcium.

 

[cdness]

To bring it up from 5.2 to 9 it states to add 23.1 tsp. So I would just dilute that in water and add it slowly, then test to see where its at? Obviously some will be used up during that time.

You should see what it takes to raise it from 5.2 to 6.2 and add that today. Then re-test and figure out what it takes to raise it another 1 DKH max that day. Third day test again and add alk solution... Repeat until you hit the target. Then test in 2 days to see the drop and add as needed daily to keep it where you want it.

In other words, don't calculate the full amount unless you will equally add it over 4 days to get to target...

 

[Railcar79]

I monitor with salfert. I have raised dkh with calcium carbonate, and calcium hydroxide

 

[Reefing Madness]

I use API for ALk and CAL, and Salifert for MAG.

 

[mcarroll]

LFS tested and it came back as 5.2. I re-tested when I got home and got the same. Test kit is fine. MAG 1260 and CA 360, could use some work but not terrible.

Actually, those numbers are all fairly terrible, which is actually good. They are still relatively balanced, just very low due to lack of maintenance.

A must-read for your situation:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/

You should, however, stop adjusting alkalinity by itself immediately.

Adjustment in a balanced way is the only correct way in your case.

Ordinarily, I would recommend significant water changes with a well-fortified salt (e.g. Reef Crystals) combined with a balanced additive like limewater (kalkwasser).

Two-part also works, and since you started with the alkalinity part, I would recommend you just add the balanced proportions of Ca and Mg that match the alk you've already added (see the Reef Chemistry Calculator), and proceed from there.

If you stay with two-part, I would adjust your Mg up first - prevents Ca+alk precipitation and helps you get more accurate Ca and alk test numbers for your final adjustments. Follow that with 1/3 to 1/2 doses of Ca and alkalinity, followed by retesting on all three parameters. Followed by additional doses as needed. (Same advice should be in the Reef Chemistry Calculator when you are computing your adjustment doses.)

Keep me posted!

-Matt

 

[Ocho Cinco]

Actually, those numbers are all fairly terrible, which is actually good. They are still relatively balanced, just very low due to lack of maintenance.

A must-read for your situation:
When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance? by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

You should, however, stop adjusting alkalinity by itself immediately.

Adjustment in a balanced way is the only correct way in your case.

Ordinarily, I would recommend significant water changes with a well-fortified salt (e.g. Reef Crystals) combined with a balanced additive like limewater (kalkwasser).

Two-part also works, and since you started with the alkalinity part, I would recommend you just add the balanced proportions of Ca and Mg that match the alk you've already added (see the Reef Chemistry Calculator), and proceed from there.

If you stay with two-part, I would adjust your Mg up first - prevents Ca+alk precipitation and helps you get more accurate Ca and alk test numbers for your final adjustments. Follow that with 1/3 to 1/2 doses of Ca and alkalinity, followed by retesting on all three parameters. Followed by additional doses as needed. (Same advice should be in the Reef Chemistry Calculator when you are computing your adjustment doses.)

Keep me posted!

-Matt

Thanks for the input! So rather than just raisng ALK I should be raising CA at the same time? Do recommend any products to raise MG? I found that I have some Seachem Reef Bulider so I was going to use that instead of the baking soda for now. Do you recommend something to add with that for Calcium and MG? I just want the best an safest option here. Also, when I dose, how soon after can I test?

Thanks!

 

[mike007]

You can adjust your alkalinity level by itself and once you get it up then you will be able to balance your calcium and alkalinity. Your ca.level is a little low you want to be at 400=-425 and mag around 1350-1400.

 

[Ocho Cinco]

Any recommended products to adjust all 3 with the Reef Builder? I don't know which way to go about fixing this as everyone has a different recommendation lol.