Sodiumhydroxide

[danny_M]

Hi all,

I would like to add, next to kalkwasser, a dilluted amount of sodiumhydroxide (NaOh) to raise my average Ph level above 8.1 upto 8.3. By using my Apex to control the DOS pump to prevent overdosing. I have bought 99% pure sodiumhydroxide powder. My question is someone has tips for: 1/making the solution from the powder, how much powder for 1ltr, max. dilution or not..
2/ tips for initial dosing amount for 500l water to go from 8.05 to 8.3 over let´s say one week time.

This might save me some trial and error.
If i´m trailblazing here i´ll do tests with fresh made seawater and post my findings

 

[Garf]

Hi all,

I would like to add, next to kalkwasser, a dilluted amount of sodiumhydroxide (NaOh) to raise my average Ph level above 8.1 upto 8.3. By using my Apex to control the DOS pump to prevent overdosing. I have bought 99% pure sodiumhydroxide powder. My question is someone has tips for: 1/making the solution from the powder, how much powder for 1ltr, max. dilution or not..
2/ tips for initial dosing amount for 500l water to go from 8.05 to 8.3 over let´s say one week time.

This might save me some trial and error.
If i´m trailblazing here i´ll do tests with fresh made seawater and post my findings

How are you going to maintain calcium? It raises alkalinity, a lot. Heres the link;

Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/ But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example). Here's the original recipe link...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[I never finish anythi]

Ph at 8.1 is ok . I wouldn't bother trying to chase it if it's stable .

 

[Gtinnel]

Using an alkalinity supplement trying to adjust pH is not a good idea, especially since your pH is good to start with.

You can use it to maintain your alkalinity, but you should dose based off of alkalinity and not pH.

 

[BanZI29]

I agree with the above. if you really want to up your Ph, (which I am also working on) Think about a CO2 Scrubber. It' is more controllable, and dosing is not really needed. You can use your APEX to control it with a solenoid.
there is a few vids on YT that show you how to make a recirculating CO2 Scrubber.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sodium hydroxide is a fine ultra high pH alk additive, but my recommendation is to only dose it when you need alk, regardless of whether the pH has gotten to your target or not.

 

[danny_M]

Thank you all for the input, which leaves me with even more questions though... The reason i am on a ph hunt is the fact i am facing, even with AFR dosing and regular,waterchanges, light levels at 250 par, a very low to zero grow rate in my sps and encrusting stony corals. I am using a Co2 scrubber at my skimmer intake 24/7. The Co2 levels in the room rarely exceed 800ppm. The "issue" i face is this: if i dose kalkwasser (2500ml/day) my Ca level rises above 465 in a week´s time, even with waterchanges (5%) weekly. Ph in that case is acceptable, 8.1 everage. If i only dose 1500ml kalkwasser the Ca level drops over time to 440, that´s o.k., but then ph goes down to 7.9 everage, not to my likings. Alk sits at 9. My idea is to dose NaOH to boost ph , i can live with Alk values upto 11. ( nitrate and phoshate levels are good due to tropic marine´s carbo dosing method).

 

[BanZI29]

Thank you all for the input, which leaves me with even more questions though... The reason i am on a ph hunt is the fact i am facing, even with AFR dosing and regular,waterchanges, light levels at 250 par, a very low to zero grow rate in my sps and encrusting stony corals. I am using a Co2 scrubber at my skimmer intake 24/7. The Co2 levels in the room rarely exceed 800ppm. The "issue" i face is this: if i dose kalkwasser (2500ml/day) my Ca level rises above 465 in a week´s time, even with waterchanges (5%) weekly. Ph in that case is acceptable, 8.1 everage. If i only dose 1500ml kalkwasser the Ca level drops over time to 440, that´s o.k., but then ph goes down to 7.9 everage, not to my likings. Alk sits at 9. My idea is to dose NaOH to boost ph , i can live with Alk values upto 11. ( nitrate and phoshate levels are good due to tropic marine´s carbo dosing method).

How big is your Co2 Scrubber? and how often do you change the media. What is your flow rate out of the scrubber?
as for the Calcium being over 465, that is not that bad I think. mine averages 460-490 in a 40 Gal tank and I get good growth with a Ph of 8.1. Alk averages 12-14 as well. I only dose all for reef. no kalk.
can we see a pic of of your scrubber setup?

 

[danny_M]

I use color changing media from ATI, it goes directie into the skimmer. Everything sits inside the sump closet

 

[danny_M]

This is the kalkwasser reactor and the carbon dosing reactor, both recerculating types from Aquacare Germany. I know, i havecthe gearjunkie sickness

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The "issue" i face is this: if i dose kalkwasser (2500ml/day) my Ca level rises above 465 in a week´s time, even with waterchanges (5%) weekly. Ph in that case is acceptable, 8.1 everage. If i only dose 1500ml kalkwasser the Ca level drops over time to 440, that´s o.k., but then ph goes down to 7.9 everage, not to my likings. Alk sits at 9. My idea is to dose NaOH to boost ph , i can live with Alk values upto 11. ( nitrate and phoshate levels are good due to tropic marine´s carbo dosing method).

While kalkwasser is very slightly overbalanced to too much calcium, that effect is typically only seen long term, and in a week the effect is minor if alk is stable and us being used for calcification rather than nitrate accumulation.

FWIW, calcium up to at least 550 ppm is also fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is the kalkwasser reactor and the carbon dosing reactor, both recerculating types from Aquacare Germany. I know, i havecthe gearjunkie sickness

The kalkwasser reactor is recirculating? What does that mean? Does seawater enter it?

 

[BanZI29]

I use color changing media from ATI, it goes directie into the skimmer. Everything sits inside the sump closet

Ok for this setup, where is the fresh air coming from? I only see 1 hose out from the Scrubber. From the pic, it looks like the air coming in is restricted.
Think about having the scrubber outside the cabinet for a day or so and see if your Ph improves.

 

[danny_M]

Nono, it recirculates in itself with RO water. A DOS pump then add´s RO water from a reservoir, at that moment clear kalkwasser exits the reactor . Works very well and produces stable kalkwasser for a long time.

The kalkwasser reactor is recirculating? What does that mean? Does seawater enter it?

 

[danny_M]

Ok for this setup, where is the fresh air coming from? I only see 1 hose out from the Scrubber. From the pic, it looks like the air coming in is restricted.
Think about having the scrubber outside the cabinet for a day or so and see if your Ph improves.

The air comes in at the bottom of the scrubber trough vents present all around. It might be an idea to place it outside the cabinet. I wonder now, does a scrubber removes all the Co2, or Just a part? If Just a part, placing it higher (Co2 is heavy) might improve performance also..i´ll try it!

 

[danny_M]

The kalkwasser reactor is recirculating? What does that mean? Does seawater enter it?

Sodium hydroxide is a fine ultra high pH alk additive, but my recommendation is to only dose it when you need alk, regardless of whether the pH has gotten to your target or not.

An update. after 2 weeks dosing NaOH :

20gr dissolved in 800mL RO water, dosing 200mL/day (24hrs)
Everage Ph at 8.08, but smaller variations day/night
Ca up from 450 to 465 ( Kalkwasser dosing set from 2000ml to 2500mL)
AlK from 9.5 to 11.5ppm, tends to stabilize
15mL All For Reef / day
7mL Bacto balance
PO4 0.02 and NO3 0.1, dosing those as well

I'm switching over to 40gr NaOH dissolved in 800mL RO water, dosing 150mL / day now.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the update!

FWIW, if you follow my recipe (linked above), you can use online calculators to determine the alk added.