Using pickling lime to boost pH

EricB · May 9, 2015

I have a 220g system and run a Geo 618 Calcium reactor on it. I've been struggling with Dino's and want to use pickling lime to increase the pH. It's at 7.9 right now.

I use a tunze osmolator in a 10 gallon reservoir. I was going to mix 1 tsp/gallon for 5 gallons, and add that to 5 gallons RODI for my top off. Does this sound like a good starting point?

My Ca and alk are both exactly where they should be. I would just like to increase my pH without doing too much to Ca and Alk.

Thanks in advance!

heathd.hd · May 9, 2015

Your Calc and alk are gonna go up. Anything to boost ph is gonna raise your alk

miamiangler · May 9, 2015

I use Klak wasser In all my tanks . I mix 2 teaspoons per 5gal RO/DI water . It has a PH of around 12 . I use it to fill my ATO. Ph in my tanks run around 8.1 -8.2. I would say that`s a good place to start .just mix it well and let it sit for an hour or two then siphon the water in the ATO not what settles on the bottom of the container .

heathd.hd · May 9, 2015

Wouldn't raising mag up around 1500 do the trick on the dinosaurs

EricB · May 9, 2015

Thanks guys!
I've not heard of raising Mg for Dino's. I'll have to check that out

deerhunter06 · May 9, 2015

i use kalk in ato 8 tsp per 5g the other night my ph dropped to 7.6 i dont think it helps much its 7.7 at night sometimes 7.6 and 8 during the day.

heathd.hd · May 9, 2015

I use kalk as well but your going 2 have to stop your Calc reactor and I'm sure that's not your plan.

EricB · May 9, 2015

heathd.hd said:
I use kalk as well but your going 2 have to stop your Calc reactor and I'm sure that's not your plan.

Well, dealing with dinos wasn't my plan either, lol.

I'll keep my reactor off. How long am I going to have to keep dosing my top-off water?

heathd.hd · May 9, 2015

I didn't know raising your ph would help with dinos

heathd.hd · May 9, 2015

Might want some Randy Holmes-Farley input on this. I did some googling you gonna want a ph of 8.5 ish Idk how to get it that high!

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 9, 2015

I'm concerned that the pH may not rise enough using 1 tsp per 5 gallons. I'd start at double that and hope it is enough to help. Some people add lime slurries to get to the 8.4+ pH range.

Whether it will helps with dinos (which are a difficult problem), I can't be sure, but some people have found it effective. Others have used hydrogen peroxide and found it effective.

deerhunter06 · May 9, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I'm concerned that the pH may not rise enough using 1 tsp per 5 gallons. I'd start at double that and hope it is enough to help. Some people add lime slurries to get to the 8.4+ pH range.

Whether it will helps with dinos (which are a difficult problem), I can't be sure, but some people have found it effective. Others have used hydrogen peroxide and found it effective.

what is the max teaspoons per 5g? I thought it was 10 am i right?

miamiangler · May 9, 2015

miamiangler said:
I use Klak wasser In all my tanks . I mix 2 teaspoons per 5gal RO/DI water . It has a PH of around 12 . I use it to fill my ATO. Ph in my tanks run around 8.1 -8.2. I would say that`s a good place to start .just mix it well and let it sit for an hour or two then siphon the water in the ATO not what settles on the bottom of the container .

Wow I mean 2 teaspoons per gal

glb · May 9, 2015

The standard is 1/gallon I believe. I've successfully used that to boost my Alk and ph.

heathd.hd · May 9, 2015

From what I've read 2 per gallon. Will mostly dissolve.

Up2no6ood · May 10, 2015

I use 2 per gallon and dose with my ato at night....it reduces the ph swing a little but not enough to get the ph that high.

miyags · May 10, 2015

I tried,but could'nt get Ph above 8.4. I stoped doseing when alk went to 12.6

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 10, 2015

To drive the tank pH exceptionally high when dosing limewater, you may need to limit aeration.

The limit to solubility is about 2 level teaspoons per gallon of fresh water. Slightly more dissolves at lower temperatures than at higher temps, so don't heat it.

rhdoug · May 19, 2015

I began using pickling lime to help with low ph on my 15+ year old mixed reef (lps and softies) a little over a year ago. I had some conversations with Randy Holmes-Farley at that time. I have experienced steady slow climbing of alk and ca, with a slight improvement in ph. Right now my alk is at 12.5 and ca at 500, ph is usually around 8 to 7.8. I have had some coral problems this year with most of my sun corals losing flesh, and one of my oldest (10 years plus) lobophyllias dyeing (flesh suddenly shredding away). Do you think this could have anything to do with elevated alk levels? I have reduced the saturation now to roughly 8 tsp per 10 gallons, down from about 12.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 19, 2015

Coral problems are hard to diagnose unless they correspond rapidly to a one time event, but it might be related to the elevated alkalinity, and reducing it does seem like a good plan.