Raising Alkalinity

[dakar]

Looking for some suggestions, more like affirmations I guess, ran the water param's on the big tank last night... everything pretty much where it should be, short of Alk, it's a bit low at 6.7dKh, calcium @ 500ppm, PH ~8.1. These tests were run about 4 hours following a 20% WC.

No additives are being supplied to the system as is, she's holding these numbers very consistently with just monthly water changes. I'd like to push the Alk up just a touch, getting a little calcium precipitation, though for the most part it is staying suspended, just looks crappy.

Normally when needed I used a two part drip of Baked Baking Soda (BBS) and Dowflake, or just a limewater drip. But with the calcium already high any thoughts to the effect of using just the BBS drip to buffer up the Alk? I know the PH will go a little screwy.

Any suggested concentrations for the mixture? Fearing using limewater at this point will cause a massive precip snowstorm.

[ereefic]

Whenever my Alk. drops i'll buff it up with a little Kent's Superbuffer dkh. Works just fine just a little more expensive than BBS. I don't think a drip is necessary.

I'll mix a tsp. or 2, depending on how much I need to raise it, with a cup of RO water. Let it clear up and dump it in the sump. Recheck the Alk. atleast an hour later and its up. I've never had any problems doing it this way.

[jerryc]

Just plain old BS for me I'm cheap

[dakar]

Okay thanks for confirming my thoughts, we'll see how things turn out, might end up having to use BBS (or BS) as a regular additive to my make up water.... evaporation on this system is up to almost 6 gallons a day now, the woodstove and fireplace must be really drying the air out. Time to start collecting some real calcium eating coral in there so I can go back to limewater top offs to balance things out.... How's that for a good excuse for more critters? :lol:

[davejnz]

I use unbaked baking soda every other day in my frag tank.I just mix 1 tsp in about 4oz. of water and pour it in sump and 12ml of calcium chloride to balance it out.

[Reptoreef]

Why wait for more ca users??? Any extras will tend to precip with the rise of alk to naturally balance, right?

[Reptoreef]

Will also aid in a more natural removal of phosphates, too... I'm sure you're aware of the natural bond(attraction) of the phosphate molecule to the ca carbonate molecule.

[dakar]

Yup all that covalent molecular bonding and stuff is floating around in my head somewhere. But added 3 tsp's of BBS tonight, I'll recheck ca and alk tommorrow night and see where things settle at, want to buffer it up slowly and try not to throw the PH all crazy.

Any excuse for more critters is a good one.

[jerryc]

I use 2 tsps 2 times a week to keep it up always did have a problem with it to low

[Reptoreef]

My prob hasn't been with ca and alk so much as a low PH(due to atmospheric co2). Raising ph without alk... that's the trick.

[davejnz]

You can use washing soda instead of baking soda,,helps correct low PH

[Reptoreef]

Yep, but it will effect alk...

[davejnz]

yes it will,its for those who want to raise alk and PH.Your kalk reactor doesnt help raise your PH?

[ereefic]

I thought BS wasn't good to use all the time?

[Reptoreef]

The kalk reactor does well, but atmospheric co2 can only realy be alleviated with the intro of more o2(ozone reactor) or air pumped into the spaces of the sump and tank.

[davejnz]

I thought BS wasn't good to use all the time?
Its sodium bicarbonate so sodium can accumulate.I've never had any problems with it and all the "experts" /old-timers have been using it for a while.

Repto,have you tried dripping your effluent from your calcium reactor to your skimmer to drive off C02

[dakar]

Just a follow up, just checked my params again, calcium is still hanging right at 500 and Alk jumped to 7.2 ( up 0.4dKH), suspended precip is a little less than it was (just my observation so pretty subjective), PH dipped down a bit, that was expected.
Surprising how much just that little bit would affect around 240 gals total water volume.

I just dosed it again with another 3 tsp. Suggestions on how fast I can push it up without crashing something else? .3-.4 every couple of days seems reasonable, but rather be safe than sorry. Figuring ultimately want to try to hold it at 9-10.

[Reptoreef]

On the new skimmer I just built, I have actually added a valve to do such a thing, but for now, I've been adding the ca effluent to a container with an airstone and it brings the ph from a 6.6 to a 7.8 before spilling into fuge chamber of the sump so I feel pretty good about that... it is just plant food if anything. I've done the atmospheric testing using the bubbler and ca effuent inside and outdoors. Thanks for the suggestions.

[davejnz]

Just a follow up, just checked my params again, calcium is still hanging right at 500 and Alk jumped to 7.2 ( up 0.4dKH), suspended precip is a little less than it was (just my observation so pretty subjective), PH dipped down a bit, that was expected.
Surprising how much just that little bit would affect around 240 gals total water volume.

I just dosed it again with another 3 tsp. Suggestions on how fast I can push it up without crashing something else? .3-.4 every couple of days seems reasonable, but rather be safe than sorry. Figuring ultimately want to try to hold it at 9-10.
I've raised 1dKH a day before in my SPS tank with no ill effects,just remember every addition will need to be balanced with calcium or those levels will drop.In fact,I feel yours would be better balanced around 450ish once alk stabilizes at 9dKH.