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best way to raise alkalinity?


Charlie97L

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what's the best way to raise dkh? I'm picking up a test kit tonight, but i suspect mine is a little low, based on how a few of the coral are looking.

 

i will soon have a kalkwasser reactor, but this whole supplementing area is new to me, any advice would be great.

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Baking soda unless you have a large well established SPS heavy reef.

1 teaspoon in a cup of water raises 50 gallons about .5 meq/L

Slow- do not raise till you can measure and do not raise more than .5 per day till you get to 3.0 or 3.5 meq/L

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(edited)

ok guys...

 

according to salifert, if i did the tests right (and I did them twice)

 

dKH 5.3

Ca 310

 

EW. suggestions on fixing this?

 

i'm doin a 10 gallon water change tomorrow.

Edited by Charlie97L
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Yikees, that's pretty low. The CA is low, but nearly as bad. I'd add some ALK buffer slowly over the next 2 weeks until you get the ALK in the desired range.

 

Then start with the balanced additive (kalk).

 

The WC will help also, should increase the ALK (check the ALK of your mix).

 

yup.... i have kent marine buffer... i'm going to raise it slowly. :) Ca too.

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If you go over to Dr. Randy's forum on RC you'll find a list of articles on CA/ALK balance.

 

Simple version -

 

#1 - Raise ALK to balance with CA

#2 - then use additives (like two parts) to raise both

#3 - Maintain as needed with a balanced additive (i.e. Kalk or CA reactor)

 

In the articles there will be a chart, find the DKH for 310 & move the ALK to that, then start moving both.

 

yeah i saw those... i'm also getting walked through the whole thing by the chem guru on RS.com ... so i feel safe.

 

i appreciate all the help on this guys! :)

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