dKH

sac10918

Member
How do I raise dKH? I checked my tank tonight and it was only at 1 dKH or 17 ppm which is really low, right? How do I raise it and what is the best level for a reef tank? I did a partial water change if that helps...
 

pyro

Active Member
I'd say a whole bunch of water changes. Check your water change water first though; make sure it's a good batch of salt.
What corals if any do you have in it?
 

vroom125

New Member
can be raised by water changes, you can use aquarium buffers, you can add calcium hydroxide or kalkwasser.
Usually, levels drop because of low aeration. With low aeration, CO(2) isn't released from the water, which causes one's levels to drop. Increase Aeration for better long term results.
 

sac10918

Member
Thanks for the info....
I have several corals in there including a frogspawn, big harry mushroom, lots of zoos, star polyps, bubble coral, and a brain. I dose a two part calcium supplement but the calcium as at a good level so I havent dosed for probobly 2 weeks (stays around 400).
Would a low dKH be whats making my corals look a little dull? I thought it might be that the tank needs some new lighting but the CO2 in the water makes more sense. I am going to add an airstone, and do some water changes....Hopefully that will help! Thanks!
 

pyro

Active Member
I wouldn't bother with the airstone; they don't aerate as much as you'd think. I would point a powerhead up at the surface; the ripples do a lot more. Keep in mind though it'll increase evaporation probably and maybe lower tank temperature (not rapidly though, so shouldn't be much of a problem).
What lighting do you have on it and what size tank?
Keep in mind, any hard corals like your frogspawn/bubble/brain use calcium carbonate to build their skeleton, not just calcium. Calcium carbonate has 2 carbonates for every calcium, so they also chew up alk (measure of carbonates) just as much if not more than calcium. Anybody who is a little more secure in chemistry, please correct me if any of this paragraph is wrong =).
 
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