High dKH
- Thread starter jacklax
- Start date
mrdc
Active Member
I'm probably not the right guy to be helping since I am having calcium issues myself. Do you test the alklinity and ph on the freshwater after adding the buffer. How often are you adding the buffer? Each time you add it, it's building up more and more in your tank. The high dkH is lowering your calcium. I think the correct alkalinty and calcium level will produce the right PH. Not real sure. Reefnut needs to chime back in.
jacklax
Member
Good point...I have not tested the fresh water after buffering. That's a great idea! I had buffered all of the freashwater (per the directions) as I was decending into hypo...and buffer my top off as well. Beth had recommended watching the ph like crazy when going into hypo.
Everything I have read states that mixed saltwater has adequate ph, cal, and dHk...hence the importance of water changes. I'm just not able to mix full power saltwater at this time.
Everything I have read states that mixed saltwater has adequate ph, cal, and dHk...hence the importance of water changes. I'm just not able to mix full power saltwater at this time.
phoenixfla
Member
What is your reading?
jacklax
Member
They recommend having a test kit for anything that you add to your tank. Cal is a regular/standard addition, so it could really come in handy. Everything I've read shows that ph, dhk, and cal all have a direct affect on each other.
As to what dhk does...I can't say for sure (something to do with buffer capacity I believe)...I just know that it needs to be lower than what I have.
As to what dhk does...I can't say for sure (something to do with buffer capacity I believe)...I just know that it needs to be lower than what I have.
jacklax
Member
Nope...I believe that alk (tests the hardness of the water) and dhk are 2 completely different tests. Someone with more experience can help us there. My test kit will test for both...
As to the brown stuff in your substrate...I think some of that is normal...but an idea of your nitrate/trite and phos levels could help to explain that even more. Here again...some more experience will certainly help as well.
As to the brown stuff in your substrate...I think some of that is normal...but an idea of your nitrate/trite and phos levels could help to explain that even more. Here again...some more experience will certainly help as well.
reefnut
Active Member
Originally Posted by Jacklax
As to what dhk does...I can't say for sure (something to do with buffer capacity I believe)...I just know that it needs to be lower than what I have.
dkh is a measurement unit for alkalinity... alkalinity= carbonates and bicarbonates and sometimes borate. Yes it does effect the buffer capacity of the water or more correctly put, the ability to resist change in PH.
As important... alkalinity (carbonates and bicarbonates) is needed to form calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is what corals use to form their skeletons, it's what coralline algae uses to grow and spread. Basically live rock is nothing more than old coral skeletons or calcium carbonate from what used to be a coral.
As to what dhk does...I can't say for sure (something to do with buffer capacity I believe)...I just know that it needs to be lower than what I have.
dkh is a measurement unit for alkalinity... alkalinity= carbonates and bicarbonates and sometimes borate. Yes it does effect the buffer capacity of the water or more correctly put, the ability to resist change in PH.
As important... alkalinity (carbonates and bicarbonates) is needed to form calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is what corals use to form their skeletons, it's what coralline algae uses to grow and spread. Basically live rock is nothing more than old coral skeletons or calcium carbonate from what used to be a coral.
