How To Raise Your Alk ????

[tdog7879]

I can't seem to get my alk above 2.3 meg. I have been adding seachem reef builder (raises carbonate alkalinity) as directed and it doesn't seem to raise it. I use redsea alk test . Im trying to get the alk 3-4meg. could it be the CA level is around 410-420 do i need to raise my CA levels to adjust my ALK?

 

[tdog7879]

UM anybody?

 

[bang guy]

How much are you using and about how much water is in your tank?

 

[bang guy]

For reference I wanted to add that 1 teaspoon of Baking soda (or reef builder) will raise the Alkalinity of 20 gallons 1 Meq/L. You're trying to do it slowly and that's what you want, perhaps you just need to bump the dosage up slightly.

 

[florida joe]

I am by no means knowledgeable enough on this subject to start quoting grafts and charts but I would first get your calcium level closer to 500 then attack your alkalinity problem

 

[tdog7879]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2897758
For reference I wanted to add that 1 teaspoon of Baking soda (or reef builder) will raise the Alkalinity of 20 gallons 1 Meq/L. You're trying to do it slowly and that's what you want, perhaps you just need to bump the dosage up slightly.
it says to add half a level teaspoon per 40 gall 2x aweek. I add 1 level teaspoon cause i have a 80 gal +20 gall sump but i figure with the sand rocks etc..it really = 80 gals. So should i just add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons i just don't want it to effect the PH or the CA. Is regular baking soda the same as reef builder?

 

[tdog7879]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2897761
I am by no means knowledgeable enough on this subject to start quoting grafts and charts but I would first get your calcium level closer to 500 then attack your alkalinity problem
Isn't 500 a little to high my goal is ca 420-440 with alk 3-4 meg.

 

[geoj]

Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2898000
it says to add half a level teaspoon per 40 gall 2x aweek. I add 1 level teaspoon cause i have a 80 gal +20 gall sump but i figure with the sand rocks etc..it really = 80 gals. So should i just add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons i just don't want it to effect the PH or the CA. Is regular baking soda the same as reef builder?
I would use 1 level teaspoon then wait 2 hours and then add the 1/2 teaspoon test before and the next day to see what happened. Expect CA to come down some.
Keep an eye on salinity it may go up depending on how much water you mix the additive in.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2898007
Isn't 500 a little to high my goal is ca 420-440 with alk 3-4 meg.
500 is at the upper scale but you are going to get a shift in calcium when you adjust your alkalinity. If your calcium Is at the low end and you adjust your alkalinity you will lower your calcium then you have to adjust that. It becomes a see saw effect. Again I am not the expert here this is just IMO

 

[dennis210]

I goota agree with Joe on this - get your calcium up to some where between 460 and 500. Then raise your alkalinty. Don't forget pH, alk, Ca, & Mg are all tied together - so playing with one affects the other. Start looking at the big picture. When you do a water change what are the parameters of that new water? Figure out how to make it what you want before it goes into the tank. You will find it easier to maintain your tanks parameters if your change water is where it is supposed to be.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2898000
it says to add half a level teaspoon per 40 gall 2x aweek. I add 1 level teaspoon cause i have a 80 gal +20 gall sump but i figure with the sand rocks etc..it really = 80 gals.
That rate is probably fine for a tank with only a few small corals and snails. If you have more livestock consuming Carbonate then the dosage will have to increase.
So should i just add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons i just don't want it to effect the PH or the CA.
Yep. You need to increase the dosage to raise alkalinity. Keep track of how much you add every week and adjust your weekly dosage based on your weekly alkalinity test. If you topoff every day then just add the additive to your topoff water and base the dosage on your evaporation rate.
Is regular baking soda the same as reef builder?
Yes.

 

[tdog7879]

I think i no whats going on . Since it has gotten cold out side my heater has been running more and that would make it more dry air in my house and causing alot more water evaporation! I was dripping kalk but i backed off for the last couple of weeks (just got lazy) also wanted to try somthing different. Anyways i just think i going to go back to the kalk. But i have one more question. If i drip kalk to fast would that percipate phosphates back into the tank?

 

[florida joe]

As I said I am not the expert here (are you guys and girls getting my point) BUT it is common to notice a DROP in alkalinity after you initiated kalkwasser dosing once again. This is due to the kalkwasser’s promotion of rapid calcification

 

[tdog7879]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2898800
As I said I am not the expert here (are you guys and girls getting my point) BUT it is common to notice a DROP in alkalinity after you initiated kalkwasser dosing once again. This is due to the kalkwasser’s promotion of rapid calcification

Iam awhere of this . That is another reason i back off the kalk and have been trying to get the alk up and i was going to get everthing balanced out before i started dripping kalk again. But i still can't get the alk up. Maybe i will add more reef builder (higher dose)over the next week and see what happens.
I will does a water test today and post results and then everyone can chime in.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2898827
Iam awhere of this . That is another reason i back off the kalk and have been trying to get the alk up and i was going to get everthing balanced out before i started dripping kalk again. But i still can't get the alk up. Maybe i will add more reef builder (higher dose)over the next week and see what happens.
I will does a water test today and post results and then everyone can chime in.

Ok just take this into consideration and not a must do. After asking some friends in the hobby, I was told that they almost always have to exceed the recommended dosage when using reef builder

 

[tdog7879]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2898836
Ok just take this into consideration and not a must do. After asking some friends in the hobby, I was told that they almost always have to exceed the recommended dosage when using reef builder
Thanks for that tip and asking around! anyways i just tested my water PH 8.3 ALK 1.7-2.8(redsea chart also says normal?) CA 400 (has gone down after WC) What one should i work on first? ALK or CA?

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2898905
Thanks for that tip and asking around! anyways i just tested my water PH 8.3 ALK 1.7-2.8(redsea chart also says normal?) CA 400 (has gone down after WC) What one should i work on first? ALK or CA?
CA

 

[tdog7879]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2899030
CA
thats what i thought so i already dose some reef advantage then i thinking about doseing reef bulider tommorow?

 

[florida joe]

You have to give things a chance to settle down work on your ca first give it a chance to get close to 500 then work on your Alk other wise all you are doing is sew sawing your readings

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2898905
ALK 1.7-2.8(redsea chart also says normal?)
Please get a real test kit. 1.7 Meq/L means that corals are starting to dissolve and can no longer calcify. 2.8 Meq/L is on the low end of being just fine. Your test kit cannot tell the difference.