Suggestions needed to raise my Alk

[sduda]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can raise my Alk? It is at 4 dkh and as I understand things, it should be between 8 & 12. I do a 20% water change about every 2 weeks. Nothing is bad at this point but as I understand from reading, it makes water chemistry more at risk to change rapidly. I have been working on adding more LS as a base but was not sure if this would help or not. I have about 1" now and it is in a 46 bowfront.
Thanks!
Stan

 

[bobber]

LS will not buffer your tank, nor will it raise your alk. But adding more sand is a good idea. You have to use a buffer of some sort-either Kalkwasser or Kent's Probuffer dkH. You could also use Seachem's Reef Builder. It raises alkalinity without affecting pH. Dose it properly and slowly of course. I use the probuffer and reef builder and it works great. HTH--Bob

 

[burnnspy]

LS can help buffer your tank if it is aragonite. I recommend Sea Chem Reef Builder.
BurnNSpy

 

[nm reef]

For my 55 gal I started using seachem reef builder...advantage...buffer on a rotating schedule
I add 1/2 tea spoon to 500 ml ro water and drip with iv set up....been on this for approx 6 weeks and readings are
calcium-400 ppm
alk/kh-10.6 dkh/3.77 meg/l
ph- 8.3 (steady)
personally I like the seachems all though others use other products