DIY 2 part Alk/calc help
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23729
Printed Date: July 21 2026 at 3:47pm
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Topic: DIY 2 part Alk/calc help
Posted By: loganutah
Subject: DIY 2 part Alk/calc help
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 7:25pm
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I have been using the Dow ice melt and baked baking soda/ normal baking soda method off of reef keeping.com http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php for several months now. I am using the baked baking soda mixed with water. Which it said for people who have a generally lower ph. I cant seem to get my ph high enough with ought bringing the DKH way out of wack!. For example on a new 30 gal tank my ph started at 7.8. I had to add about 45 ml of this alk stuff to bring ph to 8.4. Now the DKH is at 15-16! Calcium should be ok. Same story on my 75 I have a ph of 8.0-8.1 and DKH is already at 11. ANd calcium is at 360 ppm. So its hard to bring the ph up with ought compromising DKH! Should I just junk this stuff or what??? Any recommendations.....? ------------- 75 Gal FWLR 29 gal just started |
Replies:
Posted By: fj40fax
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 7:45pm
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Don't use the Baking Soda to raise your pH! If your alk is right your pH should stabilize on its own. 8.0 sounds good to me, I wouldn't worry about it any more than that. I would definately worry more about where your alk is than where your pH is as long as it is somewhere close to normal (and yours look NORMAL). Fax ------------- Fax 318-3632 90g 2x250W 14kK MH Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle Adjustments and Massages for Frags! |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 7:49pm
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Is the low a pH a winter problem or an on-going issue. Open a window in the room where you keep your tank - wait a couple hours and see if your pH goes up. In my other house I always struggled to keep the pH up when the house was closed up tight to keep the heat in. |
Posted By: loganutah
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 8:26pm
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So 8.0 is ok ? ANd if I understand you right if the DKH is kept between 10-12 it will stabalize to what ? Im confused on that one. Thanks ------------- 75 Gal FWLR 29 gal just started |
Posted By: fj40fax
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 9:53pm
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Your alk number is a measure of how much buffering ability is in the
system to avoid large pH swings. If that number is between 10 and
12 you should have enough buffering ability to keep the pH
stable. Shane H is absolutely right. This time of year most
low pH tanks are the result of poor ventilation and therefore higher
CO2 levels in our homes. This is just enough to swing the pH down
just a tad, say to 7.8-8.0ish. Do what he says and open a window
for a day and see if your pH goes up .1 or .2.
------------- Fax 318-3632 90g 2x250W 14kK MH Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle Adjustments and Massages for Frags! |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 11:14pm
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Another alternative to opening a window is, if you have a skimmer, run the air input hose out a window. This way the skimmer draws in fresh outside air...
But even a 7.8 pH is not a big deal if it is stable at that number and not bouncing around wildly
------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Lyscer
Date Posted: February 15 2008 at 7:24am
| my ph has been right around 7.8 for the last 2 years and I haven't experienced any problems from it being that low. |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: February 15 2008 at 8:04am
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Stable PH is more important than the exact number. Mike -------------  |
Posted By: loganutah
Date Posted: February 17 2008 at 9:59pm
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Thanks! Opening the door once a day has seemed to help! You guys are awesome!
------------- 75 Gal FWLR 29 gal just started |