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loganutah 
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Joined: October 31 2007
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 Topic: DIY 2 part Alk/calc help
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.....?
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75 Gal FWLR
29 gal just started
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fj40fax
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Joined: November 04 2004
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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
Edited by fj40fax - February 14 2008 at 7:46pm
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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!
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Shane H
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Location: Brigham City
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Posted: February 14 2008 at 7:49pm |
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.
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loganutah
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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
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75 Gal FWLR
29 gal just started
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fj40fax
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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.
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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!
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BobC63
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Joined: January 17 2007
Location: Lehi, UT
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Posted: February 14 2008 at 11:14pm |
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
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- My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Lyscer
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Posted: February 15 2008 at 7:24am |
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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.
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Mike Savage
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Posted: February 15 2008 at 8:04am |
Stable PH is more important than the exact number.
Mike
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loganutah
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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!
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75 Gal FWLR
29 gal just started
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