Best/easiest way to raise ALK

[Reefried]

What is the best way to raise Alk is it baking soda?, and if so how much should I add to a 75 with a 20 sump?

My alk at the last meeting was 2.10meq/L
and its supposed to be 2.5-4meq/L

All I have is a good for nothing Red Sea test with low/med/high on it but I know its still low?(hoping to get a good test at the auction)

Also whats the equation to convert meq/L to the DKH numbers???

And to be a total pita I also have a question about phos. My little BRS card that the test parameters/recomendations on it, says that phos should be (less than) <0.03 and mine is 0.15 which would be 5 times the recomended amount, but in a book I have it says that phos should be <0.3 which means that mine is half of the rec. amount. So which one is the mis-print??
Sorry to post 10 questions in one post!

 

[Moe_K]

Check out the Useful Threads stuck to the top of this forum.

Here's the useful thread on alk:
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6476

 

[chew*]

As for alk, I drip kalk. Other than that can't help ya.

 

[Dave McReeferson]

And to be a total pita I also have a question about phos. My little BRS card that the test parameters/recomendations on it, says that phos should be (less than) <0.03 and mine is 0.15 which would be 5 times the recomended amount, but in a book I have it says that phos should be <0.3 which means that mine is half of the rec. amount. So which one is the mis-print??
Sorry to post 10 questions in one post!

Ideally, your phosphates would be at (or very close to) 0. What an exceptable level is, is up for debate, you'll hear different #'s everywhere, many will tell you if it is detectable, it is too much.

 

[Reefried]

As for alk, I drip kalk. Other than that can't help ya.

Kalk doesn't raise alk I thought, it just helps to maintain it . and I drip kalk too my levels are consistantly 450-500, it was in the 420's at the meeting where I got the other tests.

 

[chew*]

Kalk can definitely raise alk and quite quickly to unsafe levels. The key with kalk is to get your levels where you want them before you start dripping, In my case 450 CA and 7.7-7.9 KH then start increasing the amount you drip and or the amount you mix (not exceeding 2tsp per gallon) till you find the sweet spot for maintaining those levels.

If your MG is 1350-1500 Your CA and KH will become more stable.

For those that question my KH yes I know natural seawater is measured between 8-11KH but then again we don't have natural sea water in our tanks, And even if some of you do use NSW It's far from natural once it enters the confines of our closed system tanks. I have my reasons for running it at that level.

This should shed some light on phosphates for you and what levels are desirable in a reef. There are many methods of removal, fuges, reactors etc etc.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

 

[naturebatslast]

Kalk doesn't raise alk I thought, it just helps to maintain it . and I drip kalk too my levels are consistantly 450-500, it was in the 420's at the meeting where I got the other tests.

No, kalk does raise alk and Ca, and by nature it's prebalanced. Your possibly not adding enough and/or not mixing it strong enough.

 

[MikeG]

Saturated kalkwasser or limewater solution may or may not be able to raise your calcium and alkalinity levels. A saturated solution can only add a finite amount of each compound to your water column. If this is less that the demand from the inhabitants you keep, then it will not raise levels. If it is more than the inhabitants can utalizr, then it will raise levels.

To convert from meq/L to DKH multiply by 2.8