Low dkH

[patandlace]

My dkH doesn't seem to want to budge above 7. I've added about a half bottle of B-Ionic no.1 Alk. and almost a full bottle of Seachem's Reef Carbonate in the past month or two. Usually a few capfulls every day or two. It's gone from 6 to 7. Do I just need to add alot more or could something else be up? Thanks in advance.

 

[Moe_K]

Go with a cheaper alk supplement, for starters.
Use regular old Arm & Hammer baking soda.
Or get Arm & Hammer's "Super Washing Soda" from the detergent aisle in the supermarket.
Mix a teaspoon of either in some RODI water and dissolve.
Then slowly add to your sump.

That should push up your alkalinity. Measure the alk a few hours later. Still need more alk? Repeat.

 

[patandlace]

Thanks for the quick response. I had heard of using baking soda before but wasn't sure about it. I'll give it a try. Do you think It's unusual that I've added as much as I did and it barely budged?

 

[Mad Cow]

No that doesn't sound right. 10ml of B-Ionic will raise my dKH +1 in a 30 gallon tank. What test kit are you using?

 

[patandlace]

The brand is API(Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) for Carbonate Hardness. I just mixed up a batch of baking soda. I'll see how that does.

 

[Mad Cow]

Stupid question. Are you capping the tube and mixing after every drop? I would also double check it with a Salifert or Elos test or bring a sample to AG and have them test it.

What size tank do you have? Ca and Mg testing?

 

[Moe_K]

Here's the best article ever written on alkalinity problems in the reef tank:
http://web.archive.org/web/20021127040526/http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[patandlace]

Stupid question. Are you capping the tube and mixing after every drop? I would also double check it with a Salifert or Elos test or bring a sample to AG and have them test it.

What size tank do you have? Ca and Mg testing?

Yeah I do cap and mix after each drop.The tank is 92 gallons Ca-435 Mg- no clue I've never tested for it. Maybe I should start. I could probably test it with my colorimeter. I just need to figure out how.

 

[patandlace]

Here's the best article ever written on alkalinity problems in the reef tank:
http://web.archive.org/web/20021127040526/http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Thanks for the link. Very informative.

 

[Moe_K]

Oh, and here's a table to convert dKH to mEq/L
http://ozreef.org/library/tables/alkalinity_conversion.html

 

[TomD]

Moe is right. Until you need/if a reactor, Randy's is great. Here is the link how to make it http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I would ditch the AI test kit and get some better ones.

Also, make sure you check your magnesium. From what I have been told it can be hard to move the ALK/CA if it is low.

 

[Moe_K]

You can use this alkalinity calculator to figure out how much bkaing or washing soda you have to add to get to your desired level:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

 

[Moe_K]

Here's another great article from Randy on supplements needed (and not needed) for the reef tank:

Part 1:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

Part 2:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

 

[patandlace]

Wow after every article I read, I x-out to find two more waiting for me . It's going to be a late night. Really, thanks for the info.

 

[Moe_K]

Wow after every article I read, I x-out to find two more waiting for me . It's going to be a late night. Really, thanks for the info.

Be sure to attend the September meeting. Randy Holmes-Farley will be one of the guest speakers.

 

[Jim Tansey]

Don't let the price fool you, nothing wrong with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals kits, they are one of the better ones IMO.

Jim

 

[MisFit]

The aquarium pharmacuticals dKH kit blows, I never test anything but 6-8 with them. Their other kits are ok, but for some reason ive never had the dKH kit work and Ive tried multiple bottles. I even tested it out on a tank that tested 11 with the seachem kit and I got 7 yet again with the API kit.

Another problem could be that you are only meeting your carbonate demands with your additions.

 

[Jim Tansey]

I have used and compared results of the AP Ca, Nitrate, and Alk test kits against the results from Salifert many, many times and ALWAYS get similar results. My system runs at 10-11 dKH as measured by both AP and Salifert if you can't get a measurment over 6-8 dKH using the AP are you confident of the Seachem?

If I were to say one thing about the AP it is that it consistantly reads a bit lower than Salifert for Ca, which is closer to the actual????

Jim