how do you convert meq./L to dKH?

[bnhd3]

i have a red sea alkalinity test kit and it measures by meq/L. how do i convert this measurement to dKH. what do these two abbreviations stand for? i have read that it is good to keep alk. between 8--11dKH. my red sea kit says 2.2 meq/L is good.

[WaterKeeper]

1 meq/L (milliequivalents per liter) = 2.8 dKH (German hardness units) = 50 mg/l (milligrams per liter or parts per million/ppm)

so 2.2 meq/L = 6.16 dKH. Just a wee bit on the low side.

[bnhd3]

i have some seachem buffer. should i just keep dosing daily until i reach 9 or so dKH. it says on the container that it will not increase the ph over a certain point( i think 8.3). does this mean you can use it to raise alk. w/o worrying about your ph?

[WaterKeeper]

It is going to require about 5 level teaspoons full of the buffer to get your tank to an alk of 9 dKH. Add a teaspoons full every half hour until you have added 3 on day one and the other two, in the same fashion, the next day but do monitor pH because it will increase with the additions. Stop adding if the pH goes above 8.5.

[bertoni]

Which buffer product are you adding? The SeaChem Marine products are not intended for reef tanks.

[bnhd3]

i think it is marine buffer. which kind should i add? give me a few options and i will go to my lfs and see what they have. what harm does the marine buffer do?

[bertoni]

Marine Buffer is not good for reef tanks. I'd switch to Reef Builder or the other "Reef" product. Baking soda is also fine.

The Marine Buffer contains a lot of borate alkalinity, which displace carbonate alkalinity. Corals can only use carbonate alkalinity for their skeletons, and adding a lot of borate makes knowing the carbonate alkalinity difficult. I'd do some water changes to clear out the Marine Buffer if any growth problems are apparent.