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God of thunder
09/03/2007, 03:37 AM
Hi there.

My alk is currently at 2,5 meq/l it was a lot lower but i raised it ny using buffer.
How can i raise it even higher?

Billybeau1
09/03/2007, 03:57 AM
Good old Arm & Hammer baking soda.

dissolve it in a few cups of fresh water and dose in a high flow area or sump.

This calculator tells how much to dose

Reef Chemicals Calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

If you also want to raise pH at the same time, bake the baking soda on a cookie sheet for an hour or so. :)

God of thunder
09/03/2007, 03:58 AM
Is this safe, it seems a litle risky dumping baking soda in the tank....

Billybeau1
09/03/2007, 04:02 AM
You don't dump it in the tank. You dissolve it in a few cups of fresh water and pour that slowly in the tank.

And yes it is safe. We all use it. :)

God of thunder
09/03/2007, 04:04 AM
The calculator suggest that i use 67 gr over ana extended period of time, how muck time are we talking about?

Percula9
09/03/2007, 11:30 AM
I use Reef Builder by seachem to raise carbonate alk. I like a more balanced buffer. What is the PH in your tank?

Boomer
09/03/2007, 11:39 AM
How high do you want to raise it ? Shoot for 0.25 meq/ l / day

God of thunder
09/03/2007, 11:42 AM
I want to raise it to 5 meq, my ph is 8,2

Boomer
09/03/2007, 11:52 AM
Why there is not need to be that high. The highest we recommend is 4 meq / l. You get any higher than that with a pH of 8.2 and Ca++ in the 400's and you will get abiotic precipitation. Your supersaturation parameter index is Ω 6 at those levels.

God of thunder
09/03/2007, 12:07 PM
Is 2 enough?, should i aim for 4 may be?

Boomer
09/03/2007, 12:12 PM
We like to see it somewhere between 2.5 and 4 meq / l. 3.5 meq /l is a good number :)

God of thunder
09/03/2007, 12:13 PM
Thank you, do you recomend baking soda?

Boomer
09/03/2007, 12:15 PM
That is just fine to use