PH and ALK is LOW

[kel2682]

My Ph is low and so is my ALK I live in a small apartment and its cold outside so I cant just open ..... and it may be the air in here what the best way to bring up the PH Will a large water change do the trick????
Thanks

[Amedion]

Drip Kalkwasser to replace your evaporated water.
If evaporation rate is slow. Try add more fans.

[kel2682]

isnt kalkwasser like a calcium supplimentor to feed coral and alge ??????my calcium is 420

[Amedion]

Kalkwasser are to maintain your calcium and alkalinity. Not add.
It captures free carbon dioxide present in the tank water and converts it to Bicarbonate ions which helps to bring up your pH.

[kel2682]

I do add like 1 1/2 gallons as top off for evaporation is there just a way to dose like one time or no???I need to fix this asap i think this is why my coraline is dying off

[mg426]

What is you ALK level??

[kel2682]

a little low

[kel2682]

is this something that could be fixed by a large WC

[ChrisKirkland]

How low is a little low we need specific parameters to help you.

[Amedion]

Use kH buffer to bring up your alkalinity. pH will increase too but not much since its not well aerated in your air tight apartment.

Don't add more than 2dkH per day & not over 11dkH.

[kel2682]

not sure exact the LFS tested water and said ph is low and alk is a little low not that that helps i should of got numbers

[Amedion]

You should get yourself a tester

[reefworm]

see if this article helps. sounds like you're in zone 4 from your description:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[thecoralreefer]

Test for yourself and see what it is. Even coraline does use calcium and it could stand a little change too.
If your water change test comes out higher than the tank water
You will raise the levels some too.Most mix out good when you are at .025 or so. But a kalkwasser mix will bring them up too. But how do you know to rise when you don't know where you are? This is why you need to test yourself. Aim for 430-440 calcium, 10+dkh in alk,8.4 or so in Ph And test for phosphates.
0 is good. Phosphates retard the calcification process.

[mg426]

I can only stress what has been posted above. Get accurate information !! A Little low is not accurate information. YOu will never have a handle on what you need to do untill you know where you are at. Get a Quality test kit and then lets talk.

[reefworm]

for pH - get a good meter [Pinpoint, for example].
a refractometer for salinity [not a swing arm hydrometer] For Alk and Ca++ I recommend LaMotte kits, but that's me. Salifert and Elos are good kits as well. If you don't test for it, don't add it.

[Michael]

kalkwasser can help to get the ph up a bit and stable, the calcium will raise but the ph will as well