ALK is so stubbron

[Jakef150]

Biocube 29 (actual Saltwater at approx 22-23 gal) 1.025/1.026

I m using Tropic Marin Pro ( changing from Red Sea Pro salt mix)
I know tropic marin pro ->1.026 it should show 8.5 kh.

My ALK is so stubbron...stuck at 7kh

I have been dosed 4 ml baking soda 3 days in row.. ( 2 ml in am and 2 ml PM ) to slow raise ALK but nothing...

I would like to raise it to 9ish.

Tips / advice ?

Thanks!
Jake

[sue711]

About 6 months ago I switched to TMPR and I was really disgusted with the 5.6 DkH that I was getting with it freshly mixed. I had to tweak the stuff so much before adding to my tank, it was totally not worth it. I ditched it after giving it 3 months and I went back to Seachem Reef.

[Chris27]

What is the concentration of your solution? 2mL is a really really small dose, try putting 1 tsp of dry baking soda in your overflow, and then take the measurement.

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

[Jakef150]

1 tsp DRY soda baking??

I already mixed it (PURE arms strong) with RO DI in a one gallon...

how many (RO DI mixed w/ baking soda) ML = 1 tsp :confused:

Thanks!
Jake

[Chris27]

20 or 40 mL depending on which recipe you used......20 ml for regular baking soda, 40 ml for baked baking soda.

Look at the directions on the calculator for Randy's 1 or Randy's 2...

[Jakef150]

Randys 2

[bertoni]

I suspect you just need to dose more. 2 ml is a very small dose. This calculator might help:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

I'd use baking soda or the recipe 2 2-part (low pH) to make big changes in the alkalinity, since the high-pH version can spike the pH a fair amount.

[Jakef150]

ok to clear myself understand...

I checked the calculator...from 7 to 9 DKH- approx 22 SW- 62.8 ml; 2.1 fl oz; 12.5 tsp.

Is that only baking soda itself 12.5 or mixed with RO DI = 12.5 tsp ?

thanks
Jake

[bertoni]

What's your guess as to the total water volume of the system? My first estimate would be 18g.

I might try 1/2 tsp baking soda (measure, then dissolve in a bit of RO/DI water) or 1 fl oz of the low pH 2-part. I get 0.8 tsp dry baking soda or 1.7 fl oz recipe 2 to raise the alkalinity 2 dKH, but I'd be conservative for the first dose.

[bertoni]

What's your guess as to the total water volume of the system? My first estimate would be 18g.

I might try 1/2 tsp baking soda (measure, then dissolve in a bit of RO/DI water) or 1 fl oz of the low pH 2-part. I get 0.8 tsp dry baking soda or 1.7 fl oz recipe 2 to raise the alkalinity 2 dKH, but I'd be conservative for the first dose.

[Jakef150]

It's actually Approx 22/23 saltwater (tank itself is 29 plus rocks maybe 20 lbs)

I already had a jar of one gallon ro/di mixed with baking soda... So I just used 1 tsp Measure and dump ro/di mixed 4x and it raised to 8-8.5.

I guess I need to keep checking alk every 2 days if it's back to 7 alk then dose 4x of 1 tsp measure..

Ph 8.4 test is hard to read chart color (API) but I believe it's 8.2

Thanks
Jake

[bertoni]

Okay, sounds okay to me, then. The tank might require daily dosing. That seems to be very common.