View Full Version : raising alkalinity
dviper150
03/25/2012, 01:35 PM
I dose my tank with c balance part A and part B for calcium and alk. My calcium is currently reading around 460ppm which is where I want it to stay and my Alk is at 7. How do I raise just my alkalinity? The instructions say to dose Part A and B at the same time. Can I just dose part B to raise just the alkalinity?
I would need to dose 85ml of c balance part B to raise it to 9. How should I add that to prevent minimal pH swings?
ReeferBill
03/25/2012, 04:18 PM
Check the label to see if they tell you how much of a max dose per day to raise alk to desired level . if not do an extra dose of alk every night until you reach desired levels.
I dose my tank with c balance part A and part B for calcium and alk. My calcium is currently reading around 460ppm which is where I want it to stay and my Alk is at 7. How do I raise just my alkalinity? The instructions say to dose Part A and B at the same time. Can I just dose part B to raise just the alkalinity?
I would need to dose 85ml of c balance part B to raise it to 9. How should I add that to prevent minimal pH swings?
How big is the system?
dviper150
03/25/2012, 07:00 PM
Sorry, shoud have mentioned it in my first post. It is a 65 gallon tank.
bertoni
03/25/2012, 11:25 PM
Dosing just the alkalinity part is fine. You can use baking soda, too, for that matter. The baking soda will be cheaper. This calculator should help with picking a dose:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html
dviper150
03/25/2012, 11:30 PM
Are you talking about the baking soda that I can pick up at jewel?
bertoni
03/25/2012, 11:35 PM
Yes. :)
dviper150
03/25/2012, 11:36 PM
awesome! Will that effect the pH a lot. Can I dose baking soda along with part A and replace part B with baking soda? that would be so much cheaper.
bertoni
03/26/2012, 12:24 AM
Baking soda won't affect the pH much. If you want to make a DIY 2-part, that can save some money. There are some RC sponsors who sell the dry chemicals. This article discusses the basic approach:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
dviper150
03/26/2012, 10:06 AM
Thanks for the help! :)
I will read that link.
bertoni
03/26/2012, 05:11 PM
You're welcome! Good luck!
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.