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06/22/2019, 04:01 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 37
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Not sure how to fix PH and ALK
Hi,
My ph is low (7.8) and alk (dkh) is high (13.4). I would also like to raise the calcium level. Would Kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide) do the trick for calcium and ph? How do I lower the alk? PS- I have done many many large volume water changes to no avail with the dkH). Thanks |
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06/22/2019, 05:27 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Miller Place, NY
Posts: 7,206
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Some salts are high in DKH, so if you are using one nothing will happen.
Kalk might raise your PH & CA but try not to chase #'s with PH.
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250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps. |
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06/22/2019, 05:38 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Reseda, Ca.
Posts: 1,717
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ph is a function of co2 in the aquarium. As long as you don't have a lot of people in a closed up house, I'd forget about ph ...7.8 is doable anyway …..
dkh will drop on it's own over time. If you want to increase calcium, use calcium chloride....dissolve some in some ro/di water and add it to the tank....here is a calculator..... https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator/
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Please don't feed the bears because the bears will become dependent on free handouts and forget how to take care of themselves …... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mixed reef mostly sps |
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06/22/2019, 06:41 PM
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#4 |
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RC Mod
 Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
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I agree that 7.8 is a reasonable level. Houses with the windows shut often run around that level. I'd ignore the pH, but fresher air might raise the pH a bit. Sometimes, better aeration helps, but that's uncommon.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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06/22/2019, 08:17 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 37
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THANKS but what about lowering the dkh?
Great tips on ph. Thank you to everyone.
I still really really need to lower the dkh. I think that 13.4 dkh is way too high. Any suggestions? Thanks again. |
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06/22/2019, 08:30 PM
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#6 |
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RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
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It should drop on its own if there's nothing being dosed, although it might take a long time. What is the dKH level in your salt product? 13.4 dKH is a bit high, but the animals likely will be okay. If the salt product is the problem, then you could lower the alkalinity by dosing mineral acid into freshly-mixed saltwater, and using that for changes, but mineral acids require careful handling, and I'd just buy a new salt product.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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06/22/2019, 10:09 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Redwood City
Posts: 1,354
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Kalk will also raise your dkh. What is you calcium?
Cheers! Mark
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2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater |
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07/01/2019, 02:19 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Dewitt MI
Posts: 5,051
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What salt are you using for your water changes? Have you check the dKH of the water change water?
Like others said, forget the ph. It is a brat who does what it wants and you can't control it except by taking away it co2.
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
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07/02/2019, 05:30 PM
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#9 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Austin
Posts: 801
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+1 above
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Tank sizes, 2-10's a 55 and one that's about 500gal Current Tank Info: Interior decorating happening |
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