How fast can Alk be raised?

broke1 · 01/01/2010, 11:04 AM

I finally got around to automating my system with dosing pumps.

Alk is sitting right around 7 an would like it to be around 9 just in case something goes wrong, I have a little more room for error. I am tweaking the dosers right now and would like to increase the Alk dosing to raise it. Is 1DKH a week too fast or is this a realistic idea?

Mike O'Brien · 01/01/2010, 11:12 AM

That's fine. Many tanks use that amount on a daily basis then add the dose all at once. No need to rush as you are still within range, just bump up your addition and test again after a few days to see how it's going.

HighlandReefer · 01/01/2010, 11:13 AM

Raising your alk by 1 dKH per week should be fine.

The rule used by many in the hobby is not to raise your alk by more than 2 dKH per day. If you use a high alkalinity supplement like sodium carbonate (baked baking soda), the primary concern is not to raise your pH by more than 0.2.

Dripping alk supplements is recommended by many ULN system hobbyists.

Mike O'Brien · 01/01/2010, 11:17 AM

One more thing is that if your alkalinity is steady at 7 then you are already adding the right amount of alkalinity. If that's the case you would be better off bumping it up seperately from your dosers. If it's falling, then you need to raise your daily dose.

Titus07 · 01/01/2010, 11:50 AM

if I raise my alk, how much can I expect my ca to drop or be depressed if at all?

Mike O'Brien · 01/01/2010, 11:53 AM

Most likely little to nothing at all. IMO that is sort of a newbie myth. It can happen though, but it needs other factors like high levels to begin with. Calcium and alkalinity already supersaturated and high pH or temperature. In a normally running reef tank it's not something you need to worry about.

broke1 · 01/01/2010, 12:38 PM

The PH issue is something I'm hoping to minimize by having the dosers go on after lights out. I have the dose spread over 12 hours at 1 hour incriments at night so hopefully it should have little effect on PH and if it does have an effect it's at a time when the tank needs it anyway.

Thanks for the reply

bertoni · 01/01/2010, 05:51 PM

I regularly dosed 2-3 dKH per day into a tank that had a rapidly growing clam. Using baking soda, that level of dosing is perfectly safe. The only significant issue is a pH spike from a high-pH additive. Baking soda has only a tiny effect on pH.

langtudatinh01 · 01/01/2010, 08:21 PM

sorry to jump into the post. well, should i bake baking soda before add it into the tank? or can i just add into the tank with the top off water? thanks.

bertoni · 01/01/2010, 08:36 PM

Baking the baking soda will make it into a high-pH additive, which is less useful for large additions, but can be okay. In either case, I would dissolve it in RO/DI water before dosing.

01/01/2010, 11:04 AM	#1
broke1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: IL Posts: 1,673	How fast can Alk be raised? I finally got around to automating my system with dosing pumps. Alk is sitting right around 7 an would like it to be around 9 just in case something goes wrong, I have a little more room for error. I am tweaking the dosers right now and would like to increase the Alk dosing to raise it. Is 1DKH a week too fast or is this a realistic idea? __________________ Removed. Current Tank Info: Too big, yet too small

01/01/2010, 11:13 AM	#3
HighlandReefer Team RC Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highland, Maryland Entomologist Posts: 14,416	Raising your alk by 1 dKH per week should be fine. The rule used by many in the hobby is not to raise your alk by more than 2 dKH per day. If you use a high alkalinity supplement like sodium carbonate (baked baking soda), the primary concern is not to raise your pH by more than 0.2. Dripping alk supplements is recommended by many ULN system hobbyists. __________________ Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system

01/01/2010, 12:38 PM	#7
broke1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: IL Posts: 1,673	The PH issue is something I'm hoping to minimize by having the dosers go on after lights out. I have the dose spread over 12 hours at 1 hour incriments at night so hopefully it should have little effect on PH and if it does have an effect it's at a time when the tank needs it anyway. Thanks for the reply __________________ Removed. Current Tank Info: Too big, yet too small

01/01/2010, 05:51 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 68,828	I regularly dosed 2-3 dKH per day into a tank that had a rapidly growing clam. Using baking soda, that level of dosing is perfectly safe. The only significant issue is a pH spike from a high-pH additive. Baking soda has only a tiny effect on pH. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/01/2010, 08:21 PM	#9
langtudatinh01 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 394	sorry to jump into the post. well, should i bake baking soda before add it into the tank? or can i just add into the tank with the top off water? thanks. __________________ Tuanito Tranito Current Tank Info: my little heaven: 40 Breeder nano reeftank (1 year old-refugium/sump 20 gallons)

01/01/2010, 11:12 AM	#2
Mike O'Brien Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,351	That's fine. Many tanks use that amount on a daily basis then add the dose all at once. No need to rush as you are still within range, just bump up your addition and test again after a few days to see how it's going.

01/01/2010, 11:17 AM	#4
Mike O'Brien Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,351	One more thing is that if your alkalinity is steady at 7 then you are already adding the right amount of alkalinity. If that's the case you would be better off bumping it up seperately from your dosers. If it's falling, then you need to raise your daily dose.

01/01/2010, 11:50 AM	#5
Titus07 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 294	if I raise my alk, how much can I expect my ca to drop or be depressed if at all?

01/01/2010, 11:53 AM	#6
Mike O'Brien Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,351	Most likely little to nothing at all. IMO that is sort of a newbie myth. It can happen though, but it needs other factors like high levels to begin with. Calcium and alkalinity already supersaturated and high pH or temperature. In a normally running reef tank it's not something you need to worry about.

01/01/2010, 08:36 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 68,828	Baking the baking soda will make it into a high-pH additive, which is less useful for large additions, but can be okay. In either case, I would dissolve it in RO/DI water before dosing. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni