I am gettin educated tonight...one more question though. Love this site!

[wienerdog]

OK...had some issues to deal with tonight!!
1. found bubble coral..asked you guys, took advice, removed bubble algae = solved
2. one of my acans bleaching...researched site, found too much light, placed it under a cliff = solved
3. Now my alk is at 6 dkh. I am not sure if its a problem or not. If so, I would like to use baking soda to increase. How much to increase a 90g DT + 30g sump from 6dkh to 9/10dkh. Do I have to?

 

[ricwilli]

Use this calc. http://reef.diesyst.com/cf/chemcalccf.html

 

[9supratt4]

BRS has a great calculator to use in order to figure out how much of each chemical to add.

Don't forget too...it's not all about alk. It's about calcium too. And also, magnesium...magnesium is what allows the alk and calcium not to bind.

 

[redfishbluefish]

If you plan on using this stuff frequently, you might wish to bake the baking soda first. See recipe #1 HERE.



Once made, you can use any number of the calculators that tell you how much to add to raise the alk level. Note that chemically, it is a balance between alk and calc.

 

[wienerdog]

My calcium is around 480. I also understand that when I make this mixture I need to add it over a several day period, correct?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Yes! You want to bring it up slowly.

 

[kschweer]

I would definitely take the advice in previous and bake the baking soda first if that is the route you're going to go.

 

[kschweer]

Sorry double post.

 

[wienerdog]

Gonna cook up the baking soda and dissolve it this evening. When I add it to my tank, should I do it over several days? I know not at once as the increase needs to be done gradually.
1.Is there a method or equation to adding the mixture?
2.Should I add anything else to the baking soda/RODI water mix?

 

[bmoney]

just a question have you checked the calcium level I found that when my alk was dropping that my calcium was higher then it should be in my reef only tank. In my fish only tank were the calicum was low about 1050, the alk was at 16dkh. Once I put the calcium to the 1400's the akl level in both tanks went back to being 9-10 dkh. May not be your problem but worth a look if you haven't checked.

 

[wienerdog]

Did you say your Calcium was 1050ppm? Crazy high! My calcium is at 480ppm. Thats why I am trying to find out how slowly to add the baking soda. Dont want the calcium to fluctuate too much as I add the baking soda mix. Think I am gonna add it over a 3 or 4 day period and monitor the Ca and the Alk. By the way, I thought when calcium read above 550ppm it was at saturation. Thanks I am gonna continue to research that comparison.