Cofused about my water

Scouter Steve · 03-21-2007, 09:22 PM

I just got an ALK test (finally I know) to add to my other tests. Here are my results.
PH 7.8
ALK dKH 5.8 or 2.06 meg/L
CA 490 ppm
MG 1410
SG 1.026

Is this good, bad and what do I do to correct if it is out of whack.
I do have Pickling lime and a way to drip if that makes me good to go.

Woodstock · 03-21-2007, 10:08 PM

Your alkalinity is low and your calcium is a bit high. I would raise the alk but no need to worry about the calcium - it will lower on its own.

Shoot for these levels:
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Since your PH is low; buffer your alk using a sodium carbonate (BAKED baking soda) as it will raise PH. Use this calculator to determine how much. Add slowly and only after you mix the powder in a glass with some tank water.
Reef Chemistry Calculator

wasupdavey · 03-21-2007, 10:12 PM

You can use Kent SuperBuffer Powder. It raises up your dKH and this will allow your pH to correct back around 8.0 and KH back to around 8 - 10dKH.

blue_eyes53813 · 03-21-2007, 10:23 PM

What size is your tank?

Scouter Steve · 03-21-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue_eyes53813

What size is your tank?

this is a 125 gal with a 40 breeder basement sump. So I guess at 135-140 gal total.

Scouter Steve · 03-21-2007, 10:39 PM

I was dripping limewater a couple weeks ago and was advised to stop till I knew what my ALK was. This all started cause I noticed my PH being low.

blue_eyes53813 · 03-21-2007, 10:41 PM

Ok when I put raising the the Alk from 5 to 8... for 135 gallon tank it said to add 6.3 teaspons dissolved in Ro water... I would probably add 3 teaspoons to a gallon of water one day and the other 3 teaspoons to a gallon of water on day 2. add to the day very slowly. dripping it would be best. If Ph is rising more than .20 to cut back.

And this is BAKED baking soda...

You may find with your tank you may need to add baked baking soda once a week or so to keep you Alk up. RIght down all testings and make up a schedule.

Woodstock · 03-21-2007, 10:42 PM

I use kalkwasser for all evaporated top offs and still need to occasisonally buffer my alk with BAKED baking soda.

blue_eyes53813 · 03-21-2007, 10:44 PM

Woodstock? adds baked baking soda , I think? How fast does it usually work? Ive never had to use it

Scouter Steve · 03-21-2007, 10:55 PM

Thanks guys (gals) I am heating up the oven as we speak!

Blue Eyes-where did you come up with that calculation? Then maybe I won't have to bother you in the future. Also where is Lancaster? I am in Kenosha.

lcstorc · 03-21-2007, 10:58 PM

She probably got it from here.
Reef Chemistry Calculator
It is a very useful tool

blue_eyes53813 · 03-21-2007, 11:00 PM

reef chemistry calculator in Woodstocks Post #2
click the link and click on traditional and fill in the blanks for Alk
1 tank gallons
2 current alk
3 desired alk
4 and pick a product.- baked baking soda

and it will tell you what to do, very nice calculator

Scouter Steve · 03-21-2007, 11:13 PM

Sorry I didn't read woodstocks whole post. I thought the link was part of a signature! I will pay attention now.

blue_eyes53813 · 03-21-2007, 11:14 PM

Dont be sorry, its cool.. good luck...monitor your alk and ph when adding the soda,,, let us know how it goes.

Scouter Steve · 03-23-2007, 02:10 PM

Update: Here are my levels this morning

PH 7.9
dKH 7.2 263 meq/L
CA > 500
MG 1425

This is after adding several gallons top-off with 6tsp of baked baking soda. Does this look like I am headed in the right direction? I am concerned about the CA.
Also I plan on a 20% WC this weekend. should I test and adjust the ALK/CA before the WC or add after I change if it is needed.

03-21-2007, 09:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 687 View Gallery Karma Komment	Cofused about my water I just got an ALK test (finally I know) to add to my other tests. Here are my results. PH 7.8 ALK dKH 5.8 or 2.06 meg/L CA 490 ppm MG 1410 SG 1.026 Is this good, bad and what do I do to correct if it is out of whack. I do have Pickling lime and a way to drip if that makes me good to go.

03-21-2007, 10:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,501 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water Your alkalinity is low and your calcium is a bit high. I would raise the alk but no need to worry about the calcium - it will lower on its own. Shoot for these levels: Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com Since your PH is low; buffer your alk using a sodium carbonate (BAKED baking soda) as it will raise PH. Use this calculator to determine how much. Add slowly and only after you mix the powder in a glass with some tank water. Reef Chemistry Calculator __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

03-21-2007, 10:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
wasupdavey Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cofused about my water You can use Kent SuperBuffer Powder. It raises up your dKH and this will allow your pH to correct back around 8.0 and KH back to around 8 - 10dKH.

03-21-2007, 10:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water What size is your tank? __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

03-21-2007, 10:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 687 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cofused about my water I was dripping limewater a couple weeks ago and was advised to stop till I knew what my ALK was. This all started cause I noticed my PH being low.

03-21-2007, 10:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water Ok when I put raising the the Alk from 5 to 8... for 135 gallon tank it said to add 6.3 teaspons dissolved in Ro water... I would probably add 3 teaspoons to a gallon of water one day and the other 3 teaspoons to a gallon of water on day 2. add to the day very slowly. dripping it would be best. If Ph is rising more than .20 to cut back. And this is BAKED baking soda... You may find with your tank you may need to add baked baking soda once a week or so to keep you Alk up. RIght down all testings and make up a schedule. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

03-21-2007, 10:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,501 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water I use kalkwasser for all evaporated top offs and still need to occasisonally buffer my alk with BAKED baking soda. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

03-21-2007, 10:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water Woodstock? adds baked baking soda , I think? How fast does it usually work? Ive never had to use it __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

03-21-2007, 10:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 687 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cofused about my water Thanks guys (gals) I am heating up the oven as we speak! Blue Eyes-where did you come up with that calculation? Then maybe I won't have to bother you in the future. Also where is Lancaster? I am in Kenosha.

03-21-2007, 10:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water She probably got it from here. Reef Chemistry Calculator It is a very useful tool __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

03-21-2007, 11:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water reef chemistry calculator in Woodstocks Post #2 click the link and click on traditional and fill in the blanks for Alk 1 tank gallons 2 current alk 3 desired alk 4 and pick a product.- baked baking soda and it will tell you what to do, very nice calculator __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

03-21-2007, 11:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 687 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cofused about my water Sorry I didn't read woodstocks whole post. I thought the link was part of a signature! I will pay attention now.

03-21-2007, 11:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Cofused about my water Dont be sorry, its cool.. good luck...monitor your alk and ph when adding the soda,,, let us know how it goes. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

03-23-2007, 02:10 PM	#15 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 687 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Cofused about my water Update: Here are my levels this morning PH 7.9 dKH 7.2 263 meq/L CA > 500 MG 1425 This is after adding several gallons top-off with 6tsp of baked baking soda. Does this look like I am headed in the right direction? I am concerned about the CA. Also I plan on a 20% WC this weekend. should I test and adjust the ALK/CA before the WC or add after I change if it is needed.

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