KH Question

[Civicdemon]

So Today i did another test since my Ca. was kinda high a couple days ago at 520 ppm.

So Heres what i got

Temp 79 F.

Salinity 1.025
PH 8.1
Nitrates 3 ppm
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0

Phosfates Just about 0

Ca. 490
Mg 1400

KH about 7.5 or 8

Anyways my question is how can i bring up KH with out really raising anything els, I know i can bring up the PH a bit to like 8.2 or 8.3 but i rather not mess with that if i dont have to.

I hear Baking Soda works but it also increases PH. Is there anything that wont affect both PH and KH Just KH ????

 

[Smitty]

Your alkalinity isn't bad. I wouldn't worry about raising it up. If you have lots of stony corals, you can always start dosing a two part solution. It may also be your salt mix that's giving you those readings.

 

[ccCapt]

Nothing will raise alk without affecting pH. Raw baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) will slightly lower pH and if you put the baking soda in the oven and baked it for 1 hr at 350, it would turn into sodium carbonate and that will slightly raise the pH.

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Northstar24]

Alkalinity and Ph are directly related, so any product that has an effect on one will have an effect on the other

 

[Civicdemon]

My salt mic has a kh of 12 when i mix it. So i dont think its that. So if i bake the backing soda i can bring kh up and only slightly bring up ph. Being as my ph is at 8.1. I have a little room in there right ?

 

[FishyReef]

I believe you can use baking soda if your pH is 8.1-8.3, and washing soda if your pH is lower. Randy Holmes Farley has several articles with pretty detailed instructions (I can't find the one I commonly link to, but you can find it in my alk problems post a few pages back)

 

[ccCapt]

So you are saying when you mix a fresh batch of saltwater, it has a dKH of 12, but your tank only tests at 7.5 or 8? Sounds like it may be a testing error. If you did a 25% water change with water that is 12 dKH, the water in the tank should rise from 8 dKH to 9 dKH. Are you seeing this when you do your water changes?

 

[Civicdemon]

So you are saying when you mix a fresh batch of saltwater, it has a dKH of 12, but your tank only tests at 7.5 or 8? Sounds like it may be a testing error. If you did a 25% water change with water that is 12 dKH, the water in the tank should rise from 8 dKH to 9 dKH. Are you seeing this when you do your water changes?

Havent really tested right after a water change. I usually test a couple days after. and i do see a little climp but not much.

I will check with next time i do a water change again.

As far as testing error goes. i used the API test kit and its pretty mutch simple. i add the 5ml water and then i do 4 drops to start, shake then i add one drop at a time and shake until it goes from blue to yellow

it usually starts changes color at about 7 drops then one more drop makes it fully yellow.

When i look at the kit and what it says i figured its between 7 and 8 ppm

 

[salt01]

I dose 1/2 tsp baking soda in 1 cup rodi water almost every week and dose calcium as well in a 110. I am noticing that it brings it up to optimal levels then i test through out the week and watch it fall slightly everyday. Is there anything on the market that will keep it stable or is this part of dosing in saltwater?