high pH -- how to stop!

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU, mgk! I'm trying to catch up, but damn, it sure would be nice if I could bring somma that reading into my library with me. (No, I haven't got a laptop, but it sure would be nice....wireless connection maybe..hmph.)

 

[Leopardshark]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but something similar has happened to me. Due to my increased calcium demand and increased bioload (12 fish in a 300 gal) I´m having low alk and calc (6-7 dkh and 380-400ca) so I started using baking soda to raise my alk, well the result= PH 8.7 at 7 pm and 8.35 at 8 am.
I´ve used vinegar to lower the ph but it returns to high values in a short time.
So what do guys recommend me??
Currently I´m not adding nothing but keeping my calc reactor running at a higher rate.
Thanks
Marco

 

[mgk65]

I'm surprised you are having high pH, because most calcium reactor tanks will suffer from low pH due to the CO2.

What test kits are you using? Baking soda should not affect your pH in that manner (raising).

You should not add baking soda so that the pH changes by more that 0.2. One way that I do is to create a solution that is then slowly dripped into the tank.

It can take a LOT of baking soda or calcium chloride to boost a tank that size.

Using your numbers and assuming your test kits are correct, if you use my calculator, it would take 31 tsp of calcium chloride to move from 380 to 450ppm ca and 21 tsp of baking soda to go from 7dKH to 11 dKH. However, these amounts should never be added at once, especially baking soda due to the pH effect. The CaCl2 can be added in 3-4 doses, testing some time after each one. and the baking soda should be dripped into the tank over several hours.

mgk

 

[dallast1]

only one i've been to so far is the shark reef outing, which was great!
tried to go to another one, but the wrong date was posted. if in town, i will be at the next one as well.
do you know howard?

dallast

 

[Anonymous]

No, I don't know him. I'd like to attend the meetings but my work schedule usually prevents it. Maybe I'll get to one sometime soon.

 

[Anonymous]

Excellent, mgk is a good brain to pick!

dallast...I'm sorry but...what are you on about?

 

[dallast1]

just replying to yancey about lvmas.

and who is mgk?

yancey, howard is the president of the lvmas. he is really trying to get the forum at lvmas.org up and people using. if you can, stop by and see what the locals are on about!

dallast

 

[Anonymous]

OH! :lol: Sorry, you really lost me there...LOULE!!

I don't know him in person, but everything s/he says is easily verified at this point and appears to be quite correct. A real plethora of knowledge is the feeling I'm getting, and I just love to pick brains! (And noses, too..hee!!)

I think we need to dig up "The Rogue's Gallery" again, yeah? I know one fishaholic, as well as several others whose pics haven't been entered therein.