1st time Measured KH - question

[Gracias]

Hi - I never measured kH before but bought a kit after I was having issues with PH swing.

My PH measures at 8.4 and KH at 107 - according to the API Kh chart the KH should be about 140-200ppm -

So the question is how do I raise the KH? and will it also raise my PH??

Thanks

 

[LavaToad]

There are buffers which raise both pH and KH together, just make sure you follow the instructions. Kent Marine makes one, I'm not sure if there is a recommended buffer everyone here uses?

 

[ecvernon]

In reef tank hobby we usually measure alkalinity in units of DKH or meq/L
I never really used the ppm measurement. Does the API test kit have a table for either one of those measurements? Most will be more familiar in dkh or meq/L

 

[ecvernon]

What type of ph swing were you experiencing? It's ok for ph to go down to around 7.9 at night and back up later

 

[Gracias]

In reef tank hobby we usually measure alkalinity in units of DKH or meq/L
I never really used the ppm measurement. Does the API test kit have a table for either one of those measurements? Most will be more familiar in dkh or meq/L

yes the chart says 6-11 dkh is (100-200 ppm) Fresh water and 8-11 dkh (140-200ppm) is for marine life. I am probable around the 6.5 dkh.

My Ph sings from 7.2 to 8.4 that's both on a probe and test kit.

As I understand it in need to ad ph buffer to increase KH but my PH is at 8.4 so I am concerned I may raise the ph to much if I try to adjust the KH.

Does anyone know of a product or DIY formula to raise just kh?

 

[Adamc1303]

Use regular baking soda made by arm and hammer. Do not use baking powder it's baking soda you need. Tell us ow many gallons the system is so we can tel you how much baking soda to add. You want to do this very very slowly as a kh spike can wipe out allot of corals specifically sps. Are you using 2 part to manually dose calcium and alkalinity? What do you have in the tank.

 

[Gracias]

Thanks Adam - I am dosing 2 lil fishes c balance part A & B. I figured it out the mistake was on my end with doser. once I started manually dosing by hand and continued testing all is well. Now I need to keep an eye out for a used doser....