Alkalinity drop

[waterperson]

Recently my tank's Kh been gradually dropping from 8-9 to 5-6 over a month. Corals showing good growth and have outpaced my water change and kalk regime. Been using kalk and i think it has reached its limits for my tank. Need a product to raise alk to 8-9Kh and a way to maintain it there.

My tank paras at the moment are

Alk: 5-6

Ca: 400

Mg: 1200

pH: 8.2

Temp: 26-27

NH3, NO2, NO3: not detectable

Phospate: 0 but got some algae here and there, so i guess its not really zero

Pls recommend a method or product to raise alk to 8-9 and maintain it there. Appreciate any comments. Thx

[xiggie]

2 part dosing pump or calcium reactor. You will have to raise the kh first , then tune the doser or CR to maintain.

5-6 alk is too low , sodium bicarbonate will help raise the kh to desired level without overly effecting the ph and calcium like kalk will.

[FuEl]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/#7

Can make more concentrated kalkwasser by using vinegar to increase solubility.

[asg]

bro, how big is your tank and what is your daily kh consumption rate?

[waterperson]

Tank is a 4 footer. I am dripping in 2 liter of saturated kalk daily but kh still slowly slipping by about 1 kh per week.

[waterperson]

Will read up on how to dose sodium bicarbonate to bring up alk first then on a long term dosing method. Probably go with 2part dosing. Wife not going to be happy seeing a co2 cylinder sitting in living room. Will say dangerous for kids. Preemptive strike.

[waterperson]

Just bought this Dupla Marin KH+ powder to boost the kh and the Jebao dosing pump during lunch break. Will dose it tonite and hopefully after few nites, the kh will get back to normal.

Thx for all the advice.

[waterperson]

oh yes, cannot find the calcium bicarbonate as advised, so used this first to fend off the emergency. Later then scour for the complete solution to boost calcium, magnesium and kh together.

Still like to use kalk w vinegar (as suggested by Fuel), so probably use it to maintain levels as well.

[xiggie]

Bicarbonate of soda , this is what I use , easily found at the grocery store

[waterperson]

Huh? Serious? Grocery store? Think the kh powder I bough is overspent liao

[waterperson]

Alk raised to 7 this morning after overnite drip of kh solution. Will pause for daytime n continue to drip slowly at nite again. Repeat till I get back to 9 range. Lucky no observable ill effects in tank atm. Thx again to those who helped n commented.

[tansk]

How much did u mix your kalk with vinegar? Too much of vinegar will also affect your KH.

[waterperson]

I dose 1ml daily together with the kalk. Just started for about a month. Is this amt ok? I got a 4x2x2 n a 3 ft sump

[youdontnowm]

I dose 1ml daily together with the kalk. Just started for about a month. Is this amt ok? I got a 4x2x2 n a 3 ft sump

suggest u dose sodium bicarbonate is better to supply kh instead of kalk.

[waterperson]

suggest u dose sodium bicarbonate is better to supply kh instead of kalk.

Thx bro. Just realised sodium bicarbonate can be bought from grocery stores. lol

Now reading up on how to maintain Mg and Calcium levels as well. Any idea where I can get Calcium chloride and Magnesium chloride in powder form? I saw bulk reef supply video but their products not on sale in singapore. Thx

[SubzeroLT]

You can get small buckets of Calcium chloride and Magnesium chloride at Madpetz.

[waterperson]

You can get small buckets of Calcium chloride and Magnesium chloride at Madpetz.

Thx bro. Seems like i have to make a trip down to madpetz