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This is a method that some folks have used, but bear in mind that sodium hydroxide will boost alkalinity and pH rapidly. Do it in small doses, and possibly dose calcium to the tank if you use a lot of sodium hydroxide so that you do not skew the balance between calcium and alkalinity.
FWIW, if you have a 55 gallon tank (assume 50 gallons of water) and you add 3.8 grams (less than a teaspoon of solid lye) you will boost the alkalinity by 0.5 meq/L (1.4 dKH). That will also boost pH overall by about 0.7 pH units, although it will come down over time as the tank draws in CO2.
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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