How fast can I raise alk

sidd129 · #1 09/04/2007, 03:28 PM

First off, I should of tested my bucket of salt but I didn't. I tested fresh saltwater and it was 8.4 dkh. My tank was 5.6 dkh. I had some sps that was going rtn. Now there are more. I have baking soda on hand. Has anyone else had a problem with IO non reef crystals being low in alk. Also I haven't gotten a hold of a second test kit to verify yet. I have a 120 gal tank with about 120 lbs of rock with a 13 gallon sump. Does anyone now what the specs on IO are supposed to be for alk.

Thank you,

Adam

bertoni · #2 09/04/2007, 03:39 PM

I would raise it to 7 dKH quickly. I've raised alkalinity 2 dKH in one dose many, many times without problems. To do that, though, I recommend baking soda dissolved in RO-DI water. This calculator will help with a dose:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

I target two doses, a few minutes apart, since the calculator requires a guess as to the total water volume.

sidd129 · #3 09/04/2007, 03:43 PM

I used that calculator yesterday but I didn't raise it a lot because I didn't know how much I could. I'll add some more backing soda right now. Is there ever any chance to save a coral once it has started to turn white? Some have just started at the edge of the bases.

Thx

bertoni · #4 09/04/2007, 04:00 PM

The corals might recover, although many don't. Hard to say.