Ph adjustment

[geofrs]

Hi all,
Can sodium hydroxide as used in raising pool PH... be used for raising a reef tanks PH?
I have loads of the stuff and am wondering???
Regards Geofrs

[Tangster]

Why worry about adjusting the PH ? What is the Carbonate levels You can add an air stone with a good pump and just raise the PH

Its the Carbonate or DKH level that you need to worry about and adjust if need be,

[geofrs]

Originally Posted by Tangster

Why worry about adjusting the PH ? What is the Carbonate levels You can add an air stone with a good pump and just raise the PH

Its the Carbonate or DKH level that you need to worry about and adjust if need be,

Thanks Tankster.. I got a bit mixed up with the results (aged Brain)?

[Tangster]

Yes I also suffer from Chronic CRS syndrome (: If I had ever dreamed I would have gotten this old I'd not done a lot of things I did do and would have said No thanks more often .

[geofrs]

Hi againTangster,
Sorry to be a pain, but I was using the wrong test kit it was for freshwater.

Taking your advice I tested for carbonate using a Nutrifin test kit for Marine water.
and found I had a reading of 140 mg/l which I gather is high.

How does using an air stone alter PH carbonate levels?

I should have stated that I am setting up my first Reef tank and am preparing it to receive Live rock, it just has some Coral grit/sand in it at the moment and has been running for two weeks the salt level is correct.My poor old brain cell is a bit confused from reading all of the info in forums.

As you may gather I am a StuperNube.
Regards Geofrs

Originally Posted by Tangster

Why worry about adjusting the PH ? What is the Carbonate levels You can add an air stone with a good pump and just raise the PH

Its the Carbonate or DKH level that you need to worry about and adjust if need be,

[Tangster]

No way buddy you are not a pain (: I'd rather help out before the problem then after the problems ..

O.K its been a good while since I tested Carbonates using Meg/l I like DKH myself easier for my simple brain the grasp on to.. But you said the carbonate level was at 140 meg/l Are you testing in ppm ..or leave out a decimal point ?

2.8 dKH =1.0 meg/l = 50 ppm.

example lets say you have a level of 200 ppm that equals 4 meg/l or 11.2 dKH So at 140 PPM you are way low on the carbonate level and this will dictate the PH levels.

Now the oxygen contained in the air will drive up PH in several ways But the basic is the exchange of Higher PH gas oxygen with the lower PH gas of Carbon dioxide this is why its important to get as much surface agitation on the marine aquarium as possible as 90% of the gas is exchanged there . Do you use glass covers on this tank ? Bad idea.

[Tyslin]

Hey Guys,

Just a quick question how can you increase your DKH?

[geofrs]

Hi Tankster,
The instructions on the KH kit are so very small had to use a magnifiyng glass to read thoroughly and it states Mg/l - (pps) so it is 140 pps... the instructions say that 105- 125 are ideal for saltwater conditions Hmm?

I have taken on board your comment re the glass top and the water flow... I will have to get some glass to protect the tubes... 2 Actinic +2 Sunlight, MH to come.
Thanks again for your input.
Regards Geofrs ( I'll get there one day)

[Tangster]

Originally Posted by Tyslin

Hey Guys,

Just a quick question how can you increase your DKH?

Either by using more Buffer or Kalkwasser and or a Ca. recg
reactoi.

[Tangster]

Geof if it where me I'd bump that Dk on upwards of 300 ppm myself..