Alk now at 7....

Hello you reef chemisty majors ;-),

Just wondering if I need to worry about my parameters.

On 3/21/12 they were (using an API reef master test kit)
Ca- 480
Mg- 1500
Kh- 7

Nitrates and Phosphates at 0, or very very close to 0 on the API test kit.

I retested the Alk today and the
Kh was 6.

My corals and fish, etc seem to be fine.
Is the KH low, and Should I worry?

From everything I've read, my Ca should be off too, right?

I looked back at my monthly readings, and my Kh is usually at 7.

I don't dose anything.

If you care to watch a short vid, youl'll see my tank in my sig,

So the question is should I worry about my params?

Thanks

 

Do not worry! Unless you like to your alk isn't that bad. Seeing a daily swing is normal. Giving you an idea of how much is being used up by calcification. Alk gets depleted faster then CA. There are several ways you can slowly raise it. Both with commercial products or home remedies. I personally use ESV 2part calcium/alkalinity dosing daily. It's what I prefer and am comfortable with. Others use baked baking soda made at home, while others use Kalkwasser in their auto top off systems. Whatever you choose to do, just do it slowly. As you stated your tank is doing well

 

Thanks,

I've heard about dome product that is essentially kalwasser, that is available at the grocery store? Something like lime water?

Will this also raise my alkalinity? Baking soda you say will also work?

 

Lime water works well also. Arm&Hammer baking soda too but it's got to be backed in the oven. Look up the recipe as I'm not sure for how long

 

I was just reading about it the other day. You can google reefcalculator and there is a site for determining how much to use. You can bake it or not bake it but each method yields a slightly different result, you may want to read on that. I just dosed un baked bs last night to raise my alk

 

Unbaked will raise his PH also where as baked won't

 

And that would be the difference, either way your PH will stabilize back out though so to me it really doesnt make a difference in what manner you choose unless you are constantly dosing it. If that makes sense.

 

According to BulkReefSupply.com, you have it backwards.

Sodium Bicarbonate (unbaked) will very slightly lower pH, while Sodium Carbonate (baked) will raise it much more rapidly than unbaked will lower it.

 

I use un baked baking soda with Borax soap...been do'n it for years.
there is a formula for sure....and ya better know whats going on....before ya do it.. ime
but Todd, your numbers look fine. : )

 

Thanks for the replies, I'll keep an eye on it.