Alk/Cal

[82nd]

Hello,I have 120 gal tank,PH is 8.1,Alk is 8.9 Dkh,Cal.is 445 and I happy with that but to get there my PH.was 7.8 and Alk.was 7.7 and my Cal.was 550+.So I decided to just Dos soda ash and everything is were I like it ,so now how do I maintain it? Because I my Cal.will continue to go down.I do weekly water changes and I use hw-marinemix with a Cal.490 and Alk of 7.0

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello,I have 120 gal tank,PH is 8.1,Alk is 8.9 Dkh,Cal.is 445 and I happy with that but to get there my PH.was 7.8 and Alk.was 7.7 and my Cal.was 550+.So I decided to just Dos soda ash and everything is were I like it ,so now how do I maintain it? Because I my Cal.will continue to go down.I do weekly water changes and I use hw-marinemix with a Cal.490 and Alk of 7.0

No chemical additive can be dosed to boost pH without raising alkalinity.

To raise pH, one needs to deplete CO2 from the water, which can be done with more photosynthesis (such as a refugium) high pH alk additives when alk is needed, lowering CO2 in the room air, or using low CO2 air into a skimmer inlet, such as using outside air or a CO2 scrubber.

http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/