Chem Quiz: Which has the highest pH boost?

[Miami Reef]

I’m going to lay out a list of common alkalinity dosing additives. Which one has the highest pH boost when raising alkalinity from 7–8 dKH?

A) All For Reef
B) Calcium reactor
C) Kalkwasser
D) Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
E) Sodium hydroxide
F) Soda ash (sodium carbonate)

 

[backbayreef]

I’m going to lay out a list of common alkalinity dosing additives. Which one has the highest pH boost when raising alkalinity from 7–8 dKH?

A) All For Reef
B) Calcium reactor
C) Kalkwasser
D) Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
E) Sodium hydroxide
F) Soda ash (sodium carbonate)

E but overdosed might cause harm, pH shoot thru the roof.

I would go for kalk (pH of 12.4) and it’s gradual (assume good evap rate) and oh — it will also raise calcium.

My vote: Kalk ;)

 

[enlighten]

I considered all of these and went with kalk for my personal reef. Can opening a window also be on the list?

 

[backbayreef]

I considered all of these and went with kalk for my personal reef. Can opening a window also be on the list?

Opening the window will help raise pH but unfortunately won’t raise Alkalinity :)

 

[X-37B]

Kalk is what I now use.
I was having low ph at night, 7.5-7.6, 8.1 during the day.
I took my no3 reactor offline. It's effluent was 6.7 and my carx is 6.5.
So I started running kalk using a Kamoer at 2mlm which is 2800mld.
My low is now 7.9 and daytime is 8.2-8.3.
My system looked good with no issues but now with the ph boost I have seen new growth in corals that were just haging out.
And corals that were showing new growth prior are in overdrive.
I now run my carx at 12mlm. I was at 24mlm before starting kalk.
I just got a 6g Advanced Acrylic for the Kalk setup yesterday.
Kalk is my new friend and I plan to run it with A4R on my new 112.

 

[backbayreef]

Kalk.
I was having low ph at night, 7.5-7.6, 8.1 during the day.
I took my no3 reactor offline. It's effluent was 6.7 and my carx is 6.5.
So I started running kalk using a Kamoer at 2mlm which is 2800mld.
My low is now 7.9 and daytime is 8.2-8.3.
My system looked good with no issues but now with the ph boost I have seen new growth in corals that were just haging out.
And corals that were showing new growth prior are in overdrive.
I now run my carx at 12mlm. I was at 24mlm before starting kalk.
I just got a 6g Advanced Acrylic for the Kalk setup yesterday.
Kalk is my new friend and I plan to run it with A4R on my new 112.

Looks like you & I came to the conclusion— CaRx + Kalk make a great combo. My 450gal has an Avast K2 and my 90gal frag has a K1. I’m getting another K2 for the 150gal cube this weekend. So all 3 tanks will have a CaRx, supplemented with kalk for the best of both worlds. One could argue that it’s just easier to do 2-part for the same net effect but hey — playing with CaRx and Kalk stirrers can be fun! lol

 

[Crabs+Shrimps-69]

My guess is either kalk or the baking soda

 

[Gtinnel]

If i remember a post from Randy correctly the answer is Kalkwasser and Sodium Hydroxide. When raising the Alk from 7-8 they will both have the same effect on pH.

 

[X-37B]

Looks like you & I came to the conclusion— CaRx + Kalk make a great combo. My 450gal has an Avast K2 and my 90gal frag has a K1. I’m getting another K2 for the 150gal cube this weekend. So all 3 tanks will have a CaRx, supplemented with kalk for the best of both worlds. One could argue that it’s just easier to do 2-part for the same net effect but hey — playing with CaRx and Kalk stirrers can be fun! lol

Yes I think we did. I am rather surprised with the growth after only 2 weeks and I saw an immediate response after 1-2 days.
Ph is more important than I realised and I have seen nothing but good from it.
It's not chasing numbers. It's again about stability and I look forward to see the long term affect to the system.
This has made a significant change in my thought patterns about ph.
My simple system.

 

[KStatefan]

E and C

 

[rtparty]

C and E should have the same pH raising effect. My only hang up is to go from 7 to 8dkh will take a lot more kalkwasser than sodium hydroxide and I wonder if that amount of higher pH additive skews anything. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t

 

[jonelder68]

E with ph 14 while Kalkwasser 12-13ph at full saturation.

 

[Nitrogencat]

I think kalkwasser

 

[bubbgee]

Sodium Hydroxide, then Kalk. Lowest will be AFR.

 

[backbayreef]

This quiz should have been a poll.. just saying! ;)

 

[Miami Reef]

Answer coming later today.

This quiz should have been a poll.. just saying! ;)

It’s a slight trick question.

 

[backbayreef]

Answer coming later today.


It’s a slight trick question.

Fair enough - I'm still keeping my original answer. If highest, then it's (E) Sodium Hydroxide; but highest and safest, it's C) Kalkwasser. :)

 

[BZOFIQ]

E and C

C and E ...

Wait, I'm confused.

 

[backbayreef]

Wait, I'm confused.

Many of us came home from the bar at 2am and didn’t study for the pop quiz. Will be interesting to see the professor’s answer…. lol

 

[bushdoc]

Simon says:

“Sodium hydroxide is the strongest pH-raising alkalinity additive possible for reef tanks. It has the same pH boost as kalkwasser when raising alkalinity,