ESV Calcium Hydroxide help

[huttoreefer]

Hello,

I bought ESV Calcium Hydroxide from BRS for main reason, raising pH. I followed the mixing direction

• Adding 1tsp/gal, then have it mixed overnight.
• Next morning, I turned off the magnetic stirrer, had it sit for like 1 hour and then collected the milky liquid to a container.
• Set it on red sea dosing pump and have it dose daily, 50ml/day.

After two days, my pH stayed the same which was at 7.9 with lights on, calcium dropped from 400ppm to 330ppm and alk jump from 8 to 9dKH, So i decided to turn off the doser.

Tank is 1 year old, I don't use skimmer, only live rocks and that's it.

• I use BRS Calcium Chloride, BRS Soda Ash, and BRS Pharma Magnesium Mix for 2-Par Maintenance.
• Mag is 1350ppm (Salifert tester) , NO3 stays around 10ppm and PO4 around 80pbm (Hanna tester)

May I know the reason why my calcium dropped and pH did not raised?

Thanks,

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The calcium drop is test error. The pH rise with kalk is often small since it is fighting against aeration that is bringing in more CO2.

The higher the aeration, and the more CO2 in that aerating air, the smaller will be the final pH rise.

And, of course, the smaller the kalk amount added, the smaller will be the pH rise. A boost of 0.5 dKH per day is fairly small and would expect a fairly small pH boost, even without aeration.

 

[huttoreefer]

The calcium drop is test error. The pH rise with kalk is often small since it is fighting against aeration that is bringing in more CO2.

The higher the aeration, and the more CO2 in that aerating air, the smaller will be the final pH rise.

And, of course, the smaller the kalk amount added, the smaller will be the pH rise. A boost of 0.5 dKH per day is fairly small and would expect a fairly small pH boost, even without aeration.

Thanks Randy,

I can dose more but then my Alk would jump raise way more than I want it to be, I keep the tank around 8.15 and for 2 days dosing it went up to 9.30

What is your suggestion to raise pH dosing kalk without getting Alk out of chart?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hydroxide dosing in any form has the alk boost limitation you note.

Outside air or CO2 scrubbed air to a skimmer can help a lot.

Outside air to the room can also help, obviously.

More photosynthesis, such as in a reverse light cycle refugium can also help.