High PH Alk Additive

[XLOR8T]

I’m looking for the highest PH Alk additive. (Something that raises Ph more than Alk compared to a bicarbonate base as I’m using ESV Bionic right now)

Current candidates: Soda Ash or Kalk
Alk consumption: low 0.06DKH/day
Actual water volume 119G

Background:
So after a lot of trial and error and work I have determined the lower PH range of my main tank is driven by the heavy bioload. Currently range 7.7-7.8 in 24hr range. My QT tank with very little bioload and same additives 8.15-8.25. It is temporary as I’m building a 1000Gal total system volume moving up from 140 Gal system. I have added refugium with Kessil H380 and grows fantastic chaeto, outside airline and a 400LPH air pump again drawing from outside. Tanks is low consumption with not a lot of corals. Using 14ml ESV/day through my apex dos. It was brought to my attention that ESV Bionic was designed for high consumption systems to keep PH balanced when adding big volumes.

I have done big water changes to ensure balance. Used blue bucket Red Sea salt.
Typically sit 7.7-7.9alk 410-420 cal 1350 mag. Higher no3 around 25-30.

I can see the PH drop on my apex when the fish wake up and start becoming active. So my daytime PH is closer to 7.7 and night time with fuge going it’s 7.8.

I’m now looking for what will raise PH the most Given low additiv volume.

Thank you

 

[EmdeReef]

Kalk is probably your best bet.

Have you tried using a CO2 scrubber?

 

[homer1475]

I don't understand why people are so hung up about PH on this forum. In a closed up house, PH is what it is. Mine drops down as far as 7.68 at night and has been that way for 5 years with 0 issues.

 

[Larry L]

I’m looking for the highest PH Alk additive. (Something that raises Ph more than Alk compared to a bicarbonate base as I’m using ESV Bionic right now)

If you really want to boost pH, use Randy Holmes-Farley's most recent super-high-pH alkalinity supplement recipe, which uses sodium hydroxide (lye) and has a pH of over 14: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/second-new-diy-two-part-recipe-with-higher-ph-boost.357080/

It mixes up to the same amount of alkalinity per volume as the typical soda ash two part mix, you just have to be really careful using it because it's so caustic.

I don't understand why people are so hung up about PH on this forum. In a closed up house, PH is what it is. Mine drops down as far as 7.68 at night and has been that way for 5 years with 0 issues.

I think corals do ok with pH in the high 7's, but a lot of people report much faster growth when pH is higher. Coral have a mechanism to locally increase the pH inside their tissue so that they can lay down the calcium carbonate skeleton, but it takes energy to do that, so if they are in a higher pH environment to start with, then more of their energy can go toward growth and reproduction instead.

 

[XLOR8T]

I don't understand why people are so hung up about PH on this forum. In a closed up house, PH is what it is. Mine drops down as far as 7.68 at night and has been that way for 5 years with 0 issues.

I can show you the difference in two tanks. My QT is covered in coralline and the top tank is 6 months older and you cannot see any Coralline. Corals grew twice as fast in my QT at 8.2 than 7.7.

There’s no issue but not the same quality environment

 

[XLOR8T]

If you really want to boost pH, use Randy Holmes-Farley's most recent super-high-pH alkalinity supplement recipe, which uses sodium hydroxide (lye) and has a pH of over 14: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/second-new-diy-two-part-recipe-with-higher-ph-boost.357080/

It mixes up to the same amount of alkalinity per volume as the typical soda ash two part mix, you just have to be really careful using it because it's so caustic.



I think corals do ok with pH in the high 7's, but a lot of people report much faster growth when pH is higher. Coral have a mechanism to locally increase the pH inside their tissue so that they can lay down the calcium carbonate skeleton, but it takes energy to do that, so if they are in a higher pH environment to start with, then more of their energy can go toward growth and reproduction instead.

I will read this. What is the difference of PH vs Kalk?

Thanks

 

[rushbattle]

I will read this. What is the difference of PH vs Kalk?

Thanks

None, it’s the same. But sodium hydroxide solutions can be made much more concentrated so can be dosed to the full alkalinity demand rather than limited by evaporation.

 

[Larry L]

What is the difference of PH vs Kalk?

None, it’s the same.

Saturated kalkwasser has a pH around 12.4, compared to over 14 for Randy's sodium hydroxide solution, so significant difference.

 

[rushbattle]

Saturated kalkwasser has a pH around 12.4, compared to over 14 for Randy's sodium hydroxide solution, so significant difference.

A hydroxide is a hydroxide. In seawater it reacts with carbonic acid; this removes CO2. Per unit of alkalinity added, calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide remove the same amount of CO2, thus they have the same effect on tank pH. There is no difference. The pH of the solution is not directly tied to its effect. RODI water with a tiny bit of sodium hydroxide will have a hugely high pH, but add just a drop of vinegar and it will drop below 7 quickly. Will the RODI with just a spec of hydroxide and ultra high pH make your tank go super high pH when you add it? Nope, it’s almost entirely water. Hope this helps.

 

[Larry L]

Per unit of alkalinity added, calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide remove the same amount of CO2, thus they have the same effect on tank pH.

Thanks, that's good information. I guess I was thinking it worked similar to the carbonate-based alkalinity solutions.

 

[BeejReef]

so out of my league.. lol.. 1,000 gallons!! Time to consider a calcium reactor, no?

My whole system could drain out of that and you'd have to keep going to do a 10%WC

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

FWiW, hydroxide has the highest possible pH boost relative to alk. It’s about twice the effect of carbonate. Bicarbonate lowers pH and adds alkalinity.

 

[XLOR8T]

FWiW, hydroxide has the highest possible pH boost relative to alk. It’s about twice the effect of carbonate. Bicarbonate lowers pH and adds alkalinity.

Given the lower ALK consumption of my system should I start with Kalk given the ease of use with a Kalk stirrer like Avast? My math says 210ml/ day of saturated limewater.