SilentNight1793 Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 When testing KH levels, the test kit states it is ideally to have it around 7-11 DKH. What is the best way to increase or decrease the KH levels in an aquarium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReefNewby82 Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 I use 2 part by ESV. Different corals thrive at different levels of alkalinity but stability is the key. I've found 9 to 9.5 dkhto be a nice area to keep alk stable and corals happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splix Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Just dose alkalinity supplements to raise it. There is no way to decrease alk, you have to let it fall on it's own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke33 Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 I dose esv using a dosing pump. I like to keep my alk from 7.5-8 but 7-9 seems like the most common figures. Just keep things consistent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chac317 Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Be aware of what your salt mix of choice is. That will bring your levels up or down every time you do a water change. I like to try to keep mine around what my salt mixes at to minimize that frustration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentNight1793 Posted June 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 I tested one of my tanks and it was a little on the high side. Will a few water changes more frequently help to reduce the level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 If you get an odd reading, I'd recommend testing twice. The kits we use are very sensitive and can give bad results. Plus their accuracy isn't great in general with how sensitive you have to be with the titrant. I also recommend testing every new bucket of salt you use after a solid mixing. I bake baking soda to raise my ALK up and the BRS calcium for CA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryansweet Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Also, test your new salt water before you do a water change to see what it comes in at. That'll help you decide whether you can change water to lower your number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin1300 Posted June 17, 2017 Report Share Posted June 17, 2017 Water changes with lower dKH will lower it, otherwise consumption. Echo comments on above in regards to target numbers, I typically like 8.5-9. Any higher and start to get into burnt tips on SPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulS.46122 Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 I have been trying to figure out a best option for my nano tank that is mostly LPS. Mine is just right around 7 dkh, in my 10 gallon. Baking soda route? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 3 hours ago, PaulS.46122 said: I have been trying to figure out a best option for my nano tank that is mostly LPS. Mine is just right around 7 dkh, in my 10 gallon. Baking soda route? I dosed ESV 2-part for years on my smaller tanks as mentioned above by folks. You could get some and just manually dose a few ml's daily. The number itself doesn't matter that much, the ranges listed above are all fine, just keep it stable. You can also dose too much and get a bunch of precipitate and buildup. If you see that, you need to adjust, dose less at once, more flow around dosing location, etc. I'd just watch my calcium and magnesium also and be sure that as you dose up, they are also stay stable and aren't increasing, as you could be over dosing. When you find the sweet spot where alk, calcium, mag are relatively stable, you're good to go. Don't aim for a specific number, IMO that gets you into more trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulS.46122 Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Sweet! Thanks Miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco Posted July 6, 2017 Report Share Posted July 6, 2017 Baking soda route is fine as well. Look up Randy's part 2 recipe for ALK. I would use part 2 instead of 1 since you have a smaller water volume. You could also cut the dose to make sure you don't cause a spike. I'd only raise up the ALK by .5 a day at most. I use this calculator http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html occasionally to make sure I am on target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulS.46122 Posted July 6, 2017 Report Share Posted July 6, 2017 12 hours ago, Jaco said: Baking soda route is fine as well. Look up Randy's part 2 recipe for ALK. I would use part 2 instead of 1 since you have a smaller water volume. You could also cut the dose to make sure you don't cause a spike. I'd only raise up the ALK by .5 a day at most. I use this calculator http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html occasionally to make sure I am on target. :thumbs up: I'm going to test my tank daily after the next WC to see exactly what is going on, and adjust accordingly. Trying to avoid doing anything unnecessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco Posted July 6, 2017 Report Share Posted July 6, 2017 Yep, I'd watch the drop over several days, then slowly raise it back up. Next thing you know, you'll want a dosing pump and then watch CA closely too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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