Best way to raise Alk

[Sunny]

I tested my water, my KH is 6 drops.  107.4 ppm.   My PH is 8 and my Calcium is 30 drops, well over 500.   I have always had low KH, what is the best and cheapest way to raise it?

[Ashlar]

Well, I use baking soda. Cheap, easy, and reliable. I wouldn't go more than 0.5 dKh per 24 hours and I'd drip the supplement over time. You can use http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html to calculate the dosage required to get your parameters in line.

[Sunny]

This all sounds complicating.  According to the chart, I have to add 5.4 oz. of baking soda.  That sounds like a lot.  How much should I add a day to get it to where it should be?

[Ashlar]

Were it me, I'd divide that 5.4oz into 0.5dKh 'doses'- ie, if you're moving from 6-8 with that 5.4oz, split that into four doses of 1.3oz and dose that over four days.

Now, it may take more than 5.4oz total, because the stuff in your tank will be consuming the alk at the same time, but it's better to go slow. Raising alk too quickly can kill corals.

[Sunny]

I'll try that and see if it works.   Thanks !!

[Ashlar]

Any time!

As to how to dose, I'd put that dose into a small container and drip it into my sump.. baking soda tends to depress ph initially, you want to dose it as slowly as possible.

[Sunny]

Glad you said that, I would of just mixed it in water and dumped it in ... lol