Reef Chemistry - alkalinity low

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alkalinity low

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60539
Printed Date: January 11 2026 at 9:37pm
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Topic: alkalinity low

Posted By: napalm77
Subject: alkalinity low
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 2:45pm

I have low alkalinity and before i go buy something to dose it back im looking for advice. I know there are ways to save money and get great products. Anyone have a good cheap alternative?

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Replies:

Posted By: bur01014
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 2:49pm

baked baking soda....google "randy's two-part"

Posted By: Sgt_York
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 3:20pm

+1 Randy's

mix baking soda with fresh water and drip it in. Baked is good to raise PH.

Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 3:40pm

First off let us know what your parameters are, particularly salinity, PH, Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium.

Unfortunately with reef tanks it's not as easy as "oh I have low alk, I'll just put some more in to fix that". With this information we can properly direct you on what to dose with.

Here is a very simple video describing how this all works- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI52IyBtjp0" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI52IyBtjp0

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225 Reef (not really mine but i act like it is)

29 Biocube

http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45353" rel="nofollow - My Whole House System Build

Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 3:56pm

Oh and you might find this very helpful too-

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html" rel="nofollow - http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

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225 Reef (not really mine but i act like it is)

29 Biocube

http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45353" rel="nofollow - My Whole House System Build

Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 4:25pm

Bulk reef supply sells 1 gallon of soda ash for 18.99....1 gallon of dry ingredients make 6-7 gallons of liquid mix... to me, for this price, this is cheap enough to where I don't want to have to "screw" with baking my own, buying store bought and hoping its the same purity as what I know I am getting from brs

Posted By: wickedsnowman
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 7:28pm

Arm and hammer is food grade purity. There is nothing in it that can harm your tank. I wouldn't be surprised if it were cleaner than BRS stuff. However they are both so cheap it really doesn't matter.

Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 7:36pm

Agree with all the above...however...

If this is the first time it's happened, and you aren't ready to start dosing, you may be able to ward off dosing for a while with water changes. If you aren't using a "reef salt," switch to a good one, and you may be able to ward off dosing for a little while longer.

I use baked baking soda and the reef calculator listed above to determine how much I need to add. It's easy...works great.

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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water

Posted By: Dionysus
Date Posted: November 28 2012 at 10:43pm

I use the backed recipe with arm n hammer works great for me.

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AquaMedic 250 Watt XM 20k
2 420s Vhos
29 DT SPS Dominant
20 G Long Frag

http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=56607&title=dionysus-tank-build" rel="nofollow - My Tank Progress =)