Reef Supplements

I have been adding a 1/4 teaspoon to 1/3 gallon of RO water in the morning and again at night. My ph goes from 7.8-8.2, ALk -7, calcium is 440-460, Temp is 78-79, no detectable PO4, NO3. I have ferric oxide and a bag of carbon in a AquaClear 50 HOB and I have a Aqua Remora C SKimmer. Would a 2 part supplement be better for my 46 gallon? I would like the ph higher and the Alk higher. I also add Reef Builder almost every night. I dont have anything to drip the kalk in so I just pour the 1/3 gallon in morning and night which might be causing the low Alk. I mihgt look into a phosphate reactor for the ferric oxide and carbon. I just want the easiest method to achieve what I am looking for.
Adam

 

in this hobby opinions vary in many ways. each tank has its own heart beat. the Ca,CaOH2 combo works well for many, so does 2-part liquid, easier depends on the user. either way there is upkeep and maintenance. heres another idea for you.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/balling-method-56301-6.html

 

I have been using this method because when I had 3 fish my ph went from 8-8.2 and now with the 4th fish the ph goes from 7.8 - 8.2. I am not positive thats its from the added fish or not. I just want to have the ph in the 8 range and the ALK closer to 10.

 

Try the old Baking Soda. 1 teaspoon per 20 gal. of total water volume every other day until you get where you want to be.

 

I dose soda ash, for alk and calcium chloride for Ca. With some magnesium sulfate and chloride thrown in when necessary. I get my stuff from bulkreefsupply. They have two different recipies, one for lowering ph, the other to raise it (by far the most popular). I just dose daily and my ph stays between 8.1 and 8.3

 

Baking soda lowers pH jed, we talked about this at length already.... You need to drive the CO2 out of the baking soda by baking it first if you want to raise pH. Also the increase in alkalinity is not always worth it, as many people have alk and Ca on target but pH is low... In THAT case baking soda is NOT your best bet, removing the acidic organics is a better bet!!

Kalk top offs and water changes to remove the organics will do it!

Happy reefing!