Raising Alk - Calcium Reactor

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Gools

I want to raise my Alk. How do I do that? I tested my water and it was at 8.6, and I want it at 10. I'm running my calcium reactor at 52 bubbles a minute, with an effluent of 6.7- 6.8. do I just raise my bubble count up, and by about how many bubles a minute?

I found when running my reactor, raising the bbm and leaving the effluent flow the same, increased my calcium levels more so than the alk. levels. I use to have to high of alk. output and lower calcium, by running more effluent at the same bbm, thus a bit higher ph in the effluent.

However this can lead to an unbalance. I would say your reactor is performing good, esp. if your calcium is where you wish it. That alk. level is pretty good. Not sure why you wish to go up to 10dkh. The trend over the last year was to bring it back to 8 or 9dkh from the usual 12 to 13dkh levels we were running before.

If you wish a bit more alk. I would go with the other post for now and add a bit of baking soda or theSeachem alk. product, to bump it up a bit if you wish. But carefully.