Maintaining alkalinity levels

[pocilipora]

Its 1 part washing soda to 6 parts baking soda.

[danny zubot]

For those of you who are chemistry illiterate like me, I've been pestering Randy Holmes from reef central and he gave me these two articles.


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

[danny zubot]

I got around to testing all of my levels last night, ther were:
Alk 2.5 meq/L
PH 7.9
CA+ 500 ppm

So after a 13% water change over and adding some baking:washing soda in certain proportions I ended up with these results:
Alk 4.0 meq/L
PH 8.2-8.3
CA+ 480 ppm

I don't run a calcium reactor so what you see is what you get with my system. My question now is what are the optimal levels for ALK? I've seen mixed info about this, what is the rule of thumb?

[Delphinus]

Those are pretty good targets. Depending on your draw, however, it may be easier to even settle for slightly less (otherwise you may find yourself going through a lot of 2-parts)

Ca=400 & Alk=4.0meq/L down to maybe about Ca=300 & Alk = 3.0 meq/L are good targets.

[danny zubot]

I was just checking out some charts off of Reef Central that concur with your advise. The levels will most likely fall naturally over the next few days.

Thanks everyone from the bottom of my tank!