How fast can I raise alkalinity in a softies LPS tank?

[Just John]

I have not tested the water in this tank for what is clearly too long, because the alk is down to 6.0. I only have 2 sps and plenty of lps and softies. How quickly can I safely raise the alk?

 

[mike550]

I’ve heard that you shouldn’t raise more than 1 dKH per day or pH more than 0.2. But I really have no expertise on that

 

[Jason Scalise]

1 dkH per day would be my recommended limit…. But that would be my maximum limit. Go slow, and you’ll likely have greater returns.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have not tested the water in this tank for what is clearly too long, because the alk is down to 6.0. I only have 2 sps and plenty of lps and softies. How quickly can I safely raise the alk?

As others have said, no more than 1dkh in 24 hours.
Honestly, I'd cut that in half.

 

[madlos123]

If you have a ph monitor you can do it more precisely. I have dosed 3 dkh in 3 hours as long theres no + or - 0.2 in ph change.
I had a 5.4 dkh dosed with sodium bicarbonate with ro/water to 8.4 dkh in 3 hours. i did 1 tspn of sodium bicarbonate with ro water every 30 min. Ph will drop from 8.1 to 8.0 and come back up to 8.1 in 15 min. Corals never skipped a beat.
I used the liveaquaria sodium bicarbonate too lol the only one i had in hand. Just follow directions.
Heres my receipt.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

This is not a normal outcome...

 

[Just John]

If you have a ph monitor you can do it more precisely. I have dosed 3 dkh in 3 hours as long theres no + or - 0.2 in ph change.
I had a 5.4 dkh dosed with sodium bicarbonate with ro/water to 8.4 dkh in 3 hours. i did 1 tspn of sodium bicarbonate with ro water every 30 min. Ph will drop from 8.1 to 8.0 and come back up to 8.1 in 15 min. Corals never skipped a beat.
I used the liveaquaria sodium bicarbonate too lol the only one i had in hand. Just follow directions.
Heres my receipt.

Thanks. Just wanted to let you know that you can use baking soda from the grocery store for sodium bicarbonate. No need to pay for shipping from liveaquaria and it's cheap.

 

[nereefpat]

I'm more conservative and would only raise 0.5 dKH in a day. So I would calculate 0.5 worth of baking soda, dilute it in a liter or so and slowly add throughout the day.

6 really isn't dangerous. What's your target?

 

[Just John]

I'm more conservative and would only raise 0.5 dKH in a day. So I would calculate 0.5 worth of baking soda, dilute it in a liter or so and slowly add throughout the day.

6 really isn't dangerous. What's your target?

Since I have a couple of sps, I would like to get it up to about 8

 

[madlos123]

Thanks. Just wanted to let you know that you can use baking soda from the grocery store for sodium bicarbonate. No need to pay for shipping from liveaquaria and it's cheap.

Yeah that would be cheaper. I had to use my liveaquaria credit after doa orders last year. Didnt want to be in the doa infinite loop.

 

[nereefpat]

Since I have a couple of sps, I would like to get it up to about 8

The reef is closer to 7, but 8 is reasonable. I would take a few days, personally, to error on the side of caution.

 

[Just John]

The reef is closer to 7, but 8 is reasonable. I would take a few days, personally, to error on the side of caution.

I was only picking 8 because I saw that number somewhere. I have no experience with sps

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I was only picking 8 because I saw that number somewhere. I have no experience with sps

I'd be surprised if you noticed much difference between 7 or 8 dKH. There's no rush to raise it. A half a dKh per day is plenty fast enough since 6 dKH is not a big issue anyway.

 

[Just John]

I'd be surprised if you noticed much difference between 7 or 8 dKH. There's no rush to raise it. A half a dKh per day is plenty fast enough since 6 dKH is not a big issue anyway.

From the expert himself. Thanks! Have you started a tank yet?