Will using a higher alk salt increase ph?

Reef.

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I keep my tank just above 7dkh if I were to move to 8dkh would that increase my ph?

I’m asking as I have just tested my fresh salt mix, (stored for 2 weeks) the alk is 8dkh and the ph is 8.4, yet my tank is 7.3dkh with a ph of 8, I’m guessing these parameters are not really only down to the differences in alk
Lvls but because I’m comparing a tank parameter to a bucket of fresh salt mix?
 

vetteguy53081

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Yes but slightly
Sodium bicarbonate also effective
 

nereefpat

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pH in our tanks is only a function of alkalinity and CO2.

The freshly mixed stuff has higher alk, but also doesn't have as much CO2 dissolved in it yet.

Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will raise alk and temporarily lower pH.

Edit: I forgot to mention, I wouldn't increase alk above natural seawater levels to try to obtain higher pH.
 
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Reef.

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pH in our tanks is only a function of alkalinity and CO2.

The freshly mixed stuff has higher alk, but also doesn't have as much CO2 dissolved in it yet.

Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will raise alk and temporarily lower pH.

Edit: I forgot to mention, I wouldn't increase alk above natural seawater levels to try to obtain higher pH.
Right that makes sense, thanks.

Co2 plays a bigger roll than I was giving it credit for.
 

nereefpat

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Can you see this chart? It's from an older article by @Randy Holmes-Farley :
1639169674879.png


It's in meq/L instead of dKH, but you might be able to guess how much alk increase it would take to raise pH to where you want it. Or it might be a fool's errand.
 

dk2nt9

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Do search of this forum for low pH, to see what factors are involved beyond alkalinity. Ventilating to reduce CO2 in the indoor air.

And, not sure if this really works, there is AquaVitro additives "eight.four" and "balance" for increasing pH without increasing alkalinity.

And there were threads about aragonite sand pulling pH down, comparing to inert substrates. Seachem experimented with this too, in their Articles, marine pH and substrates.
 

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