Brightwell Aquatics Alkalin 8.3-P

Technical Background

Alkalinity, also referred to as carbonate hardness or buffering capacity, is essentially a means of quantifying the stability of pH in a solution, such as aquarium water. In an aquarium, weak acids formed by oxygen respiration and the decomposition of organic material gradually deplete alkalinity. If left unchecked, the alkalinity drops below a critical level and pH begins to fluctuate more wildly than is normally suggested (a daily pH shift of +/-0.2 is normal in marine aquaria), causing stress to livestock. Alkalinity is also depleted by reef-building organisms during the production of aragonite (~60% carbonates by weight), and is therefore very important for their rapid growth. Maintaining the alkalinity in marine aquaria between 7.5 – 9.5 dKH (2.7 – 3.4 meq/L) will generally maintain pH within the desired range.

nstructions and Guidelines

Basic: Dissolve 2 grams (~½ teaspoon) of product per 20 US-gallons of aquarium water in 8-fl. oz. of fresh water; add every other day or as needed to maintain the alkalinity within a range of 7 – 12 dKH. When used in this fashion, 1,000 g treats up to 10,000 US-gallons (37,854 L).

Advanced: Determine the alkalinity in the aquarium using an accurate test kit before supplementing. Each g of Alkalin8.3-P will increase the alkalinity in 1 US-gallon (3.785 L) of water by 12 dKH (4.2 meq/L).]

EZ Calculations: For dKH: Multiply tank capacity in gallons x dKH increase desired x .089 = grams of product to add. Example to raise the alkalinity by 1.2 dKH in a 50 gallon tank the calculation is: 1.2 x 50 x 0.089 = 5.35 grams or 1 teaspoon. For meq/L: Multiply tank capacity in gallons x meq/L increase desired x .25 = grams of product to add. Example to raise the alkalinity by 0.5 meq/L in a 50 gallon tank the calculation is: 0.5 x 50 x 0.25 = 6.25 grams or 1.2 teaspoons.

Problem pH Aquariums: Aquaria with low circulation at the water’s surface, or in which a CO2-injected calcium reactor is being employed, or which are placed in an enclosed room with human and animal inhabitants (giving off CO2 into the air), often have a depressed pH due to carbon dioxide build up. Boost pH+ can help overcome this along with other other measures, such as providing outside air to the skimmer intake port or other methods to control CO2 and bring pH in the aquarium back into a higher desired range without raising alkalinity to an unacceptable level. Use Boost pH+ as directed and do not exceed a pH value of 8.5, because pH at 8.6 or higher may be stressful and/or damaging to sensitive aquairum inhabitants. Additionally, changes to pH should be made very gradually, again to avoid stressing aquarium inhabitants. See suggestions for adjusting alkalinity below. It is not unusual for pH to fluctuate throughout the course of 24-hours between seemingly wide-ranging values (i.e. lower at night higher during the middle of the day); this is a natural occurrence that is caused by changes in the rates of photosynthesis betw