Raising Kh and Ph

[clancaster23]

Tested my water today after a three day blackout and subsequent water change last night and got the following test numbers:

Nitrate - 10
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Ph - 7.8
Calcium - 500
Kh - 8 (143.2)
Phosphates - 0
Salinity - 1.023

Now the reason I did the blackout is because I am fighing dinos. I am dosing 3.5 ml peroxide daily. I want to inclrease my ph to 8.4 but I know not to do this suddenly and also think I should try to raise the kh. Is the kh fine or should I do something to raise them both at the same time?

 

[little_fish]

You should do a water change and get those nitrates to zero, that is what is feeding the dinos

 

[clancaster23]

Yes, I plan on it. I did the first one last night just after uncovering the tank and I plan on doing a second one soon, probably in the next day or two.

 

[little_fish]

Thats good. Also by raising the alkalinity, your pH should rise also

 

[clancaster23]

And I do that with some kind of buffer I'm guessing?

 

[little_fish]

you want something like this
Seachem Laboratories Reef Carbonate

 

[clancaster23]

Thanks. I'll get it. I'm going to wait til I get these nitrates down first then work on those other two.

 

[little_fish]

raising those values might help you fight the dinos too

 

[salt_for_brains]

I use kalkwasser to keep my calcium, alkalinity and ph at desired levels. I mix it in my top off water via an auto top off system. Keeping those numbers at a constant as much as possible is a huge help.