Can I Use Baking Soda To Raise kH A Little?

Hello all,

I would like to raise my kH a little higher. Is baking soda a safe way to do this? Should I buy something like seachem alkalinity buffer?
If I where to use baking sofa how much would I need to add per 10 gallons?

 

I would use crushed coral over baking soda. Its a slower not as shocking way to do it. Seems like it would be more stable.

 

I probably wouldn't worry about it. I honestly don't worry about pH/kH unless I'm breeding and even then I rarely mess with it. A stable pH/kH is key. I'm assuming this is the same tank you posted about in another thread that you're having issues with. Between the two threads my assumption is you're over worrying about the kH which is causing it to be unstable and unsafe for your fish.

 

I would use crushed coral over baking soda. Its a slower not as shocking way to do it. Seems like it would be more stable.

Thanks I do use crushed coral and it seems to be keeping things stable. One tank is only 2 degrees hardness, is this a concern? Could the pH crash?

I probably wouldn't worry about it. I honestly don't worry about pH/kH unless I'm breeding and even then I rarely mess with it. A stable pH/kH is key. I'm assuming this is the same tank you posted about in another thread that you're having issues with. Between the two threads my assumption is you're over worrying about the kH which is causing it to be unstable and unsafe for your fish.

It’s actually a different tank. I got worried so I tested everything! My 20 gallon kH is a little low but everything ph wise has been stable in all tanks (besides that problem shrimp tank!)

I probably wouldn't worry about it. I honestly don't worry about pH/kH unless I'm breeding and even then I rarely mess with it. A stable pH/kH is key. I'm assuming this is the same tank you posted about in another thread that you're having issues with. Between the two threads my assumption is you're over worrying about the kH which is causing it to be unstable and unsafe for your fish.

I do tend to over worry, especially the after the shrimp mishap! The rest of the shrimp are in a super big breeder box in my main tank for now. My fish are healthy and breeding so I guess it’s ok

 

Adding a little crushed coral is fine if its really off. I wouldn't add any quick fixes tho like baking soda or commercially available products. Unless its off by a LOT I don't mess with mine at all. Over the years I've learned with fish, that smaller the changes made the better and stability over perfection. Fish are often tank raised now and are often more hardy to different pH/kH. Some shrimp are pickier than others so I'd watch that but the crushed coral should be fine.

 

Adding a little crushed coral is fine if its really off. I wouldn't add any quick fixes tho like baking soda or commercially available products. Unless its off by a LOT I don't mess with mine at all. Over the years I've learned with fish, that smaller the changes made the better and stability over perfection. Fish are often tank raised now and are often more hardy to different pH/kH. Some shrimp are pickier than others so I'd watch that but the crushed coral should be fine.

Thank so much for the help I really appreciate it The pH does dip down to 6 or lower without the coral but since I added the coral it stays around neutral so I guess I’m ok

 

If everything is steady I wouldn't mess with anything. Fluctuations are really bad for the fish and worse for shrimp.

 

If everything is steady I wouldn't mess with anything. Fluctuations are really bad for the fish and worse for shrimp.

I’m a bit torn because I have people on a similar thread telling me I absolutely need to add a buffer.. like ASAP. But my tanks have been running for months with absolutely no problem or change in ph since I added the coral

 

I’m a bit torn because I have people on a similar thread telling me I absolutely need to add a buffer.. like ASAP. But my tanks have been running for months with absolutely no problem or change in ph since I added the coral

You answered yourself. Your tanks are running with absolutely no problem or change in ph with coral. Don’t fix what isn’t broken!

in your other post I said I have a tank with 0 kh and a ph of 6.5-6.8. And a GUPPY is living in it very happily. Fish are bred in tanks now, so unless you have a wild caught fish, stability is better than perfection.

 

You answered yourself. Your tanks are running with absolutely no problem or change in ph with coral. Don’t fix what isn’t broken!

in your other post I said I have a tank with 0 kh and a ph of 6.5-6.8. And a GUPPY is living in it very happily. Fish are bred in tanks now, so unless you have a wild caught fish, stability is better than perfection.

I’ve definitely got healthy fish that where all tank raised so maybe for now I just monitor closely. I think I’ll buy some sodium carbonate to have on hand so I won’t stress. But I definitely don’t want to change anything if I don’t have to. Thanks for all your help