The Free On-line Aquaculture Dictionary

Alkalinity / Liming Tables

Properties of commonly used lime types
eq/l alkalinity required for pH shifts
kg of different lime types required for pH shift

See also acid sulphate soils


Properties of commonly used lime types

Chemical formula Name g/eq Solubility Rate of solubility
NaOH Sodium hydroxide 40 High High
Na2CO3 Sodium Carbonate 53 High High
NaHCO3 Sodium bicarbonate 83 High High
CaCO3 Calcium carbonate 50 Moderate Moderate
CaO Slaked lime 28 High Moderate
Ca(OH)2 Calcium hydroxide (Hydrated lime) 37 High Moderate
CaMg(CO3)2 Dolomite 46 Moderate Slow
MgCO3 Magnesium carbonate 42 Moderate Slow
Mg(OH2) Magnesium hydroxide 29 Moderate Slow

eq/l alkalinity required for pH shifts

pH shift eq/l
4.5 - 6.5 0.0001
6.5 - 7.0 0.0001
7.0 - 7.5 0.00015
7.5 - 8.0 0.0003

For example to shift from 6.5 to 7.5 will require 0.0001 + 0.00015eq/l


kg/m3 of different lime types required for pH shift

pH shift required NaOH Na2CO3 NaHCO3 CaCO3 CaO Ca(OH)2 CaMg(CO3)2
4.5 - 6.5 4 5.3 8.3 5.0 2.8 3.7 4.6
4.5 - 7.0 6 7.95 12.5 7.5 4.2 5.6 6.9
4.5 - 7.5 8 10.6 16.6 10.0 5.6 7.4 9.2
5.0 - 7.0 4 5.3 8.3 5.0 2.8 3.7 4.6
5.5 - 7.0 2.4 3.2 5.0 3.0 1.8 2.2 2.8
5.0 - 6.5 2 2.65 4.15 2.5 1.4 1.85 2.3