Kalkwasser questions

[Jamie S]

I was able to set up the Kalk stirrer and have it fed by the dos using water from ATO. I started very conservative with dosing 100ml/day. After about 12 hours I upped it to 200ml/day and so on until I’m now almost 24 hours into dosing 2,000ml/day and just now starting to see an uptick in Alk and Ph. I have 150gal total water volume and the tank is only 6 months old. I have about 2 dozen frags mostly SPS and LPS with a couple sps frags. Does this seem to be too much kalk? Not enough? Right now my alk is sitting at 7.3 and I’d like to get it around 9 and ph fluctuating between 7.9 and 8.1 with a target of between 8.1 and 8.3. Also, if I keep it at 2,000ml/day should I possibly do most of my heavy dosing at night say 6pm to 6am dose 1500ml and 500ml between 6am and 6pm?

 

[iTzJu]

for that size of a tank, you'd be better making corrections using 2 part dosing and then using the kalk to keep it stable, you will eventually will need to switch to 2 part once the kalk can't keep up.

 

[amado]

You should do a large water change to get the alk and calcium where you want it. If you want 9alk you need to use a salt that is 9 alk. You can do both add kalk and 2 part. Just keep testing to make sure your numbers are good.

 

[Hockeynut]

If I were you I would go slower then that. It will build and then swing high. Dose a safe amount and stay at that dose for a week or so then up it from there some more as needed You can’t expect to see a (real) solid number in just 24 hours.
also Ju is right you may also have to dose 2 part with it if you get to a stable number and it is still not enough.
my tank is pretty loaded and still has not required me to use both I’m just Kalk for now and I’m not even at full saturation. I am at 1 teaspoon per gallon right now.

 

[Jamie S]

Thanks for the responses. @iTzJu I was thinking of slowly using 2 part to raise it over the course of 4 or 5 days so i'll start that tonight. @amado i do agree that i need a salt with an alk of 9 but i have a full bucket of BA Neomarine (7.5 alk) that i want to use first plus i really like that salt so i'd hate to have to switch. The trident is also at doing the testing for me and i'm like a hawk watching the fusion app at work lol. @Hockeynut you're tank is awesome and loaded with corals i'm surprised your not at full saturation yet

 

[amado]

Thanks for the responses. @iTzJu I was thinking of slowly using 2 part to raise it over the course of 4 or 5 days so i'll start that tonight. @amado i do agree that i need a salt with an alk of 9 but i have a full bucket of BA Neomarine (7.5 alk) that i want to use first plus i really like that salt so i'd hate to have to switch. The trident is also at doing the testing for me and i'm like a hawk watching the fusion app at work lol. @Hockeynut you're tank is awesome and loaded with corals i'm surprised your not at full saturation yet

It’s funny before the trident I only tested once a week for alk.
Now I am waiting for my results to refresh lol

 

[Jamie S]

It’s funny before the trident I only tested once a week for alk.
Now I am waiting for my results to refresh lol

I'm right there with you!

 

[iTzJu]

Thanks for the responses. @iTzJu I was thinking of slowly using 2 part to raise it over the course of 4 or 5 days so i'll start that tonight. @amado i do agree that i need a salt with an alk of 9 but i have a full bucket of BA Neomarine (7.5 alk) that i want to use first plus i really like that salt so i'd hate to have to switch. The trident is also at doing the testing for me and i'm like a hawk watching the fusion app at work lol. @Hockeynut you're tank is awesome and loaded with corals i'm surprised your not at full saturation yet

any specific reason you want your alk at 9? I know it is all subjective but I run my alk within 7.5-8.5dkh and always had great growth. IMO as well, lower alk also gives a little room to breathe when nutrients start creeping really low, wont get burnt tips.

 

[Jamie S]

any specific reason you want your alk at 9? I know it is all subjective but I run my alk within 7.5-8.5dkh and always had great growth. IMO as well, lower alk also gives a little room to breathe when nutrients start creeping really low, wont get burnt tips.

I hear that you get better growth with a higher PH and don't would rather not run a CO2 scrubber so i figured if i raised the Alk then the PH would follow. But definitely open to other suggestions to raise PH

 

[amado]

I keep my alk at 8 as well. It’s just a easier number to reach and keep stable.

 

[Jamie S]

How do you keep your ORP that high? I can't get above 390 even after replacing the carbon.

 

[amado]

How do you keep your ORP that high? I can't get above 390 even after replacing the carbon.

I am running carbon/GFO/resins

 

[Jamie S]

I am running carbon/GFO/resins

Which resins? I run filter socks, skimmer, carbon, and GFO

 

[amado]

Which resins? I run filter socks, skimmer, carbon, and GFO

You can use any aquarium resin.
Right now I am using the cobalt product “total reef” it was really cheap.