Kalk Dosing question

[k2-]

Hi Guys, As my Corals grow and load increases I am in a situation where i need to dose additional alk / ca, And Ca reactor is not able to keep up. I am using catchup doses of 2 part but I keep hearing about all goodness of Kalk.

My hesitation to moving from 2 part -

I have a 250G system (distributed between 4 tanks) and requirement is .46DKH everyday. With the amount of Kalk required (around 3L per day ) requires a weekly fill up of 5G Jug. While a 2G jug for 2 part lasts good 70+ days for catchup dose.

What other options do I have and is it really that beneficial for Reef as compare to 2 part ?

 

[arking_mark]

A couple of thoughts:

• Kalk dosing is balanced and typically limited to your evaporation rate. You'll get approximately 1dKH per day. The potency can be increased with vinegar and/or slurry dosing. Vinegar is precise while slurry dosing is not for what you'll get out of it. You also need to dose slowly to account for pH impacts.
• I only use 2-part for corrections as it's not balanced dosing for a tank. 3-part is generally considered balanced.
• I like using All-for-reef for balanced dosing...it even provides mild carbon dosing.

 

[k2-]

@arking_mark Any guidance on Kalk + Vinegar dosing ?

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

If your evaporation rate can keep up, I would definitely do calcium hydroxide. If you're concerned about how often you'll need to mix it, just use a larger container. A 10 gallon Brute trashcan would last you 10 days given your current consumption, which means you'd only need to refill it 2 times a month. Better yet, use a 20g Brute trash can and it'll last an entire month.

I dose limewater, but when that will no longer keep up, my plan is to make Randy's NaOH two part and dilute it 10x. That way, I can continue to dose it throughout the day in small increments to boost pH. That would also be an option.

 

[arking_mark]

@arking_mark Any guidance on Kalk + Vinegar dosing ?

I defer to @Randy Holmes-Farley for vinegar with kalk.

I myself just use Kalk < evaporation and AFR for everything else with 1% daily water changes and some additional carbon dosing with DIY NOPOX.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@arking_mark Any guidance on Kalk + Vinegar dosing ?

I dosed both vinegar and limewater (kalkwasser), but I do not recommend combining them unless it is important to get the limewater a little more potent to meet demand.

If that is the goal, I'd recommend 3 teaspoons calcium hydroxide per gallon, and 45 mL of vinegar per gallon of fresh water.

Combining them makes it harder to optimally control when the vinegar is dosed, which is best dosed during the daytime when pH and O2 are naturally highest.

 

[Potatohead]

I dosed both vinegar and limewater (kalkwasser), but I do not recommend combining them unless it is important to get the limewater a little more potent to meet demand.

If that is the goal, I'd recommend 3 teaspoons calcium hydroxide per gallon, and 45 mL of vinegar per gallon of fresh water.

Combining them makes it harder to optimally control when the vinegar is dosed, which is best dosed during the daytime when pH and O2 are naturally highest.

Randy if someone wanted to add vinegar just for carbon dosing purposes to full y saturated 2 tsp/gallon limewater, does it affect that original concentration at all?

Like you said ideally I would dose kalk only at night and carbon only during the day but my GHL doser is stupid and doesn't allow more than eight manual doses otherwise is just divides the dose up over 24 hours.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Randy if someone wanted to add vinegar just for carbon dosing purposes to full y saturated 2 tsp/gallon limewater, does it affect that original concentration at all?

Like you said ideally I would dose kalk only at night and carbon only during the day but my GHL doser is stupid and doesn't allow more than eight manual doses otherwise is just divides the dose up over 24 hours.

If the limewater does not have any extra calcium hydroxide available to dissolve, then the only potency change is the miniscule dilution effect (say, 45 mL into a gallon of limewater).

If there is extra solids to dissolve, then the potency will increase by dissolving a bit more due to the pH reduction from the vinegar.

 

[k2-]

Thanks Randy as always. Finding All-for-reef for balanced dosing interesting and probably will use it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy reefing.

 

[bmelvin20]

To drag up this thread. I am currently dosing AFR at 74ml a day. I have it evenly dosed throughout a 24 hour period (which may not be the best way to do that). But my ph is on the low side. High of 8.1. How should I go about dosing my kalk strictly for ph balance while still dosing my AFR for Ballanced dosing with the miner and trace elements?
I am always nervous to switch things up. But I don’t want to constantly change co2 media on a scrubber. And loved the results from kalk in the past

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

To drag up this thread. I am currently dosing AFR at 74ml a day. I have it evenly dosed throughout a 24 hour period (which may not be the best way to do that). But my ph is on the low side. High of 8.1. How should I go about dosing my kalk strictly for ph balance while still dosing my AFR for Ballanced dosing with the miner and trace elements?
I am always nervous to switch things up. But I don’t want to constantly change co2 media on a scrubber. And loved the results from kalk in the past

What is your alk right now?

 

[bmelvin20]

What is your alk right now?

8.7

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd consider adding in some kalkwasser and backing off on the AFR, if pH raising is a goal.

How much can you dose per day (evaporation limit) and how do you plan to dose it (mechanism)?

 

[bmelvin20]

I'd consider adding in some kalkwasser and backing off on the AFR, if pH raising is a goal.

How much can you dose per day (evaporation limit) and how do you plan to dose it (mechanism)?

I am setting up tonight to figure evaporation rate. And I will be dosing via the apex and dos.

I want to focus on getting the ph of an average of 8.3 on the apex.

I would guess 2 gallons at a minimum per day right now. But I will know by tomorrow night.