Kalk to raise alk and then maintain

[reef’r]

Setup kalk on a dosing pump and used the calculator randy often recommends to raise alk from 7.7 to 9. Did the math to come up with 7.6ml a day which I then divided by 24 to dose .3ml every hour for 24hrs in a weeks time it should raise my alk to 9. I mixed the solution at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon in 5 gals of rodi. I’ve done some looking and I’ve seen where 1ml of kalk will raise dkh by something like 0.0013 or something along those lines does this sound right? I’m just wondering if 7.6ml a day mixed at 1/2tsp per gallon is even going to move alk

 

[BAMatter]

something isn’t adding up. What tank size?

 

[reef’r]

something isn’t adding up. What tank size?

Right around 30 gals. What are you seeing?

 

[fishyjoes]

Kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide) has rather low effect on alkalinity per the amount added.
I have a tank around 25 gallons and dose around 300ml per day to compensate for ~0.4 dkh alkalinty consumption.
Not sure what calculator you have used, but I find the "Hamza's Reef" calculators useful

Kalk Contribution Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the contribution of a kalk solution towards the calcium and alkalinity of a system.

www.hamzasreef.com

 

[BAMatter]

Fully saturated limewater is 2tsp per gallon. To get from 7.7dkh to 9 in a 30 gallon system would be .34 gallons or about 1,287 ml’s.

 

[reef’r]

Correct, which

Fully saturated limewater is 2tsp per gallon. To get from 7.7dkh to 9 in a 30 gallon system would be .34 gallons or about 1,287 ml’s.

divided by 24 would be 53.6, then divided by 7 (to add solution over the course of a week as to not raise DKH to quickly comes to 7.6ml a day or .3 an hour for a week. Correct?

 

[reef’r]

Fully saturated limewater is 2tsp per gallon. To get from 7.7dkh to 9 in a 30 gallon system would be .34 gallons or about 1,287 ml’s.

So I should be dosing 7.6ml and hour

 

[BAMatter]

Not at 1/2tsp per gallon. Also need to factor in your alk consumption which will play a large part as well.

I would personally find your daily alk consumption, and use that figure to dose your kalk daily, if this is the preferred method. But I would use a different alkalinity product to initially bring the alk from 7.7 to 9.9, since it generally requires so much Kalk to move.

 

[reef’r]

Not at 1/2tsp per gallon. Also need to factor in your alk consumption which will play a large part as well.

I would personally find your daily alk consumption, and use that figure to dose your kalk daily, if this is the preferred method. But I would use a different alkalinity product to initially bring the alk from 7.7 to 9.9, since it generally requires so much Kalk to move.

So that would be at 2tsp per gallon? Full saturation

 

[reef’r]

Not at 1/2tsp per gallon. Also need to factor in your alk consumption which will play a large part as well.

I would personally find your daily alk consumption, and use that figure to dose your kalk daily, if this is the preferred method. But I would use a different alkalinity product to initially bring the alk from 7.7 to 9.9, since it generally requires so much Kalk to move.

Alk consumption is minimal, that’s why I went with 1/2 tsp per gallon

 

[BAMatter]

So that would be at 2tsp per gallon? Full saturation

The calculator screenshot I posted assumes full saturation, yes.

Alk consumption is minimal, that’s why I went with 1/2 tsp per gallon

Are you simply looking to raise alk a single time, or looking to dose kalk as a way to maintain, or boosting PH? If maintaining, what is your current consumption? I’m assuming your dosing will need to be double if using 1/2tsp.

Best way to do it, is to use the calculator, then test for a few days to see where you’re at.

 

[reef’r]

The calculator screenshot I posted assumes full saturation, yes.


Are you simply looking to raise alk a single time, or looking to dose kalk as a way to maintain, or boosting PH? If maintaining, what is your current consumption? I’m assuming your dosing will need to be double if using 1/2tsp.

Best way to do it, is to use the calculator, then test for a few days to see where you’re at.

Im looking to raise DKH to 9 and then maintain

 

[reef’r]

The calculator screenshot I posted assumes full saturation, yes.


Are you simply looking to raise alk a single time, or looking to dose kalk as a way to maintain, or boosting PH? If maintaining, what is your current consumption? I’m assuming your dosing will need to be double if using 1/2tsp.

Best way to do it, is to use the calculator, then test for a few days to see where you’re at.

I went with such small dosages because my consumption is low although I did add 4 more SPS frags over the weekend so I’m expecting to see a rise and also I’m just starting out so didn’t want to go full gas right away

 

[rishma]

You are in the right path. Here is what I would do:

1. Dose your saturated Kalk per the calculator spaced out over a week and test along the way to see when you hit your target.It might take a little more or little less than a week to get there.

2. Stop dosing after your hit your target and check alk daily or every other day to see what your consumption is. You can probably find the consumption rate fairly reliably within a week if no dosing.

3. Then use calculator again to determine the required dose to match your consumption. That will be your daily dose to maintain.

4. You might need to repeat step one to get back to target before switching to maintenance dose.

 

[reef’r]

So I should bring to full saturation to match calculator?

 

[reef’r]

You are in the right path. Here is what I would do:

1. Dose your saturated Kalk per the calculator spaced out over a week and test along the way to see when you hit your target.It might take a little more or little less than a week to get there.

2. Stop dosing after your hit your target and check alk daily or every other day to see what your consumption is. You can probably find the consumption rate fairly reliably within a week if no dosing.

3. Then use calculator again to determine the required dose to match your consumption. That will be your daily dose to maintain.

4. You might need to repeat step one to get back to target before switching to maintenance dose.

So I should bring to full saturation correct?

 

[reef’r]

So I should bring to full saturation correct?

And can I do that with the mix I already have? Just add in more kalk on top

 

[rishma]

So I should bring to full saturation correct?

I use fully saturated Kalk because I have a dosing pump and it allows me to use the calculator without any additional thinking/math.

You could use the half saturated Kalk and multiply by 2x however I think that adds another source of error. Saturated Kalk is fairly consistent when we mix it as long as temperature is about the same each time. You you end up with unsolved Kalk at bottom of container so you know it’s saturated (or close). By mixing partially saturated solution, I think it will be more variable.

@Randy Holmes-Farley would need to advise on adding Kalk to an existing solution, but I would not advise doing it that way. It introduces more potential error (but I am not sure how much or if it’s enough to worry about). The mixing itself actually reduces the saturation due to reaction with CO2. You could add extra to an existing solution to account for this and it will probably come out ok, but I would personally dump it start over. Kalk is fairly cheap and I’d rather just keep it simple.

 

[BAMatter]

Im looking to raise DKH to 9 and then maintain

Certainly fine to go about it this way. I’d figure out your consumption now, so you know what to reduce it down to once you’ve hit your target. Take your alk reading, stop dosing for 24 hours, take another alk reading. Difference is your 24 hour consumption and that’s what you’ll figure your Kalk dosing to after you’ve hit 9dkh.

 

[rishma]

Certainly fine to go about it this way. I’d figure out your consumption now, so you know what to reduce it down to once you’ve hit your target. Take your alk reading, stop dosing for 24 hours, take another alk reading. Difference is your 24 hour consumption and that’s what you’ll figure your Kalk dosing to after you’ve hit 9dkh.

This is fine too, but I do it the way I described because I always assumed that alk consumption would be different at significantly different alkalinity levels. my guess is consumption is faster at 9 than 7.7, but again that’s just an assumption. You’ll need to make future adjustments anyway because consumption changes over time due to pH differences, nutrient differences, coral size, etc.