Alk/calcium stability question

Crashjack · Dec 18, 2017

If topping-off with kalk, and alkalinity is remaining constant... say within .3 dkh, is it possible to lose a significant amount of calcium?

I ask because I measure alkalinity 1-2 times per week and measure Ca once per week. However Ca changes up/down very little, and I feel like I’m wasting time and test kits. Is there any reason to measure Ca more than maybe once every month or so if alk is remaining relatively steady?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 18, 2017

Crashjack said:
If topping-off with kalk, and alkalinity is remaining constant... say within .3 dkh, is it possible to lose a significant amount of calcium?

I ask because I measure alkalinity 1-2 times per week and measure Ca once per week. However Ca changes up/down very little, and I feel like I’m wasting time and test kits. Is there any reason to measure Ca more than maybe once every month or so if alk is remaining relatively steady?

No, you can't lost calcium and not alk.. Limewater will actually allow calcium to slowly climb if used to maintain alkalinity.

BUT, you expect calcium to change far more slowly than alkalinity. That's because seawater has a big reservoir of calcium and not so much alkalinity.

I agree that measuring just alk is fine when using limewater.

EriksOasis · Dec 18, 2017

I’ve heard that just measuring alkalinity is perfectly fine once your parameters are right where you want them. I’ve noticed my calcium doesn’t change nor alkalinity once I started using kalkwasser. I felt the same way like I was wasting testing kits. Once I had my levels where I wanted them I test once a week.