CO2 issues so I'll try an air hose!

[Russ Mann]

I have a 200 gal tank and I use a Calcium reactor for Calcium and alkalinity. At first I thought this was causing my low pH so I turned it off for a few days. It made no difference. I replace about 3 gal of water per day that is fully saturated Kalkwasser. I had it controlled by my Apex to only come on at night but that caused the level in my sump to vary too much which kept messing up my skimmer.

 

[Flippers4pups]

"What Else Does Limewater Do In An Aquarium? Raise pH When You Need It

In a great many cases, reef aquaria have pH values lower than aquarists might prefer. This low pH comes about from excess carbon dioxide in the water, often either from a CaCO3/CO2reactor, or from excess carbon dioxide in the home air.

In both of these cases, limewater is arguably the best way to raise pH, and I have recommended it for this purpose in previous articles. Figure 6 shows how adding limewater can raise the pH by taking up excess carbon dioxide and adding alkalinity, all without raising alkalinity relative to calcium (since it also adds calcium)."

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

For you that does limewater how do you do it?

Also my tank is in a tank room but the double doors are always open because I don't have a way to control humidity yet. The doors open up to a large work space room that's 20ft high! I have two air handlers also housed in that work area.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Calcium hydroxide I.e. Kalkwasser, pickling lime..... mixed in a ATO container.

I'll look for Randy's article on mixing it in ratio, I'll be back in a minute, so hang on Rev.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Thanks man.

Just bought a CO2 meter so I can know for sure.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Thanks man.

Just bought a CO2 meter so I can know for sure.

I already posted the link above, but here it is again:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

 

[Brew12]

Thanks man.

Just bought a CO2 meter so I can know for sure.

You still have your outside line running, right? Is pH creeping up? I'm not overly experienced but you are dealing with a large amount of water for your air exchange. Keep in mind that even though you are using fresh outside air in a skimmer, you have a large volume of water and the CO2 level of fresh air isn't substantially different enough to cause rapid changes.
I know everything good in reefing happens fast, but in this case I would give it a week or two and see where you end up.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I mix 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of powdered calcium hydroxide to every gallon of RO/DI water.

 

[sullyman]

You don't really have to worry about Ph level, you can chase it around, but it will go back. ALK, CA, and MG are more important to monitor for level and stability.

 

[LittleMaui]

For folks running a line outside, I tried it to about 15 away. Unfortunately, I saw a performance hit on my skimmer.

 

[chefjpaul]

For you that does limewater how do you do it?

Also my tank is in a tank room but the double doors are always open because I don't have a way to control humidity yet. The doors open up to a large work space room that's 20ft high! I have two air handlers also housed in that work area.

I run it off a dosing pump to my GHL / ph probes. Only does at intervals if below 8. kicks of for 15 sec. Off for 3 minutes. Etc..
(I dont recall, but I don't think Randy recommend dosing kalk to chase ph, I do as it's a smaller tank and very minimal).

I used to through the ATO, but evap. was to inconsistent for me in NY, although You are in a basement and should have consistency in evaporation.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

You don't really have to worry about Ph level, you can chase it around, but it will go back. ALK, CA, and MG are more important to monitor for level and stability.

I'm looking for better coral growth is why I worry about the PH.

 

[solor]

I use 100% kalkwasser (BRS) to replace the 2+ gl a day of evaporation for the 180 and 120 with a shared 135 gl sump. The apex shuts off the ato at 8.3. It is pumped out of a 44 gl brute trash can.

 

[Brew12]

I'm looking for better coral growth is why I worry about the PH.

Normally, I think not chasing pH is good advice, but yours is too low.

I do like the idea of dosing Kalk. I saw a very interesting debate in the last day or two on R2R on dosing Kalk. The members involved never did agree but I was thinking that a combination of their two ideas would be great. Mix up fully saturated Kalk and use it as an Apex controlled additive using a small pump. Set the Apex to add just a little less per day than your normal ATO system would add. Let your kalk free ATO make up the additional water volume in case it varies. Dose your 2 part to make up for any shortfalls from the kalk.
This way you are dosing a constant amount of kalk per day so you can also dose a constant amount of 2 part. Your ATO would only make up for fluctuations in evaporation.

Did I explain that ok?

 

[Ty Hamatake]

For you that does limewater how do you do it?

Also my tank is in a tank room but the double doors are always open because I don't have a way to control humidity yet. The doors open up to a large work space room that's 20ft high! I have two air handlers also housed in that work area.

I don't know if this had been suggested on one of your other threads, but using limewater will also decrease how much two part you have to dose (200 ml a day if I remember correctly) also. For some reason I thought you had already looked into kalkwasser...

Looks like @Brew12 was thinking the same thing. I didn't read it fully, but is this it? https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/limewater-vs-two-part.309140/

 

[Scott.h]

Referring to the .1 raise, that all depends of the size of the skimmer in relation to water volume. I was constantly dipping lower then 7.8. At 12' I started with a 3/8 hose. Small difference. But when I increased to a 7/8 that did make a difference. It's not all that impressive but I had he same issue but am constantly at or above 7.8 now. Also what's primarily keeping me from a calcium reactor as I know I'd be worse in that area.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Normally, I think not chasing pH is good advice, but yours is too low.

I do like the idea of dosing Kalk. I saw a very interesting debate in the last day or two on R2R on dosing Kalk. The members involved never did agree but I was thinking that a combination of their two ideas would be great. Mix up fully saturated Kalk and use it as an Apex controlled additive using a small pump. Set the Apex to add just a little less per day than your normal ATO system would add. Let your kalk free ATO make up the additional water volume in case it varies. Dose your 2 part to make up for any shortfalls from the kalk.
This way you are dosing a constant amount of kalk per day so you can also dose a constant amount of 2 part. Your ATO would only make up for fluctuations in evaporation.

Did I explain that ok?

Now this makes me want to get a controller! Absolutely brilliant, Brew! Love this idea and it could be done!

"2 Part/kalk hybrid dosing" is born!

 

[CoralNerd]

Try ME Coral Alk it keeps the ph sweet

 

[Scott.h]

Normally, I think not chasing pH is good advice, but yours is too low.

I do like the idea of dosing Kalk. I saw a very interesting debate in the last day or two on R2R on dosing Kalk. The members involved never did agree but I was thinking that a combination of their two ideas would be great. Mix up fully saturated Kalk and use it as an Apex controlled additive using a small pump. Set the Apex to add just a little less per day than your normal ATO system would add. Let your kalk free ATO make up the additional water volume in case it varies. Dose your 2 part to make up for any shortfalls from the kalk.
This way you are dosing a constant amount of kalk per day so you can also dose a constant amount of 2 part. Your ATO would only make up for fluctuations in evaporation.

Did I explain that ok?

In theory, yes it's a good idea. I contemplated that myself. But I felt like it's one more variable to control. My evaporation per week varies quite a bit, depending on temp and humidity. Basically it seems like you'd end up testing every day and still end up manually dosing that last little bit. possibly fooling with your dosing pump on a regular basis which may add some slight swings in both ph and alk.

 

[Cory]

You'll see about a .1 ph bump from my own observations on my tank.

Just my .02

The PH scrubber used in combination on the other hand helped a lot. I'd say overall I had a .3 bump doing both. Stability was also greatly increased. [emoji4]

It depends if the room the tank is in is small, eventually outside air may fill up the room. But if the room is large, good luck.