Do i implement kalk

[tinyfellows]

I’ve been considering implementing kalk the aci method to my tank. A little background is I have a 20 gallon mixed reef it’s my first tank I’m about a year and a half in. Most of the time my ph runs 8.06 for nighttime low and peaks at about 8.4. However when my wife and I are out of town which is very often it goes to 8.4 to 8.6. So if I do start it I will have to have an at home kalk plan then a traveling all for reef plan. I feel like my corals grow pretty slow. But as my first tank I don’t have a whole lot to compare to. Is my range when I’m home really a concern?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd be very cautious implementing a plan where you dose alkalinity and do not measure and control alkalinity. In some tanks, the uncontrolled dosing of kalkwasser will result in excessive alkalinity. I definitely would not do it the first time close to going away.

My recommendation is to start dosing kalkwasser when you are home for a while and see what happens. If that works fine at some dosing level (either controlled or uncontrolled/maxed out), then it is good to go.

Switching to AFR when away can certainly also work, and may be a fine plan if the pH might get too high.

 

[tinyfellows]

I'd be very cautious implementing a plan where you dose alkalinity and do not measure and control alkalinity. In some tanks, the uncontrolled dosing of kalkwasser will result in excessive alkalinity. I definitely would not do it the first time close to going away.

My recommendation is to start dosing kalkwasser when you are home for a while and see what happens. If that works fine at some dosing level (either controlled or uncontrolled/maxed out), then it is good to go.

Switching to AFR when away can certainly also work, and may be a fine plan if the pH might get too high.

Yeah I wouldn’t be dosing kalk while gone. I’d just be when I’m not traveling as my ph is suppressed. I currently dose afr so I would just switch to that program while traveling