Dosing Kalk for 3 days no change to PH

[aquatic_dad]

Hello,

I started dosing Kalk 3 days ago because I wanted to boost my PH. I currently use a recirculating co2 scrubber and dose all-for-reef.

I used a 52 gallon brute trash can, filled with rodi and 1.5 cups of BRS Kalk. Mixed for an hour using powerhead. I am dosing 3500 ml using Neptune DOS. My tank is about 150 gallon (water

Any idea or advice what I am doing wrong?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You really didn't add very much.

Crudely estimated, you didn't add more than about 0.5 dKH per day.

Adding that all at once would have boosted pH by about 0.25 pH units, but spread out over a day, it amounts to far less since the tank can keep pulling in CO2 to offset any pH boost.

If you can add more without exceeding your evaporation limit and alk needs, doing so would help give a bigger boost.

 

[Peluche]

I dose 1/2 gallon of saturated kalwasser everyday, in my 15 gallon tank!!!!!

 

[aquatic_dad]

Thank you very much.

I calculated my evaporation to about a gallon per day, that’s why I did 3,500ml. What would be the next best thing to boost PH? Add the 3,500ml over a shorter period of time? Currently dosing from 6p to 9a (during my low PH period).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you very much.

I calculated my evaporation to about a gallon per day, that’s why I did 3,500ml. What would be the next best thing to boost PH? Add the 3,500ml over a shorter period of time? Currently dosing from 6p to 9a (during my low PH period).

You can replace all alk needs with hydroxide regardless of evaporation if you use sodium hydroxide, preferably as part of a DIY two part that also uses calcium chloride and Balling Part C.

 

[aquatic_dad]

You can replace all alk needs with hydroxide regardless of evaporation if you use sodium hydroxide, preferably as part of a DIY two part that also uses calcium chloride and Balling Part C.

Thank you. I have a kind of hybrid set up using All for reef, triton supplements based on triton ICP test. I started dosing Kalk because I want to raise PH from 7.8-8.1 to above 8. I have a large Refugium with a 10 gallon external Refugium and can’t counter Co2 in the house.

Yesterday I added 0.5 cup of Kalk to the reservoir and shorten the dosing period to 6 hours. I was able to see the rise in PH by about .08. My co2 media needs replacement though. Just replaced it this morning. Will monitor over the next couple of days and provide an update.

thank you for your help.