Help - Kalwasser only raising .3 Alk

[NitrateKillah]

I am using a 20 gallon tank, I am sick of the CalRx. I am tired of fiddling with it.

Original ALK was 8.7, its now 9.0. Is there way to increase this? I hear Vinegar is the way to go, what is the proper dosage for that? I am using a 1/2 gallon jug as a my top off.

I know 8.5 is the preferred, but if this goes to 7.0, what am I suppose to do here? should I just do 2 part with it? defeats the purpose.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Reef AquaCult]

your kalk is probably not saturated. Get a high range conductivity meter on Amazon for $12 and make sure it’s saturated. If it’s not, get a kalk stirrer or make one. Also, I don’t think you want your alk much higher than 9.

 

[Backreefing]

If you have any questions about your kalk dispose it . It’s way to cheep and easy to replace . Just make a new batch 2 teaspoons per gallon of rodi water, keep a lid on the container and don’t remix . Easy peasy nice and easy .

 

[FishyFishFish]

There’s not a lot of info to go on here.

How much Kalk are you dosing? I assume that it is in your ATO at the moment? If so, you could dose it with a dosing pump instead (rather than switching to 2-part). This could be more potent and more controllable.

My understanding is that there could be some benefits to dosing Kalk and 2-part (I do it). I believe that Kalk raises PH and adds calcium, which is why I use it. However, my tank is also a Nano and I’m concerned about overfilling it, so I supplement with a little baking soda solution and some additional calcium.

EDIT: just seen mention of CalRx in the thread, bulk Kalk in the title. Are you using a Kalk reactor?

 

[NitrateKillah]

There’s not a lot of info to go on here.

How much Kalk are you dosing? I assume that it is in your ATO at the moment? If so, you could dose it with a dosing pump instead (rather than switching to 2-part). This could be more potent and more controllable.

My understanding is that there could be some benefits to dosing Kalk and 2-part (I do it). I believe that Kalk raises PH and adds calcium, which is why I use it. However, my tank is also a Nano and I’m concerned about overfilling it, so I supplement with a little baking soda solution and some additional calcium.

EDIT: just seen mention of CalRx in the thread, bulk Kalk in the title. Are you using a Kalk reactor?

No Kalk reactor, just gravity drip, not an ato. I stopped using my CalRX. I started with 1 teaspoon, not its 2, because its 1 gallon.

I also added vinegar, 20 ml to it. Maybe I should just do Alk dose, and top off with Kalk instead. I thought Kalk raises Alk? now I am hearing it maintains it?

So what is it? thought Kalk eliminates 2 part.

 

[homer1475]

Kalk will not raise levels of ALK, simply maintain it. I suppose if your demand is rather low, it can raise it by adding more then whats being used, but thats not what you typically see.

Most people use KALK as a starter to dosing. When your demand is higher then what kalk can provide, you start 2 part, or a calrx.

You can dose saturated lime water(kalk) and dose 2 part to maintain a high level of PH as most people do these days. Just need to figure out the math behind the dosing and how much KALK is being added daily.

One does not replace the other unless your demand for ALK, and CAL is rather low.

 

[NitrateKillah]

After adding 2 tsp, and 20 ml of vinegar, I got it to boost. My DKH was 8.2 when I checked, now its at 10. The vinegar works!

 

[nereefpat]

You can dissolve 2 teaspoons per gallon without vinegar, by the way.

I would also suggest your previous alk of 8.2 is better than 10.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

After adding 2 tsp, and 20 ml of vinegar, I got it to boost. My DKH was 8.2 when I checked, now its at 10. The vinegar works!

AS folks have noted, the vinegar is not boosting potency.

It allows you to dissolve a bit more (45 mL per gallon allows dissolving 3 tsp per gallon instead of 2 tsp per gallon), but you aren't adding more than 2 tsp per gallon, so its not doing anything desirable.

 

[Garf]

After adding 2 tsp, and 20 ml of vinegar, I got it to boost. My DKH was 8.2 when I checked, now its at 10. The vinegar works!

How “heaped” were your teaspoons? When I mix mine I use 4 tablespoon mountains, in 20ish Ltrs water. Just enough, so it doesn’t quite all dissolve.