Help with kalk dosage

Aquaph8 · May 24, 2015

I'm moving towards using a still container for my kalk additions but don't want to connect with topoff due to fluctuations in topoff levels. I'd like to make hourly additions to my 225 gallon tank but I'm not sure how much hourly is safe. I plan to use a 50ml/min pump for additions through my controller. My tank uses a large amount of cal/alk, any extra needs will be made via two part additions also made hourly. Any help or tips on dosage is appreciated, thanks.

Downbeach · May 24, 2015

I would dose something less than you evaporate each day, and allow the top off to make up the difference. Spread the dose, in small amounts, out over a 24 hr period. I would start with 1 tsp. per gallon of RO/DI, test and go up from there.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 24, 2015

Yes, your evaporation rate is the key, although if you do have high demand, 2 teaspoons per gallon (saturation) should be fine.

Aquaph8 · May 24, 2015

What would the maximum amount I could add once hourly without boosting PH too much be?

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 25, 2015

Adding 1.25% of the water volume at once boosts the pH by about 0.6 to 0.7 pH units or so. I do not know what the max is, but adding 1/10 - 1/5 that each hour is likely fine.

Aquaph8 · May 25, 2015

So spread out, you can actually dose a lot more than I thought. Figuring 1/10 that's over 6 gallons a day which is way more than anyone's 225 gallon tank would evaporate in one day.

So I follow you now and I should start with a certain amount I want to account for per day