How to bring down dkh

[brownjoshua475]

Hello there my dkh is currently at 10.3 and I was wondering how to slowly bring it down to the 8.5 range without hurting my sps

 

[madweazl]

Just let it come down naturally.

 

[brownjoshua475]

Just let it come down naturally.

Ok will that kill my sps and should I stop kalkwasser in my ATO

 

[madweazl]

Ok will that kill my sps and should I stop kalkwasser in my ATO

No, the corals will be just fine. I'd stop with the kalk until you've hit your desired alkalinity.

Edit: keep an eye on your calcium levels.

 

[brownjoshua475]

No, the corals will be just fine. I'd stop with the kalk until you've hit your desired alkalinity.

Edit: keep an eye on your calcium levels.

Ok thanks I only notice everytime I do a water change my alkalinity goes up and stays there and if the calcium gets low can I just add the brs liquid calcium I made up in the 1 gal jug

 

[brownjoshua475]

No, the corals will be just fine. I'd stop with the kalk until you've hit your desired alkalinity.

Edit: keep an eye on your calcium levels.

Right now my calcium is steady at 460

 

[madweazl]

Ok thanks I only notice everytime I do a water change my alkalinity goes up and stays there and if the calcium gets low can I just add the brs liquid calcium I made up in the 1 gal jug

Ahh, that is a separate issue. Your salt mixes up at a level higher that you want so you'll need to either keep the alkalinity closer to that level or use a product to lower the freshly mixed water. To that end, muriatic acid works well to lower the alkalinity of the freshly mixed water. This thread has additional info on the subject. I've done it for about three years now on Instant Ocean with good results but have been using Tropic Marin Pro lately (mixes up around 7.3 dKh out of the box).

 

[Gareth elliott]

How are you checking salinity of nsw?

if you are noticing a change in alkalinity from water changes, do smaller water changes. You can increase the volume as demand increases. If nutrient build up outpaces this need, you can decrease the alkalinity of your nsw by using a salt that matches your tank better, or decrease its alkalinity with muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate.

 

[ZoWhat]

Theres this new cutting-edge latest-in-technology process out there that will blow your mind

Google "saltwater waterchange"

90% kidding 10% serious. I would do a WC

 

[Silver14SS]

Theres this new cutting-edge latest-in-technology process out there that will blow your mind
Google "saltwater waterchange"

Ok thanks I only notice everytime I do a water change my alkalinity goes up and stays there and if the calcium gets low can I just add the brs liquid calcium I made up in the 1 gal jug

What salt mix are you using? If your desired alk is 8.5, it would make sense to use a salt close to that.

 

[ZoWhat]

Are you 2parting?

 

[brownjoshua475]

What salt mix are you using? If your desired alk is 8.5, it would make sense to use a salt close to that.

I'm using fritz blue box

 

[brownjoshua475]

Are you 2parting?

I was before I started using kalkwasser only thing I've added since using kalkwasser has been magnesium because it tested low

 

[brownjoshua475]

How are you checking salinity of nsw?

if you are noticing a change in alkalinity from water changes, do smaller water changes. You can increase the volume as demand increases. If nutrient build up outpaces this need, you can decrease the alkalinity of your nsw by using a salt that matches your tank better, or decrease its alkalinity with muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate.

I'm using a refractometer

 

[ZoWhat]

I'm using fritz blue box

Well theres your problem. RPM Blue is high in Alk. Its well documented. Try a diff salt

I use and love RPM Blue but know my Alk is btwn 9-10 but I have mostly zoas/palys

 

[brownjoshua475]

Well theres your problem. ROM Blue is high in Alk. Its well documented. Try a diff salt

Ok thanks how do you switch salts without messing everything up

 

[ZoWhat]

I was before I started using kalkwasser only thing I've added since using kalkwasser has been magnesium because it tested low

Your avg Kalk recipe has a DKH of around 40-50.

Long ago I used Kalk but my Alk kept hitting 12.

I would say Kalk only works in "high Alk consumption tanks"

I wish ppl like BRSTV and other experts WARN:
do NOT use Kalk unless your daily consumption of carbonate is substantial and measurable..

They ALLLLLLL forget to tell you that LITTLE NUGGET OF INFO.....and you end up with dKH in the 13-16 range.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Mines Alk always high, 11-12 and cal usually at 420-230. I guess the salt I am using comes with 11 dkh already so I was wondering if I should just dose calcium to balance it out because under 12 is still within range.

 

[nereefpat]

Your avg Kalk recipe has a DKH of around 40-50.

Long ago I used Kalk but my Alk kept hitting 12.

I would say Kalk only works in "high Alk consumption tanks"

I wish ppl like BRSTV and other experts WARN:
do NOT use Kalk unless your daily consumption of carbonate is substantial and measurable..

They ALLLLLLL forget to tell you that LITTLE NUGGET OF INFO.....and you end up with dKH in the 13-16 range.

I disagree.

Your tank doesn't need to have substantial consumption of carbonate to use kalkwasser. You don't have to replace all evaporation with kalk, and you don't have to use full-strength kalk. If alk consumption is lower, than simply add less lime to the mix or dose less volume of the solution.

Many folks start out with kalkwasser when demands are low-moderate, then switch to two-part when demand becomes too high for kalk.

 

[ZoWhat]

Your tank doesn't need to have substantial consumption of carbonate to use kalkwasser.

Then you better be on a monthly refill subscription to Saliferts Alk test kits