Increasing evaporation to dose more Kalk

[Sebae]

Hello,

I'm currently dosing 9 L of kalk mixed in a reactor into my system of roughly 330 gallons. The dosing is carried out in 60 mL doses over 24 hours. I also have my skimmer intake and a secondary air pump drawing outside air. My pH fluctuates from 7.9-8.15 over the course of the day. I know this isn't terrible but I would like to see it at 8.1-8.3 if I can manage.

My kalk dosing is currently limited by my tank's evaporation rate. Are there many practical solutions for increasing evaporation? I was thinking of putting fans across the top of the system or around the sump. Could this make any practical difference for my purpose?

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello,

I'm currently dosing 9 L of kalk mixed in a reactor into my system of roughly 330 gallons. The dosing is carried out in 60 mL doses over 24 hours. I also have my skimmer intake and a secondary air pump drawing outside air. My pH fluctuates from 7.9-8.15 over the course of the day. I know this isn't terrible but I would like to see it at 8.1-8.3 if I can manage.

My kalk dosing is currently limited by my tank's evaporation rate. Are there many practical solutions for increasing evaporation? I was thinking of putting fans across the top of the system or around the sump. Could this make any practical difference for my purpose?

Thanks

many folks have used fans for this purpose.

 

[AZMSGT]

I read adding a Dehumidifier to your tank area can increase evaporation. Just pipe the dehumidifier outside so you don’t need to empty it.

 

[BeejReef]

I tried that as well. It works. My heater was working hard overnight though when we let the house cool down to 60. Also wasn't fond of the constant hum.

 

[Reefahholic]

Why not decrease your frequency and increase the dose?

For example:
I’m dosing 150x per day @ 3.4mL per dose which is 510mL daily.

So if I changed to 130x @ 4mL per dose it would bring it to 520mL daily and also increase my pH because the dose is slightly higher. Just don’t let the pH fluctuate > 0.2 when the dose hits the water.

 

[purp]

Are you maxed out on your kalk concentration?

 

[Reefahholic]

Are you maxed out on your kalk concentration?

Not even close. I’ll probably bump it up slightly because when I do my 10/G water change it will < the pH for a week or so. That’s even matching the Alkalinity in my water change water. I was using a Pin Point pH monitor and didn’t like it. Switched over to a Milwaukee and that thing calibrated so easily. Hasn’t drifted at all yet unlike the Pin Point. I also have my skimmer input line running outside. I’ll hit 8.2 and sometimes 8.3 in the middle of the day during the peak photo period. I may increase the dose to hit 8.3 to 8.4. It will drop off a lot at night to 8.0 - 7.9 and others times to 7.8 - 7.7. Unfortunately I can’t program my pump to dose more at night. However, I hear Macro Algae will help with the fluctuations at night. So I may start a refugium again. I just really don’t have the room. Tank is only 10 months and 75/G.

 

[Reefahholic]

Are you maxed out on your kalk concentration?

Ohh sorry...I just now realized what you mean. Yes...I’m in the fully saturated club bro. 2 tsp per Gallon. Wink Wink

 

[clm65]

Assuming you maintain water temperature at a constant temperature, evaporation is influenced by air temperature, humidity, and air velocity at the water surface. So if you decrease air temperature, decrease humidity, or increase air flow, you will increase your evaporation rate.

 

[Koigula]

You may chasing the wrong end of the issue. Some more advanced reefers add a house or basement Energy Recovery Ventilator to move stale air and CO2 out of the house.