Kalk pump too slow or am I doing something wrong?

[BAMatter]

Started dosing kalk to keep PH at 8.3. Im using a BRS 1.1mil/min pump but it’s not keeping PH where it needs to be at night time. Would imagine it’s too slow?

Any pump recommendations? Leaning towards the Milwaukee MP810

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Started dosing kalk to keep PH at 8.3. Im using a BRS 1.1mil/min pump but it’s not keeping PH where it needs to be at night time. Would imagine it’s too slow?

Any pump recommendations? Leaning towards the Milwaukee MP810

Is it maintaining alk? Focus on alk, not pH. pH is a side benefit.

Does it replace all your daily evaporation?

1.1 ml per minute = 1.5 L per day, so it is a slow pump (I've used them for other purposes, such as vinegar dosing). I'm not sure they are rated for 24/7 use 365 days a year.

You can also make a more concentrated solution using sodium hydroxide if you want this pump to deliver more alk/pH boost per day.

 

[Garf]

Started dosing kalk to keep PH at 8.3. Im using a BRS 1.1mil/min pump but it’s not keeping PH where it needs to be at night time. Would imagine it’s too slow?

Any pump recommendations? Leaning towards the Milwaukee MP810

Have you tried all the other remedies for increasing pH?

 

[BAMatter]

Is it maintaining alk? Focus on alk, not pH. pH is a side benefit.

Does it replace all your daily evaporation?

1.1 ml per minute = 1.5 L per day, so it is a slow pump (I've used them for other purposes, such as vinegar dosing). I'm not sure they are rated for 24/7 use 365 days a year.

You can also make a more concentrated solution using sodium hydroxide if you want this pump to deliver more alk/pH boost per day.

Yea I’m going to add a second 1.1mil pump and that should do the trick. I don’t really want to put a 50mil/min pump on as I think that’s going to be too fast. Wish there was something in the middle

 

[BAMatter]

Have you tried all the other remedies for increasing pH?

I’ve been dosing Triton which supposedly keeps PH high, but my tank runs at 7.8-7.9. Just trying to find a mid-speed pump around 10-20ml/min at this point

 

[KStatefan]

This one is continuous duty rated and adjustable from 1 ml - 120 ml per minute

FX-STP WiFi Continuous-Duty Peristaltic Dosing Calcium Reactor Pump - Kamoer

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[Natural_Reefer]

Is it maintaining alk? Focus on alk, not pH. pH is a side benefit.

Does it replace all your daily evaporation?

1.1 ml per minute = 1.5 L per day, so it is a slow pump (I've used them for other purposes, such as vinegar dosing). I'm not sure they are rated for 24/7 use 365 days a year.

You can also make a more concentrated solution using sodium hydroxide if you want this pump to deliver more alk/pH boost per day.

Definitely agree with Randy! You need to monitor your Alk, not pH when dosing Kalwasser.
I am happened to dose similar amount (about 1,600mL on my S400). Currently using Kamoer X1 Pro 2 and will be moving to K1 Kalwasser Stirrer with FX-STP since Kalwasser consumption is steadily increased (and I am tired of mixing Kalwasser Solution).
By the way, my pH is stable around 8.2 (at night) and peak at 8.4 (around 10AM) with CO2 Scrubber.

 

[BAMatter]

Definitely agree with Randy! You need to monitor your Alk, not pH when dosing Kalwasser.
I am happened to dose similar amount (about 1,600mL on my S400). Currently using Kamoer X1 Pro 2 and will be moving to K1 Kalwasser Stirrer with FX-STP since Kalwasser consumption is steadily increased (and I am tired of mixing Kalwasser Solution).
By the way, my pH is stable around 8.2 (at night) and peak at 8.4 (around 10AM) with CO2 Scrubber.

Im giving the ACI Aquaculture kalk dosing method a go.

 

[jhuntstl]

Im giving the ACI Aquaculture kalk dosing method a go.

Good luck and keep us posted on your results.

Aqua Excel AE-K02 is an affordable and adjustable peristaltic from .15-52ml/min. My understanding is it's a rebranded Kamoer. Don't quote me on that, but the unit itself appears to be of quality in my opinion. It does not have WIFI.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Im giving the ACI Aquaculture kalk dosing method a go.

What does that mean to you?

 

[BAMatter]

What does that mean to you?

Had a fairly lengthy discussion with my LFS regarding this, as he’s switched over all his service account tanks with success and is starting to stock the Captiv8 product at his new shop. I’ll leave small details out as I’m sure you’re aware since I’ve read threads you’ve participated in regarding this subject. So in a nutshell, dose clear kalk solution based off PH to keep steady at 8.3 (controller flips pumps on at 8.3 and off at 8.31) and I’ll start to supplement Alk/Cal when/if they begin to drop below desired levels.

 

[BAMatter]

Good luck and keep us posted on your results.

Aqua Excel AE-K02 is an affordable and adjustable peristaltic from .15-52ml/min. My understanding is it's a rebranded Kamoer. Don't quote me on that, but the unit itself appears to be of quality in my opinion. It does not have WIFI.

Thank you for that- I ended up pulling the trigger on a Milwaukee MP810, and will hook it up shortly. I ended up adding a 2nd BRS 1.1ml/min but it couldn’t keep up with more than 2 people in the house with windows closed.

 

[JDCagley]

I would also recommend calibrating by running the pump into a 100ml (or more) vessel the liquid you are dosing. I automated mine and the dosing on my 2 pumps were 1.84 and 1.85 ml/min. (not 1.1 ml/min) That makes a difference in the math!

 

[BAMatter]

I would also recommend calibrating by running the pump into a 100ml (or more) vessel the liquid you are dosing. I automated mine and the dosing on my 2 pumps were 1.84 and 1.85 ml/min. (not 1.1 ml/min) That makes a difference in the math!

I’m dosing based off PH with my controller. But I did calibrate my first pump at it was around the 1.8 mark as well. The second pump I did not calibrate but it definitely drops at a faster rate than my other one.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Had a fairly lengthy discussion with my LFS regarding this, as he’s switched over all his service account tanks with success and is starting to stock the Captiv8 product at his new shop. I’ll leave small details out as I’m sure you’re aware since I’ve read threads you’ve participated in regarding this subject. So in a nutshell, dose clear kalk solution based off PH to keep steady at 8.3 (controller flips pumps on at 8.3 and off at 8.31) and I’ll start to supplement Alk/Cal when/if they begin to drop below desired levels.

Many/most people with low pH will not attain pH 8.3 with full strength saturated limewater. So in essence, using a plan like this they will get whatever alk and pH they attain by dosing full strength kalkwasser regardless of the alkalinity.

Your suggested plan does not address what happens if alk rises. How high will you let it get?

Are you making sure nutrients are plentiful enough to prevent burnt tips with high alk?

Long term, calcium will rise from kalkwasser addition (contrary to what ACI falsely claims), so you may also need to deal with that.

 

[BAMatter]

Many/most people with low pH will not attain pH 8.3 with full strength saturated limewater. So in essence, using a plan like this they will get whatever alk and pH they attain by dosing full strength kalkwasser regardless of the alkalinity.

Your suggested plan does not address what happens if alk rises. How high will you let it get?

I have brought it from 7.8 to 8.3 fairly easily. Will let you know how high alk gets when it gets there. Right now it’s at 10.4dkh and my kalk daily requirement is leveling out.

Are you making sure nutrients are plentiful enough to prevent burnt tips with high alk?

Nutrients as in PO4 and NO3? Levels are around .08ppm and 11ppm. Also dosing Aquavitro daily, as well as live

Long term, calcium will rise from kalkwasser addition (contrary to what ACI falsely claims), so you may also need to deal with that.

Will ask my LFS what he is doing in this situation.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have brought it from 7.8 to 8.3 fairly easily. Will let you know how high alk gets when it gets there. Right now it’s at 10.4dkh and my kalk daily requirement is leveling out.



Nutrients as in PO4 and NO3? Levels are around .08ppm and 11ppm. Also dosing Aquavitro daily, as well as live


Will ask my LFS what he is doing in this situation.

My solution to the rising calcium was to use a lower calcium salt mix for water changes (normal IO).

yes, those nutrients are adequate to prevent burnt tips at that alk.

watch for abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate over time at that alk and pH.

 

[BAMatter]

My solution to the rising calcium was to use a lower calcium salt mix for water changes (normal IO).

yes, those nutrients are adequate to prevent burnt tips at that alk.

watch for abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate over time at that alk and pH.

Thanks, appreciate the advice !

 

[BAMatter]

My solution to the rising calcium was to use a lower calcium salt mix for water changes (normal IO).

yes, those nutrients are adequate to prevent burnt tips at that alk.

watch for abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate over time at that alk and pH.

Do you recall the parameters for IO? I’ve come to the point where I need to start doing water changes to bring calcium down. Is IO a decent all in all salt? I’m going to be dosing Captiv8 trace along with Kalk…

 

[KStatefan]

Do you recall the parameters for IO? I’ve come to the point where I need to start doing water changes to bring calcium down. Is IO a decent all in all salt? I’m going to be dosing Captiv8 trace along with Kalk…

The last two batches I tested were 390 and 400 ppm