Kalk question

[Hitman]

I’m presently dosing ESV B-Ionic CA, ALK, & MG and have found my sweet spot or so I believe. With that said even running 2 CO2 scrubbers in line to my Skimmer and a air-pump off a 3rd CO2 scrubber into my sump Im fighting keep my PH above 8. I’m looking to add a kalk drip.
So my question is when using a kalk drip do you still dose 2 part or does the kalk do it all?

 

[Hitman]

Today’s tests ( test kits are Salifert )
Temp 78
PH. 8
Ca. 440PPM
Alk. 8.3 DKH
Mg. 1350
NO2. 0ppm
NO3. 5ppm
AM. 0ppm
PH04. 0.2ppm

 

[dragon99]

How much ESV are you using now? That will determine if the limewater will completely replace or just supplement your ALK/CA needs.

This calculator can help you determine how much it will add:
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/KalkContribution.php

For my tank, the limewater is completely covering my ALK/CA needs so far.

 

[Hitman]

12 ml of each CA and Alk daily and 10 ml of mg every other month.
Tank is moderately stocked with LPS and SPS more LPS now but moving towards heavy SPS.

 

[Hitman]

How much ESV are you using now? That will determine if the limewater will completely replace or just supplement your ALK/CA needs.

This calculator can help you determine how much it will add:
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/KalkContribution.php

For my tank, the limewater is completely covering my ALK/CA needs so far.

How are you dosing yours and how big is you tank?

 

[dragon99]

I've got a 73g DT, I'm dosing via my ATO (Tunze). I use roughly 1 gal per day of top off, and thru trial/error/calculation I've found that ~tsp/gal of kalk keeps my Alk stable.

Check my math, but it looks like 12ml of ESV is only ~.1 dKH per day of Alk contribution. You would get the same from ~1/4 gal of saturated limewater per day.

 

[Mrx7899]

I wouldn't worry about ph being under or around 8

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that you need not worry about the pH unless it drops well below where it is now, say below 7.8.

That said, you might need to back off a bit on the two part if using limewater too. Its not an exact replacement since the higher pH increases demand for calcium and alkalinity.

 

[Hitman]

I agree that you need not worry about the pH unless it drops well below where it is now, say below 7.8.

That said, you might need to back off a bit on the two part if using limewater too. Its not an exact replacement since the higher pH increases demand for calcium and alkalinity.

My ph reading is in the middle of my lighting period, would you recommend me checking it at a different time to see what my swing is? Say just before my lights turn on.

I've got a 73g DT, I'm dosing via my ATO (Tunze). I use roughly 1 gal per day of top off, and thru trial/error/calculation I've found that ~tsp/gal of kalk keeps my Alk stable.

Check my math, but it looks like 12ml of ESV is only ~.1 dKH per day of Alk contribution. You would get the same from ~1/4 gal of saturated limewater per day.

I have the Tunze 3155 ATO and use about 2.5 gallons of RO water daily. I was looking to do a slow drip in the evenings and change my dosing from every 2 hours to daytime 2 part and evening drip of kalk if that makes sense.