Kalk use with high alk tank.

The Rook · Aug 29, 2016

My tank runs high alk due to the use of RSCP salt. I would like to run my ato to a kalk reactor. Would i have an issue with raising the Alk too much. Approx 75 gallons of volume with about 3/4 gallon of evap per day.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 29, 2016

How do you control potency? By stirring times?

The Rook · Aug 29, 2016

That's kinda my concern. They do have some with a stirrer pump or Two Little Fishes i guess just pushes up thru the mix with no pump.

wcharon · Aug 29, 2016

Hey Randy.

I hope OP doesn't bother but i have a similar issue without the reactor. I started with fully saturated Kalk thru my ATO which maintain my ALK at 8.4 which is great but my PH raises to 8.60 at night. I tried and lowered the strenght to 1 1/2 and same issue with PH.

Should i keep on lowering the strength of Kalk or any other advise?

Thanks in advance.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 29, 2016

wcharon said:
Hey Randy.

I hope OP doesn't bother but i have a similar issue without the reactor. I started with fully saturated Kalk thru my ATO which maintain my ALK at 8.4 which is great but my PH raises to 8.60 at night. I tried and lowered the strenght to 1 1/2 and same issue with PH.

Should i keep on lowering the strength of Kalk or any other advise?

Thanks in advance.

More aeration will bring the pH down. Have you recently recalibrated?

Is the ATO delivering 24/7?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 29, 2016

The Rook said:
That's kinda my concern. They do have some with a stirrer pump or Two Little Fishes i guess just pushes up thru the mix with no pump.

So you do not yet have a particular reactor?

The Rook · Aug 29, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
So you do not yet have a particular reactor?

Not yet. Exploring my options for Kalk. I definitely want a separate chamber if i use it. Did it in the ato several years back (another tank) and don't want to deal with that mess again.

I could do a container i guess and a dosing pump from BRS but then I'll be constantly refilling that as well...

wcharon · Aug 29, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
More aeration will bring the pH down. Have you recently recalibrated?

Is the ATO delivering 24/7?

Waooooo more aeration. I have 2 RW-15 at full power and a Sea Swirl. I will aim them a little more to the surface to see if that helps. Remember that my concern is only at night shift when the lights are ending their cycle.

Yes the ATO is delivering 24/7 and I have an evaporation of 1 1/2 gallon daily.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 29, 2016

wcharon said:
Waooooo more aeration. I have 2 RW-15 at full power and a Sea Swirl. I will aim them a little more to the surface to see if that helps. Remember that my concern is only at night shift when the lights are ending their cycle.

Yes the ATO is delivering 24/7 and I have an evaporation of 1 1/2 gallon daily.

pH will never be high with perfect aeration (by definition), so if it really is high (above 8.5 or so) and not testing error (and not excessively high alk), the pH will drop with more aeration. CO2 can be harder to equilibrate than folks assume.

You could also look to not let the ATO run during the peak pH times of day.

wcharon · Aug 29, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
pH will never be high with perfect aeration (by definition), so if it really is high (above 8.5 or so) and not testing error (and not excessively high alk), the pH will drop with more aeration. CO2 can be harder to equilibrate than folks assume.

You could also look to not let the ATO run during the peak pH times of day.

Thanks... I will move up the Powerheads. In my case I cannot do it because my ATO is integrated to the doser.

I was also thinking to use the doser to supply the Kalk and go with plain RO water thru the ATO. That way I can shut the dose at peak time but I am afraid to put all the eggs in the same basket.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 29, 2016

You cannot put the doser/ATO on a timer to not get electricity at peak times?

wcharon · Aug 29, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You cannot put the doser/ATO on a timer to not get electricity at peak times?

Hummmmm. That a good point but I am also dosing 2 part 24/7. Thanks for the advise... I am going to monitor the PH this week and it if it continues I will lower the strength again. If that finally doesn't work then I will have to use the Doser to supplement the KALK also.

I have to be honest that I don't have problems with my tank and I don't see no problems with my livestock just a little worried with that PH going so high 8.60.

Thanks for the hints...

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 30, 2016

There isn't likely to be a problem that I know of at pH 8.6 except faster clogging of pumps and such as precipitation accelerates. But my tank ran pH 8.35 at its min to 8.55 at its max for years.

wcharon · Aug 30, 2016

Thanks Randy.... That is good to hear... I think I am just over reacting.... Yesterday with the change on pump more to the surface it reached 8.57 so I am in route.

Thanks once again....