Kalkwasser Addition and Parameter Problems

[Raintree Aquatics]

Hello, been reefing for about a year now and tank is doing great other than a problem with precipitation since dosing Kalk (2 Little Fishies). Below is a picture of my parameters (calcium is incorrect it's 485 per my latest ICP test), my phosphate is .08 and nitrate in the 5 ppm range. I purchased the Ice Cap stirrer and it's working like a charm dosing 1.3 ml a min. via Kamoer pump.

What I have seen besides the precipitation is a slight increase in Alk from 9.0 and a slight decrease in MG from 1350 but Calcium remaining about the same. I don't see where the dosing of the Kalk has increased my PH above 7.95. My Nyos 160 skimmer is plumbed to the outdoors and is filtered through a CO2 reactor for reduction purposes.

All inhabitants are doing great along with all LPS and SPS. I know there is some imbalance with my water chemistry but my inexperience with Kalk has me stumped on what to do and what I'm doing incorrectly. Any help would be great and really appreciated. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[arking_mark]

I don't see an imbalance in your reef chemistry.

Since we are using hobby level test kits...take your measurements with a grain of salt.

Sounds like you're concerned about pH.

There is a mathematical model for the relationship between pH, Alk, and CO2. In our Alk controlled tanks, CO2 basically drives our pH.

A tank’s effective CO2 level is determined by CO2 sources (inputs) and sinks (outputs).

The main sources of CO2 are indoor CO2 levels and livestock. The main sinks of CO2 are photosynthetic organisms such as algae.

CO2 Scrubbers and high-pH additives (usually hydroxides such as Kalkwasser) can be CO2 sinks. It’s important to note that high-pH dosing effects are temporary as it results in removing a specific amount of Hydrogen whereas the CO2 sources (that increase H) such as your indoor CO2 levels will continually work to achieve equilibrium.

Assuming your pH measurements are accurate, you're expecting a higher pH with Kalk and CO2 scrubber.

You can use a cup aeration test yo try and troubleshoot your situation...

Post in thread 'PH Dropping and can't figure out why.' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ph-dropping-and-cant-figure-out-why.881430/post-9727755

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure I understand what the concern is. The chemistry values are fine.

Limewater alone often does not give enough pH rise to attain higher pH.