Kh issue

kwandrsn · Aug 2, 2015

Im running kalk and also using kent tech m to kill bryopsis... the bryopsis is almost gone

Tested everything tonight and here is my results
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 8.34
Phosphate 0
S.g. 1.026
Calcium 460
Magnesium 1660
Kh 15

Will dosing mag cause my kh to be that high? My mag has been around 1800 for a week now and I actually got it up to 1800 and it kept rising daily up to 2020 and then slowly got back down to 1660 all without adding any more tech m

If the tech m is causing my kh to be high. I need to keep my mag up a little longer... if I do a water change ill have to raise my mag back up in turn causing my kh to go up again so I dont know what to do...

Probably another week of high mag and ill be doing a large water change... should I just not worry about my kh till then?

Thanks in advance

Downbeach · Aug 3, 2015

What are you using to measure it with? I think I'd get a second opinion on the test.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 3, 2015

Dosing magnesium won't boost alkalinity unless there are impurities in the product, and I've not heard of this before with Tech M.

hawkinsrgk · Aug 3, 2015

To me from looking at your parameters it appears like you are dosing too much kalk

kwandrsn · Aug 3, 2015

Im using api test for everything but mag

As for the kalk im using a ks1000 stirrer

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 3, 2015

If you believe the alk test result, I'd stop the limewater until it the alk drops to your target level.

kwandrsn · Aug 3, 2015

I tested it 3 times all with the same result. Just a little worried about my ph dropping if I stop the kalk stirrer

kwandrsn · Aug 3, 2015

I changed my stirrer where it will mix for an hour then shut off for an hour to see if that helps

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 3, 2015

IMO, at 15 dKH, I'd shut off the stirring entirely.

kwandrsn · Aug 3, 2015

Ok im unplugging it now

GainesvilleReef · Aug 3, 2015

kwandrsn said:
I changed my stirrer where it will mix for an hour then shut off for an hour to see if that helps

Your stirrer only needs to run for a few minutes after dispensing. Your problem is you are trying to use Kalk to control pH. That is a bad idea. High pH is a positive side effect of Kalk but Kalk can only replace Ca and Alkalinity. The higher pH comes from the Kalk consuming more CO2 than the tank is acquiring from aeration. Unfortunately you can't add more kalk than your tank needs or you will end up with high Ca and Alk like you have. Don't try to chase pH.

Downbeach · Aug 3, 2015

kwandrsn said:
Im using api test for everything but mag

As for the kalk im using a ks1000 stirrer

I think you'd be better served it you were to get either Salifert or Red Sea Pro test kits for these tests.

kwandrsn · Aug 3, 2015

I never used kalk in my old tank but I always had problems keeping my calcium about 340-360.

I was given a brand new kalk stirrer so I figured what they heck ill try it... it obviosly is keeping my calcium up.

Is there something I have done wrong. The directions of the stirrer say to add 2 cup of kalk and dissolve in some water then put it in the stirrer and then fill the rest of the way with rodi

I was under the assumption that no matter whether I put 1 cup or 2 cups its only gonna dissolve so much. I probably go through about 1 to 1-1/2 gallons of rodi a day and my tank is a 57 gallon w/20 long sump

kwandrsn · Aug 3, 2015

Im not paying any attention to my ph to be honest is ranges from 8.0 to 8.4 throughout the day... I do know if I shut the stirrer off it lowers my ph but im not trying to use the kalk to keep my ph up... I just dont want worse swings than I already have now.
I changed the stirrer to shut on and off every hour last night and noticed my ph was 7.9 this morning so I just assumed if I did shut it completely down it would drop drastically and dont want any ill effects from that... kinda figured I would slowly ween the kalk down if that makes any sense.

kwandrsn · Aug 3, 2015

Another thought I had because I was told elsewhere that dosing kalk through my ato isnt consistent that I might could throw another pump in my ato container and just have the pump going to the stirrer pump once every couple hours or something that way its more consistent

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 3, 2015

Limewater (kalkwasser) is a fine way to go. It's all I've used on my tank for 20 years. FWIW, I dose from a settled reservoir.

But with a reactor, you need to dial the stirring frequency to meet the alk needs of the tank (forget calcium. If it takes care of alk it will take care of calcium, but not vice-versa). In a low demand tank, you might only stir once a day.

So let the alk drop back, then restart with very infrequent stirring, trying to keep alk about where you want it.