Limewater vs two part

[jason2459]

Or add Mg to the water change water.

 

[Hans-Werner]

So ive been thinking is two part much safer when it comes to overdosing? Ph wont get high with two part and i exspext any deaths are ph related with limewater correct?

I haven´t read this whole thread but I would say this is true. Several people have killed their whole tank with Kalkwasser/limewater including me.
I also had a severe overdose of a three-part-additive which layed a thin calciumcarbonate powder film over the complete tank decoration and it didn´t do anything to the corals and other tank inhabitants. After a few days the calciumcarbonate had disappeared and the tank was like before the overdosage.

 

[Val Shebeko]

Call me crazy.

I use a 5 gal bucket with Apex DOS.

The mix is 5 teaspoons of Redsea lime into 5 gal and I keep it moving with a small cheapo pump. The Apex is set to drip at the rate of 1500 mil a day.
Hardly ever have to add water via the ato

 

[jason2459]

You do not need to nor want to keep it stirring.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

 

[Val Shebeko]

You do not need to nor want to keep it stirring.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

I did read the article. There seem to be two objections.

1. There may be some heavy metal.

2. Some of the solids may come in contact with particles of undesolved lime.

What else should I be considering ?

 

[jason2459]

I did read the article. There seem to be two objections.

1. There may be some heavy metal.

2. Some of the solids may come in contact with particles of undesolved lime.

What else should I be considering ?

CO2 getting mixed in causing more precipitation of CaCO3 weakening the limewater.

 

[Val Shebeko]

CO2 getting mixed in causing more precipitation of CaCO3 weakening the limewater.

Saw that. Put an air tight lid on the bucket drilled fairly airtight holes for power and intake line on the pump.

 

[jason2459]

Saw that. Put an air tight lid on the bucket drilled fairly airtight holes for power and intake line on the pump.

If that's what you want to do go for it. I see no reason at all to do so and several negatives.

 

[Val Shebeko]

I seem to be getting high alkalinity from kalc. Ca has gone up, Alk is up to 11 dKH while Ph struggles to stay at 8. Thoughts.
I had stepped up kalc to help with Ph

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I seem to be getting high alkalinity from kalc. Ca has gone up, Alk is up to 11 dKH while Ph struggles to stay at 8. Thoughts.
I had stepped up kalc to help with Ph

Use less.

Simple as that. Always deliver an amount sufficient to maintain alkalinity (or less, if you maintain it in other ways). Calcium will follow along just fine. There's no more you can do with limewater in relation to pH than add enough to maintain alkalinity.

 

[Val Shebeko]

Use less.

Simple as that. Always deliver an amount sufficient to maintain alkalinity (or less, if you maintain it in other ways). Calcium will follow along just fine. There's no more you can do with limewater in relation to pH than add enough to maintain alkalinity.

Thank you ! Very much !

Can I use a marine buffer like. SeaChem's 8.3 to nudge Ph ?

 

[dragonfish]

FOLLOWING

 

[Cory]

Thank you ! Very much !

Can I use a marine buffer like. SeaChem's 8.3 to nudge Ph ?

You could but it' risky. To get 8.3 with buffer might make your alkalinity way too high, killing things. The reason ph is low is because of co2 in your house. Co2 is less outside, so opening a window will let some co2 out and your tanks ph will rise naturlly.

 

[BigJohnny]

Thank you ! Very much !

Can I use a marine buffer like. SeaChem's 8.3 to nudge Ph ?

Never chase pH, especially by dosing carbonate alkalinity (buffer). Alkalinity levels and stability are way more important than pH, and any pH boosting effect from a buffer or carbonate solution would be temporary anyway.