Measuring dkh after dosing - timeframe

[RaymondL]

After dosing to bring up the dkh - how long do I have to wait before I test for the dkh value? Ie can it be done right away after dosing, or do I need to wait for a certain timeframe before testing?

I'm using Red Sea's KH liquid product by the way - if it matters.

 

[blaxsun]

I'd probably wait at least an hour after dosing.

 

[Reefahholic]

I would test at the same exact time daily. If you dose one day check the next day at the same time. If the situation is critical you could test 3x a day, but just know that the alkalinity will fluctuates with the photo period. If you just want a ball park number then wait a few hours so that the dose can cycle through the entire system and take effect.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The alkalinity from that product is detectable as soon as it is added and mixes in. How long that takes to reach a stable value is like adding dye. How long before the tank is all one color? A few min is plenty in a sumpless system. It might take much longer with extended sumps, refugia, etc.

 

[RaymondL]

The alkalinity from that product is detectable as soon as it is added and mixes in. How long that takes to reach a stable value is like adding dye. How long before the tank is all one color? A few min is plenty in a sumpless system. It might take much longer with extended sumps, refugia, etc.

Thanks Randy. My setup is sumpless, so like you suggested good to measure right away.

Question: what does it mean if I don't observe the kH going up to the value that I dosed? For example, let's say I dose for a 1dkh increase, but only get a 0.25dkh increase instead - assuming that I dose correctly to yield a 1dkh increase for the water volume that I have.

Or is this an improbable situation and points to error in testing, or in fact dosing amount error?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy. My setup is sumpless, so like you suggested good to measure right away.

Question: what does it mean if I don't observe the kH going up to the value that I dosed? For example, let's say I dose for a 1dkh increase, but only get a 0.25dkh increase instead - assuming that I dose correctly to yield a 1dkh increase for the water volume that I have.

Or is this an improbable situation and points to error in testing, or in fact dosing amount error?

Seems improbable if you measure within 10 minutes. But I doubt any kits we have are very good at distinguishing small changes.

Most kits do not give accuracy info, but the Hanna only claims +/- 0.3 dKH.