Switching from using Kalk in the overflow to dosing

cryptics · Jul 16, 2012

Lately some of my chalices and my Scolly's have bleached out and died. Best I can figure is I am having multiple Alk spikes because of Kalk. Now I am the first to admit my Kalk setup left a lot to be desired. I had a container with 8-12 gallons of RO/DI and i added Kalk to that. I had a small powerhead stirring it and the ato pulling from the top 1/3 of the water. I would notice on hot days when the fan was constantly on that my PH would go from 8.25 to 8.4ish. I think this inconsistency is what is causing my problem in my more delicate corals. I cleaned out the ato reservoir and pump last night and just have RODI in there now. I plan on doing a water change tonight. Dosing will be by hand for the first week or so then I plan on getting dosing pumps. My question is how do I know how much to dose? I have mainly z&p's and chalices right now. My DT is 90g with a 30g sump and a 29g tank plummed into the mix. Do you just dose a small amount each day and test everyday? Then adjust till I get it right. Or do I not dose anything for a week test and figure out how much my tank used of calc/alk/mag in a week then figure out the dose? I have heard both suggestions and frankly I am a little confused. I have ESV 2 part and Mag right now but will probably move to the Bulk Reef Supply stuff once these run out. Let me know if you need anymore info. I just want to get my systems as stable as possible.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Chameleon · Jul 16, 2012

Before completely switching to 2 part, you may just want to try modify your ato setup a bit. I personally would take out the powerhead and use less kalk. Powerhead is actually unnecessary as has been shown in experiments where people tested the potency of stagnant kalk ato and it didn't decrease as fast as those that used powerheads. Powerheads break the surface and let more co2 in precipitating out kalk over time. It sounds like the calc/alk demand in your system is fairly low without the more demanding stony corals. This means you aren't using as much calc/alk so the amount you are adding is too high via ato. If you are adding 2+ tsp per gallon than back off on the kalk and maybe use a 1/2 tsp per gallon and see if that keeps your levels stable. Are you testing your calc and alk levels? please let us know what they are and how they fluctuate. I would never let my system go a week without 2 part but its more demanding and can use a whole 1dkh a day. In your system I would recommend if you do switch to 2 part do 10mL of each part a day. Test for it and go from there adding more or less as necessary. I guess if your tank really does have a very low demand you could let it go for a week and test before and after and calculate how much you need, but you will be testing adjusting anyway down the road so may as well get straight to dosing IMO. Let me know if you have more questions.

cryptics · Jul 16, 2012

My Alk usually fluxuates between 8-9 (using Hanna meter and Elos), Mag is usually right at 1350 (Using Elos), Calc 450-500 (Using Sailfert). I actually use a fail amount of Alk but not a lot of Calc. I have a few sps but not many. I am thinking of adding a clam soon which should up my calc requirements. I am leaning toward just going with dosing over kalk mainly because i have become gunshy. I had two incidences (both user error I admit) that the ato dumped 2 gal or so in and caused major problems. I am switching from the reefkeeper lite to the full apex system and setting up the breakout box to hopefully better control this. At this point I am not against Kalk I am just against it in my overflow because I don't have strict controls on how much is added. I would consider hooking kalk up to a doser but at that point i figured it would be better to just add each component individually. I was using 2 tsp/gallon.

Chameleon · Jul 16, 2012

Yep totally understand. 2 part is great and easy to control (unless you have a jerry-rigged doser like me). Good luck with the new methods. Those 2 gallon spikes aren't great on a 90.

cryptics · Jul 16, 2012

No they weren't. So I will start with 10ml of each a day and adjust it from there. Thank you! Do I need to dose mag or just watch it for the week?

Chameleon · Jul 16, 2012

If you keep up on water changes mag will probably be fine if not I would recommend dosing some every 2 weeks to a month. Look up how much you need based off how much 2 part you use. Also make sure to test for it

cryptics · Jul 16, 2012

ohh ok so i should be good. I do a 10% change every 7-10 days. I use ESV salt. So that is pretty good news basically all i would need is the two dosers. I was planning on grabbing 3. Is there anything else i would need a doser for besides the two part?