waiting for alk to drop, stop dosing Kalk?

benf · 10/14/2006, 07:48 PM

all of my parimeters seem good not that i brought my Mag. up except my Alk...it continues to be on the high side and was wondering if i should stop dosing the Kalk til my Alk drops to mid 3 or less. For the past month it seems to stay in the mid 4s even though my Ca and ph are normal.

Billybeau1 · 10/14/2006, 08:08 PM

Why do you think your alk is high? Salt mix ? Using pH buffers ?

benf · 10/14/2006, 08:59 PM

My Ca is running between 420-450 PH is ~8.3-8.4, but my Alk has been running lately in the mid 4's. I thought Sea water is around 2.9.

I use 2 types of salt...TMpro(which i am using now) and IO Reef Crystals which i ran out of. I usually switch back and forth.

Billybeau1 · 10/14/2006, 09:25 PM

I dont know, mid 4's isnt so bad. Cal and pH are right on the money.

I would not get hung up on NSW levels for alk as most folks try and keep their tanks alk a little higher say btween 8 and 11 dkh.

As long as it doesnt get any higher, I would not worry.

cody-the-roo · 10/14/2006, 09:38 PM

What units are you using for your Alkalinity Measurements? Your Calicum looks good.

cody-the-roo · 10/14/2006, 09:43 PM

pilfered from Randy Holmes-Farley (on another thread)

FWIW, 1 meq/L = 2.8 dKH = 50 ppm CaCO3 equivalents.

So, when you say you are in the mid 4's, do you mean meq/L or dKH?

4 meq/L wouldn't be too bad. (~ 11 dKH)

jdieck · 10/14/2006, 09:50 PM

Even if you stop dosing while the alkalinity will drop to 3.5 the Calcium will only drop by 20 ppm and you can always adjust Calcium with some Calcium chloride if required.

virgin reefer · 10/14/2006, 10:53 PM

What kinda test kit do you guys use?

jdieck · 10/14/2006, 10:57 PM

I use La Motte for Alkalinity, Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite
Salifert for Calcium and Magnesium
Hanna Colorimeter LR for Phosphate

virgin reefer · 10/14/2006, 11:53 PM

I can't get a salifert KH test I only have the tetra one. it says I have 260 meg/l but I was tolf you add the drops together, and I get 13.

sorry if this is a repeat question.

Billybeau1 · 10/15/2006, 06:27 AM

Thats more then likely 260 mg/l not meq/l (mg/l is the same as ppm. It is a little high. That said I dont have much faith in the accuracy of that kit.

benf · 10/15/2006, 07:00 AM

I use the Salifert test kits and the reading is in meq/L or ~12.5dkh

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/15/2006, 08:10 AM

12.5 dKH is not high enough to worry much about, so I'd just dose a little less limewater, or less lime in the same volume of limewater, and let the alk drift down a bit.

benf · 10/15/2006, 08:25 AM

Sounds like a plan!! thanks everybody!!

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/15/2006, 01:25 PM

Good luck.

virgin reefer · 10/15/2006, 04:31 PM

I guess my question would be how to maintain my PH at >8.0 when I shouldn't dose Alk. stuff. The buffer for my PH also raises my alk. I've been having trouble with my calcium but finally got it up to 420ppm. How high is to high for kh?
Thanks.

Billybeau1 · 10/15/2006, 04:54 PM

I would try to keep below 12 dkh.

The best ways to keep pH above 8.0 is more aeration with fresh air or limewater.

killereef · 10/15/2006, 05:48 PM

Iam glad that you started this tread, because mine is high too and I am dripping kalk.

Billybeau1 · 10/15/2006, 05:54 PM

Everyones situation is different. If your alk is getting high, just cut back on the amount of lime you mix in the water.

Example: I only use 1 tsp per gallon. Suits my tank just fine.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/16/2006, 08:58 AM

The best ways to keep pH above 8.0 is more aeration with fresh air or limewater.

FWIW, buffers are a poor choice in raising pH.

benf · 10/17/2006, 04:40 PM

Just as an update, it has been 2.5 days since i stopped my Kalk drip and my alk is now back to normal as well are my other parameters. I did however yesterday dose 2 capfulls of Ca to keep the level up which worked when i ckd my levels today.

Tomorrow i will start the drip again!

jdieck · 10/17/2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by benf
Just as an update, it has been 2.5 days since i stopped my Kalk drip and my alk is now back to normal as well are my other parameters. I did however yesterday dose 2 capfulls of Ca to keep the level up which worked when i ckd my levels today.

Tomorrow i will start the drip again!

How is the PH?

benf · 10/17/2006, 05:19 PM

8.3

jdieck · 10/17/2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by benf
8.3

Great!

10/14/2006, 07:48 PM	#1
benf Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wesley chapel, florida Posts: 4,031	waiting for alk to drop, stop dosing Kalk? all of my parimeters seem good not that i brought my Mag. up except my Alk...it continues to be on the high side and was wondering if i should stop dosing the Kalk til my Alk drops to mid 3 or less. For the past month it seems to stay in the mid 4s even though my Ca and ph are normal. __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: None :(

10/14/2006, 08:59 PM	#3
benf Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wesley chapel, florida Posts: 4,031	My Ca is running between 420-450 PH is ~8.3-8.4, but my Alk has been running lately in the mid 4's. I thought Sea water is around 2.9. I use 2 types of salt...TMpro(which i am using now) and IO Reef Crystals which i ran out of. I usually switch back and forth. __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: None :(

10/14/2006, 09:50 PM	#7
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Even if you stop dosing while the alkalinity will drop to 3.5 the Calcium will only drop by 20 ppm and you can always adjust Calcium with some Calcium chloride if required. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

10/14/2006, 10:53 PM	#8
virgin reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 301	What kinda test kit do you guys use? __________________ Forever a newbie=> Current Tank Info: LPS, 440 VHO Ice Cap, 90G w/ 75G Sump, Tunze Skimmer, Approx 100LB LR, toys, toys, toys!

10/14/2006, 10:57 PM	#9
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	I use La Motte for Alkalinity, Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite Salifert for Calcium and Magnesium Hanna Colorimeter LR for Phosphate __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

10/14/2006, 08:08 PM	#2
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	Why do you think your alk is high? Salt mix ? Using pH buffers ?

10/14/2006, 09:25 PM	#4
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	I dont know, mid 4's isnt so bad. Cal and pH are right on the money. I would not get hung up on NSW levels for alk as most folks try and keep their tanks alk a little higher say btween 8 and 11 dkh. As long as it doesnt get any higher, I would not worry.

10/14/2006, 09:38 PM	#5
cody-the-roo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pleasanton Posts: 52	What units are you using for your Alkalinity Measurements? Your Calicum looks good.

10/14/2006, 09:43 PM	#6
cody-the-roo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pleasanton Posts: 52	pilfered from Randy Holmes-Farley (on another thread) FWIW, 1 meq/L = 2.8 dKH = 50 ppm CaCO3 equivalents. So, when you say you are in the mid 4's, do you mean meq/L or dKH? 4 meq/L wouldn't be too bad. (~ 11 dKH)

10/14/2006, 11:53 PM	#10
virgin reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 301	I can't get a salifert KH test I only have the tetra one. it says I have 260 meg/l but I was tolf you add the drops together, and I get 13. sorry if this is a repeat question. __________________ Forever a newbie=> Current Tank Info: LPS, 440 VHO Ice Cap, 90G w/ 75G Sump, Tunze Skimmer, Approx 100LB LR, toys, toys, toys!

10/15/2006, 06:27 AM	#11
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	Thats more then likely 260 mg/l not meq/l (mg/l is the same as ppm. It is a little high. That said I dont have much faith in the accuracy of that kit.

10/15/2006, 07:00 AM	#12
benf Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wesley chapel, florida Posts: 4,031	I use the Salifert test kits and the reading is in meq/L or ~12.5dkh __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: None :(

10/15/2006, 08:10 AM	#13
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	12.5 dKH is not high enough to worry much about, so I'd just dose a little less limewater, or less lime in the same volume of limewater, and let the alk drift down a bit. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/15/2006, 08:25 AM	#14
benf Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wesley chapel, florida Posts: 4,031	Sounds like a plan!! thanks everybody!! __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: None :(

10/15/2006, 01:25 PM	#15
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Good luck. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/15/2006, 04:31 PM	#16
virgin reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 301	I guess my question would be how to maintain my PH at >8.0 when I shouldn't dose Alk. stuff. The buffer for my PH also raises my alk. I've been having trouble with my calcium but finally got it up to 420ppm. How high is to high for kh? Thanks. __________________ Forever a newbie=> Current Tank Info: LPS, 440 VHO Ice Cap, 90G w/ 75G Sump, Tunze Skimmer, Approx 100LB LR, toys, toys, toys!

10/15/2006, 04:54 PM	#17
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	I would try to keep below 12 dkh. The best ways to keep pH above 8.0 is more aeration with fresh air or limewater.

10/15/2006, 05:48 PM	#18
killereef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville Posts: 362	Iam glad that you started this tread, because mine is high too and I am dripping kalk.

10/15/2006, 05:54 PM	#19
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	Everyones situation is different. If your alk is getting high, just cut back on the amount of lime you mix in the water. Example: I only use 1 tsp per gallon. Suits my tank just fine.

10/16/2006, 08:58 AM	#20
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	The best ways to keep pH above 8.0 is more aeration with fresh air or limewater. FWIW, buffers are a poor choice in raising pH. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/17/2006, 04:40 PM	#21
benf Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wesley chapel, florida Posts: 4,031	Just as an update, it has been 2.5 days since i stopped my Kalk drip and my alk is now back to normal as well are my other parameters. I did however yesterday dose 2 capfulls of Ca to keep the level up which worked when i ckd my levels today. Tomorrow i will start the drip again! __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: None :(

10/17/2006, 05:19 PM	#23
benf Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wesley chapel, florida Posts: 4,031	8.3 __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: None :(