dripping kalk into refugium

[robitreef]

I was curious if you can drip Kalkwasser 24/7 into a refugium with the lights running 24/7? Will this keep pH stable?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is your tank pH low?

Lit refugia naturally run high in pH, due to photosynthesis consuming CO2, so it wouldn't be the place that I would add limewater. I'd add it to a sump, if possible.

 

[robitreef]

I have a sump currently, but I was going to hang a clip on light and grow some algae in there. My main concern was that I was going to drip Kalk on a 24 hour basis via the Kent Aquadose drip system. The tank is 30 gal and the sump is 14 gal. With this setup, do I have to worry about pH spike when the lights in the main tank go on? Should I just forget about the algae and just keep some live rock in the sump for extra filtration and not have it lit?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My concern would be the pH maximum at the end of the light cycle. How high it gets depends on how much limewater is added each day, and the amount of aeration the tank receives.

 

[robitreef]

O.K. Thanks. Tank has a 300 gph pump and is open top. Tank has a shallow height of 12" and a LX W of 24" so it has a larger surface area. Plus there is aeration in the sump from the skimmer.

I have never tried Kalk, and I like the simpler things in life, which is why the Aqudose seemed like an effective tool, instead of designing an autotopoff system or using a Kalk or Calcium reactor.

 

[DrBDC]

Try to place it in a place in the sump with the best water flow. Fuge's typically have lower flow.

 

[steve the plumb]

I use it with auto top off in my sump with no problem.I do have a small powerhead in my sump to stir up the water.I also have my UV unit flowing into my sump.

 

[robitreef]

Thanks guys I will remember that. With respect to flow in my sump, I have pretty vigorous flow coming from the overflow, and I have an internal skimmer along with a 300gph internal return pump. I read somewhere that it's recommended to place the iv drip near the inlet of the pump for the skimmer, as when the kalk drips and gets sucked into the column, it apparently binds with phosphate molecules.

Any truth to that Randy?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It may be true (it is an undemonstrated hypothesis, as far as I know), but it will also lead to more rapid buildup of calcium carbonate on the pump, requiring more maintenance.

I add mine into the turbulent outflow where my skimmer empties into the sump. I would not add it directly near a pump intake.

Make sure the addition is made from above the water line so it drips in, not below it.