Kalk and alk

[allsps40]

I am dosing kalk in my ATO mixing 1/2 tbs per gallon to keep up with my alk and ca needs. Ca is staying stable at 460 and alk was stable at 8-9 but now alk is dropping to 6-7. If I increase the kalk concentration it will increase my ca too much. What should I do?

 

[nanojg]

You are about maxed out as is, max saturation is 2 TEASPOONS per gallon, or 3 if you add 45 mls of vinegar

 

[rocking]

first off what are you testing with ?
and what is your mag testing at ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I am dosing kalk in my ATO mixing 1/2 tbs per gallon to keep up with my alk and ca needs. Ca is staying stable at 460 and alk was stable at 8-9 but now alk is dropping to 6-7. If I increase the kalk concentration it will increase my ca too much. What should I do?

Agree with above that the max is 2 teaspoons lime per gallon, but I do not agree with your concern that more would boost calcium too much.

If you used limewater to boost the alkalinity from 6-7 dKH to 8-9 dKH (a 2 dKH boost), calcium will only rise by 14 ppm, to 474 ppm which is fine.

 

[karsseboom]

Kalk adds cal and alk in balanced porportions. I used to dose kalk and it couldn't keep up with my demand so I switched to a cal reactor. The best thing to do is just add some alk by hand each day and use the kalk at 2 tsp per gal. Once you save up some cash by your self a doser.

 

[allsps40]

You are about maxed out as is, max saturation is 2 TEASPOONS per gallon, or 3 if you add 45 mls of vinegar

How is 1/2 tsp that is .5 per gallon near maxed out? I can still increase the kalk by 1 1/2 tsp. I am already adding 74ml of vinegar to my kalk top off but for carbon dosing.

first off what are you testing with ?
and what is your mag testing at ?

At home I am using API until it runs out ,yes I know they suck. They are ok for ca, alk and no3 testing though. For mag I test with Elos, my mag is around 1300-1350 have not tested it in a few weeks.

Agree with above that the max is 2 teaspoons lime per gallon, but I do not agree with your concern that more would boost calcium too much. If you used limewater to boost the alkalinity from 6-7 dKH to 8-9 dKH (a 2 dKH boost), calcium will only rise by 14 ppm, to 474 ppm which is fine.

Cool thanks Randy I will dump up the kalk.

 

[allsps40]

Opps just looks at my OP and I put tbs instead of tps.

 

[project-roc]

Your first post has .5 tablespoons as the measurement , which is 1.5 teaspoons.

 

[jbannick18]

Even so your alk is dropping by 2dkh a day, doesn't kalk max out at 1.4 dkh with 2 tsp/gallon? not sure on the number with it saturated with kalk at 3tsp/gallon.

 

[jerpa]

Even so your alk is dropping by 2dkh a day, doesn't kalk max out at 1.4 dkh with 2 tsp/gallon? not sure on the number with it saturated with kalk at 3tsp/gallon.

The amount kalk can replenish is dependent on evaporation mainly.

 

[jbannick18]

At 1 gallon evaporation is what I meant to put for those numbers. Please correct me if I'm wrong

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The effect of 1.25 volume percent of limewater added to an aquarium is to boost calcium by 10 ppm, alkalintiy by 1.4 dKH (0.5 meq/L) and pH by about 0.6 to 0.7 pH units if added all at once.