Last Friday I started topping off with Kent Kalkwasser in hopes to get my ph up and keep it up around 8.2-8.4 and to keep my calcium levels up. Since Friday, my ph has gone from 8.1 to 8.5 (last night). Right now its at 8.42. What is wrong here? Before the Kalkwasser, my ph was always low (8.0-8.1) and fluctuating. I have recalibrated my Aquatronica probe and its reading correctly and have also checked my ph with my Salifert kit. Any suggestions?? The only thing in the tank right now are snails and a fighting conch.
PH is out of control!
- Thread starter tehon3299
- Start date
dustin Combs
In Memoriam
It seems that you may have overdosed you kalk. I would d/c the use of you klak until you reach your desired level. It will take some fine tunning to achieve the proper levels. I would suggest adding a air pump to the tank/sump to increase O2 and reduce your kalk addition. If we add too much kalk not only our pH will increase so will your Ca and you Alk. Good luck
dustin
dustin
dustin Combs
In Memoriam
In addition you could also place a fan to pass over the top of the water to increase O2. 8.1 is not such a bad # IMO.
dustin
dustin
kau_cinta_ku
New member
Solutions to pH Problems
try that artical
try that artical
Alright...I am going to stop using the Kalk and go back to my regular rodi topoff water. Could I be mixing the Kalk too strong? I thought that if it was mixed too strong, it would settle to the bottom of the bucket and the solution would always be the same consistency. I usually mix the Kalk, let it sit a few hours, then siphon all the solution except the bottom inch into the topoff bucket.
dustin Combs
In Memoriam
You possibily made the addition of kalk to quickly which increase you levels In your tank. Some times the quick addition will precipitate/snow in the tank but I am not sure that happened. You could make the addition by drip method or dosing pump. Your method is not wrong for siphoning the top layer but the addition to the tank may be too quick. It is a trial and error method for each individual tank. Continue to keep us updated.
dustin
dustin
My method of siphoning the top layer is only when I mix it and add it to the topoff bucket. From the topoff bucket, my controller has a float switch that will kick it on when the water level in the sump gets low. I think on Friday when I did my water change, the topoff may have kicked on and overdosed the Kalk. Could it take 5 days to see the effects of overdosing the Kalk??
Alaskan Reefer
New member
You can't overmix kalk. Water will only absorb about 2 tsp per gallon before it becomes saturated, and any extra will precipitate to the bottom of your container -- ready to be mixed in the next time you add water. Float switch and pump is a dangerous way to dose kalk, because large additions all at once will create pH swings. You can also add vinegar to your kalk mix to cut the pH impact if you want, but it isn't necessary if you dose via a drip or peristaltic pump.
You're doing great with your mixing technique, that's ideal. Personally I just leave it all in a 44 gallon trash can, and make sure my intake line for the pump is a few inches from the bottom. Having a pump with an intake line obviously makes that easier to do.
My kalk fed tank receives an exact dose 150 times per day -- just enough to keep it topped up. My pH rarely swings outside the 8.3-8.4 range.
In a fairly new tank (seems yours is), low pH is normal for the first few months and not something to get worried about. You could back off on the kalk dosing until you see the pH naturally climb to the 8.3 range if you wanted, but I would keep working with the kalk to get it right. It is a process, but once you get a good system down, it's awesome -- CA, ALK, and topoff water all handled in one system...
You're doing great with your mixing technique, that's ideal. Personally I just leave it all in a 44 gallon trash can, and make sure my intake line for the pump is a few inches from the bottom. Having a pump with an intake line obviously makes that easier to do.
My kalk fed tank receives an exact dose 150 times per day -- just enough to keep it topped up. My pH rarely swings outside the 8.3-8.4 range.
In a fairly new tank (seems yours is), low pH is normal for the first few months and not something to get worried about. You could back off on the kalk dosing until you see the pH naturally climb to the 8.3 range if you wanted, but I would keep working with the kalk to get it right. It is a process, but once you get a good system down, it's awesome -- CA, ALK, and topoff water all handled in one system...
Randall_James
Premium Member
Depending on your own setup between 1 and 3 % (usually 100% of makeup water) can be dosed to a tank. If you need more than 3% to make up for evaporation, you will need to supplement kalkwasser with RO/DI additions
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