When should I start Kalk

[JTL]

My Ca is 500 and my Alk is 10. pH is consistently 8.0. Just started adding some corals and few lps and sps, the easier ones.

 

[mcgyvr]

When your current water change schedule isn't sufficient to keep your levels stable enough..
We can't tell you when that will be.. too many variables..

You just need to be monitoring (testing) and see when/if thats happening..
Decide on whats an acceptable alk "range/swing" and when its falling out of that between water changes then its time to start dosing..
Plain and simple..

example..
I think most will say that a swing of up to 1 dKH isn't an issue anymore and you start to have issues..
So if your alk is dropping below 9 between water changes then its time to start dosing (or increasing your water change schedule)..

 

[JTL]

I had to buffer Alk to get it up to 9 from 8. I thought the time to start Kalk is when the Ca and dKH were in the range in order to keep it there. I could use a little more pH also.

 

[JTL]

I am just starting to add Ca loving corals so I expect my levels to drop. I kind of understand. Once things stabilize based on the Alk and Ca demands than use Kalk to try to keep them in the range without using two part. It has been a few years and my memory is not what it once was. In the mean time I will just use two part to keep everything copacetic.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that your alkalinity kit will tell you when you need to start dosing. I'd measure once a week or so and watch the trend line. Twice a week might be appropriate for a bit here, since the demand can change fairly rapidly.

 

[JTL]

My alk is at 10 using a buffer and by Ca stays pretty consistent at 500-520. Should I just keep using a buffer to keep the alk up? I'm afraid if I start to us kalk my Ca my get too high.

 

[Sk8r]

Wait until your levels start to need regular dosing to keep them steady. When corals really start eating, you'll notice. Until then, yes, it does kind of pile up.

 

[JTL]

I need to dose alk weekly to keep the levels up but Ca stays pretty much at 500.

 

[bertoni]

That's fairly normal for a tank with a lower demand level. Dosing alkalinity only is fine as long as you are careful about watching the calcium level. Eventually, water changes might not keep up with demand, but until then, dosing alkalinity by itself is okay, although using a two-part is more error-proof.

 

[JTL]

I just tested with a newer kit and the Ca is now 480 and the alk is 11. Not sure what numbers I should shoot for but I am getting close to what I think would be good. I usually do a 10% water change on Mondays so I will check all the params then. I would prefer to use Kalk and not mess with two part. I have more corals arriving on Tues so the dynamics may change a little.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

11 is on the high side as NSW runs 7-8,
Calcium is also slightly high but not as bad as Alk.

 

[JTL]

I think the alk will come down with a wc and no buffer. The Ca is another issue.