Adding kalkwasser to current dosing...

[afboundguy]

I currently dose Aquaforest DIY 3-part/balling method and I will be adding a kalkwasser stirrer setup to my system and curious if there is a rough % I should decrease my 3-part dosing right off the bat since I know I shouldn't need as much with the addition of kalkwasser? I believe I am dosing around 25-30 mL a day of each solution but I am not sure off the top of my head and I'm stuck at work and can't check until tomorrow afternoon...

 

[bubbgee]

kalk should be dosed against your evaporation rate and at continuous dosing. Then you adjust the component for alk against the difference of your alk range.

 

[Delightful Reefer]

I’m running about 5 L/day of kalkwasser on a 150-gallon, SPS-heavy system. I front-load it for pH support, around 290 mL/hr overnight and about 130 mL/hr during peak photoperiod.

If you’re starting out, go extremely slow. Something like 250 to 750 mL/day max at first depending on tank size. Let things stabilize, then gradually taper down your 2-part as the kalk begins to cover more of your alk and calcium demand.

Increase slowly until you’ve either fully replaced your 2-part, hit your evap/ATO limit, or start seeing signs you’re pushing too hard, like high pH or precipitation risk.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If the Aquaforest alk part is a carbonate additive, the kalk is on the order of 50x less potent. If it is a bicarbonate alk additive, it would be closer to 25x.

The demand may rise as the pH rises.

 

[afboundguy]

If the Aquaforest alk part is a carbonate additive, the kalk is on the order of 50x less potent. If it is a bicarbonate alk additive, it would be closer to 25x.

The demand may rise as the pH rises.

Almost positive it's bicarbonate...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Almost positive it's bicarbonate...

Bicarbonate two parts are generally weaker due to lower solubility.