Advice on getting Kalkwasser to be more stable on DKH?

[jayteerq]

Hey guys. I currently have a 65g dosing 15mL AFR and 600mL kalkwasser. I don’t touch these settings I leave them as is. But my Alk fluctuates more than I’d like it to. I know some people say 1 point fluctuation throughout the day is okay but I’ve seen reefers have like .2 fluctuation and I’d like to get as close as I can to that type of swing. Is it possible with kalkwasser or is there just too many variables? (Evaporation from reservoir or concentration in mix)? I do 2tbs per gallon everytime in a 5 gallon reservoir. Idk why but my alk swings a lot. Would it make a difference if I just dosed at night? I just recently got acros and I’m scared to experiment and cause a big swing. Any advice is much appreciated!

 

[TX_REEF]

can you look at your daily graph? that will show you the swings throughout the day, and you can bolster the dosing amount during the troughs to offset.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hey guys. I currently have a 65g dosing 15mL AFR and 600mL kalkwasser. I don’t touch these settings I leave them as is. But my Alk fluctuates more than I’d like it to. I know some people say 1 point fluctuation throughout the day is okay but I’ve seen reefers have like .2 fluctuation and I’d like to get as close as I can to that type of swing. Is it possible with kalkwasser or is there just too many variables? (Evaporation from reservoir or concentration in mix)? I do 2tbs per gallon everytime in a 5 gallon reservoir. Idk why but my alk swings a lot. Would it make a difference if I just dosed at night? I just recently got acros and I’m scared to experiment and cause a big swing. Any advice is much appreciated!

Saturation is 2 teaspoons per gallon. Are you adding 2 tablespoons, as you write? Are you dosing clear liquid?

The kalk, if clear, is adding about 0.3 dKH.

The AFR is adding about 0.4 dKH.

How and when are you dosing these?

I wonder if the issue is a testing error, not a true alk instability?

 

[wakejumper22]

Are you dosing the AFR all at once or throughout the day.. I dose my AFR split into 3 times a day. AFr is pretty potent. Also, what are you using to test? Testing same time of day? Etc…

 

[lbacha]

I have my Kalk dosing with a Kamoer fix-stp continuous duty pump connected to and Apex outlet. I have it coded to shut off if the alk gets above 8.5 with 4 test a day. This keeps my alk between 8.3 and 8.6 or so.

 

[jayteerq]

can you look at your daily graph? that will show you the swings throughout the day, and you can bolster the dosing amount during the troughs to offset.

It seems to be consistent but I’ll give it a deeper analysis!

Saturation is 2 teaspoons per gallon. Are you adding 2 tablespoons, as you write? Are you dosing clear liquid?

The kalk, if clear, is adding about 0.3 dKH.

The AFR is adding about 0.4 dKH.

How and when are you dosing these?

I wonder if the issue is a testing error, not a true alk instability?

Sorry yes tsps. I just checked the spoon in my kalk container. It’s a tsp lol. Im dosing clear liquid. I’m using a Neptune dos and it doses 600mL throughout the day. I think it splits it by 10-15 min intervals. My instability seems to always be a thing. Could it be often testing errors?

Are you dosing the AFR all at once or throughout the day.. I dose my AFR split into 3 times a day. AFr is pretty potent. Also, what are you using to test? Testing same time of day? Etc…

It’s dosing 15mL per day. About 0.6mL every 17 min. I’m using trident to test 4x a day every 6 hrs. Hanna everytime I refill reagent to recalibrate.

I have my Kalk dosing with a Kamoer fix-stp continuous duty pump connected to and Apex outlet. I have it coded to shut off if the alk gets above 8.5 with 4 test a day. This keeps my alk between 8.3 and 8.6 or so.

Nice! I’m worried that it might dose too much and cause it to go overboard. Maybe that’s something I can fine tune by adjusting how much it’s continually pumping?

 

[jayteerq]

It almost seems like my DKH consumption is unstable. Some days it sucks up alk. Other days it doesn’t suck up any at all. I notice the same trends with my calcium!

 

[Cycleguy0623]

I use Kalk in a reactor on a vertex pump continually dosing through out the day. I supplement with soda ash on a dos as well through out the 24 hour cycle. All controlled by an apex and trident. Outside of some adjustments when the seasons change it’s stable and hands free.

 

[jayteerq]

I use Kalk in a reactor on a vertex pump continually dosing through out the day. I supplement with soda ash on a dos as well through out the 24 hour cycle. All controlled by an apex and trident. Outside of some adjustments when the seasons change it’s stable and hands free.

I wish I could use a reactor! I have an AIO system. Tight on space and no sump lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It almost seems like my DKH consumption is unstable. Some days it sucks up alk. Other days it doesn’t suck up any at all. I notice the same trends with my calcium!

I do not think that is possible to detect your variability in calcium demand. If you are using 0.7 dKH per day on average (based on your dosing) then the average calcium decline is no more than 5 ppm per day. I don't think any method we use can reliably detect variability on the order of 5 ppm per day or less.

My opinion is that testing variability explains much of both the alk and calcium variability.

Alk is mostly used during the day, so there may be variability on that scale if you dose part of your alk at night.

 

[jayteerq]

I do not think that is possible to detect your variability in calcium demand. If you are using 0.7 dKH per day on average (based on your dosing) then the average calcium decline is no more than 5 ppm per day. I don't think any method we use can reliably detect variability on the order of 5 ppm per day or less.

My opinion is that testing variability explains much of both the alk and calcium variability.

Alk is mostly used during the day, so there may be variability on that scale if you dose part of your alk at night.

What do you think the testing error could be with the trident? Do you think it may be the sample line close to the AFR and Kalk line affecting readings?? My calcium swing is actually kind of crazy lol much worst than my alk but I try to ignore it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What do you think the testing error could be with the trident? Do you think it may be the sample line close to the AFR and Kalk line affecting readings?? My calcium swing is actually kind of crazy lol much worst than my alk but I try to ignore it

I do not know what it may be. Sorry. I'll have to leave that to trident experts (who may also not agree with my opinion that it is a testing issue).

Ignoring the individual readings and looking at a running average would eliminate the concern, but I understand that may not be the preferred outcome. Highly accurate alk measurements are not really critical when dosing the same amount every day.

 

[jayteerq]

I do not know what it may be. Sorry. I'll have to leave that to trident experts (who may also not agree with my opinion that it is a testing issue).

Ignoring the individual readings and looking at a running average would eliminate the concern, but I understand that may not be the preferred outcome. Highly accurate alk measurements are not really critical when dosing the same amount every day.

That makes me feel better about the swings! Thank you!

 

[twentyleagues]

I am unsure on the testing issues. I am wondering if you are accounting for the time lag in afr actually being testable? I dont think there is any issues breaking up the dose of afr but I think it is preferable to dose all at once.

 

[jayteerq]

I am unsure on the testing issues. I am wondering if you are accounting for the time lag in afr actually being testable?

Should even out if I’m dosing consistently every 15 min every day no?

 

[jayteerq]

I do not know what it may be. Sorry. I'll have to leave that to trident experts (who may also not agree with my opinion that it is a testing issue).

Ignoring the individual readings and looking at a running average would eliminate the concern, but I understand that may not be the preferred outcome. Highly accurate alk measurements are not really critical when dosing the same amount every day.

I just moved my sample line to measure water before the kalkwasser and AFR dosing lines. Hoping this will help readings! Before it was in the chamber right after the dosing lines so maybe some interference there.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Should even out if I’m dosing consistently every 15 min every day no?

Yes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I just moved my sample line to measure water before the kalkwasser and AFR dosing lines. Hoping this will help readings! Before it was in the chamber right after the dosing lines so maybe some interference there.

Ah, well sucking up a sample with added kalk in it before it fully mixes in could certainly explain it.

 

[twentyleagues]

Should even out if I’m dosing consistently every 15 min every day no?

I am unsure but probably. Dosing it all at once doesnt mean the alk shows up all at once and spreading that same dose out over the course of a day doesnt mean it gets metabolized any differently. I use it and like it but before I decided to use it I read and watched every video I could find. Lou said its typically dosed in one go but either way will work. I have no idea on the testing outcome splitting it up is all. I am sure if Randy thought this may be an issue he would have said something. It was more of a quandary in my mind as I have been debating on getting into the controllers and auto testing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I am unsure but probably. Dosing it all at once doesnt mean the alk shows up all at once and spreading that same dose out over the course of a day doesnt mean it gets metabolized any differently. I use it and like it but before I decided to use it I read and watched every video I could find. Lou said its typically dosed in one go but either way will work. I have no idea on the testing outcome splitting it up is all. I am sure if Randy thought this may be an issue he would have said something. It was more of a quandary in my mind as I have been debating on getting into the controllers and auto testing.

I don't think there is any reason to not spread it out. I think Lou is just saying that it's not generally necessary (which I agree with for a dose of the size mentioned here, but maybe not a 2 dKH dose).

For once a day dosing, I'd optimally dose it in the mid AM when alk consumption and O2 production are gearing up.