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- Jun 4, 2016
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My journey back to kalk from a CaRX has been a rocky one trying to solve for pH, but I'm close. I finally figured out that I need the kalk stirrer to run 24/7 in order to keep the solution saturated enough to actually dose potent kalk. Running it periodically through various stir schedules doesn't work for me. I even increased the stirrer speed (DC motor) to keep more suspended and milkier kalk water finally solved my kalk potency issues.
The issues:
pH is now stable and within my desired ranges. Alk on the other hand is a roller coaster. I'm diligent with checking at the same time everyday and keeping a pH and Alk log. I see the following patterns after a fresh kalk reload:
- pH and Alk immediately spikes (Problem #1)
- pH and Alk stabilizes in about 24-48 back to normal ranges and stays here for 3-4 days (Problem #2)
- Alk starts to drop and requires kalk reload and repeats this cycle. I see the solution becoming more clear assuming less kalk in saturation. I don't think I have a dissolution issue because I don't visually see alot of kalk residual at the bottom if I turn off the stirrer and allow it to settle.
Problem 1:
- Alk spike is significant. Based on my consumption, 5 tbsp of kalk in my stirrer spikes alk ~ 1 dkh immediately and stays there for at least 24 hrs. This will last only 3-4 days. A higher refill amount will get more time, but will spike alk 2+ dKh which is causing issues. Because of this spike, I almost have to time the refill in a way that requires me to let alk drift down to a level that would accommodate the spike. i.e. allow alk to drop 2.0 dkh to anticipate the 2.0 alk spike on the refill. No joy in the alk rollercoaster.
Problem 2:
- a higher 10 tbsp refill will get me more time, but now we're talking 6-8 days total at the risk of the 2 dKH alk spike. No where near any of the experiences I've read where folks refill 2-4 weeks at a time.
I can't see how this can be normal and not cause issues on SPS tanks. Is everyone else timing their refills to accommodate the spikes and just refilling every few days? Much higher maintenance than I thought.
The issues:
pH is now stable and within my desired ranges. Alk on the other hand is a roller coaster. I'm diligent with checking at the same time everyday and keeping a pH and Alk log. I see the following patterns after a fresh kalk reload:
- pH and Alk immediately spikes (Problem #1)
- pH and Alk stabilizes in about 24-48 back to normal ranges and stays here for 3-4 days (Problem #2)
- Alk starts to drop and requires kalk reload and repeats this cycle. I see the solution becoming more clear assuming less kalk in saturation. I don't think I have a dissolution issue because I don't visually see alot of kalk residual at the bottom if I turn off the stirrer and allow it to settle.
Problem 1:
- Alk spike is significant. Based on my consumption, 5 tbsp of kalk in my stirrer spikes alk ~ 1 dkh immediately and stays there for at least 24 hrs. This will last only 3-4 days. A higher refill amount will get more time, but will spike alk 2+ dKh which is causing issues. Because of this spike, I almost have to time the refill in a way that requires me to let alk drift down to a level that would accommodate the spike. i.e. allow alk to drop 2.0 dkh to anticipate the 2.0 alk spike on the refill. No joy in the alk rollercoaster.
Problem 2:
- a higher 10 tbsp refill will get me more time, but now we're talking 6-8 days total at the risk of the 2 dKH alk spike. No where near any of the experiences I've read where folks refill 2-4 weeks at a time.
I can't see how this can be normal and not cause issues on SPS tanks. Is everyone else timing their refills to accommodate the spikes and just refilling every few days? Much higher maintenance than I thought.