How to dose kalk?

[Jaybeastin]

Hello everyone!

Now that I have more SPS in my tank, I want to try dosing Kalk again. The reason I stop dosing was because my tube line keeps getting clogged. I was using a drip system and it was and the drip was inconsistent. I do have a redsea doser

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Is your goal to supplement 2 part? Raise pH?

 

[backbayreef]

kalk stirrer and peristaltic pump - perfect combo

I dose 24x7, matching the evaporation rate.

 

[Jaybeastin]

Is your goal to supplement 2 part? Raise pH?

Trying to raise PH and dose it with AFR. I just bought this continuous doser that dose at the lowest of 3ML/min it’s still too fast for what I need. Should I get a timer?

 

[Jaybeastin]

kalk stirrer and peristaltic pump - perfect combo

I dose 24x7, matching the evaporation rate.

Nice ! Will it make a difference if I dose for example 20ml all at once every hour? Or it has to be a slow drip

 

[backbayreef]

Nice ! Will it make a difference if I dose for example 20ml all at once every hour? Or it has to be a slow drip

Continuous - mine runs 24/7. You can just dose at night to balance pH but I just run mine continuously.

 

[Jaybeastin]

Continuous - mine runs 24/7. You can just dose at night to balance pH but I just run mine continuously.

Yeah I was thinking of just dosing at night but even with this mini doser it still too much . It’ll be 180 ml per hour. I need something like 30ML per hour.

 

[bubbgee]

kalk stirrer and peristaltic pump - perfect combo

I dose 24x7, matching the evaporation rate.

I use something similar. Avast K1 and Kamoer doser.

 

[bubbgee]

Trying to raise PH and dose it with AFR. I just bought this continuous doser that dose at the lowest of 3ML/min it’s still too fast for what I need. Should I get a timer?

I never had luck raising pH with AFR. It's never worked for me that way. I was better off with hydroxides to raise alk and pH.

 

[bubbgee]

Yeah I was thinking of just dosing at night but even with this mini doser it still too much . It’ll be 180 ml per hour. I need something like 30ML per hour.

My evaporation rate is around 3500 ml, so I divided that across 24 hours with more in the evening to keep pH up and less in the daytime where my 2-part is taking over the majority of the alk dosing.

 

[Jaybeastin]

My evaporation rate is around 3500 ml, so I divided that across 24 hours with more in the evening to keep pH up and less in the daytime where my 2-part is taking over the majority of the alk dosing.

I think I’m just going to get a versa single doser for kalk.

 

[chazman113]

Ive been doing it with a basic hdpe container and a tube connected to a brs dosing pump. Started with a basic digital timer but moved up to doing it with an apex unit so it's easier to program and has emergency shutoff if the pH gets too high. I think the advanced part I haven't tackled is knowing when enough CO2 has messed with the kalk that it losses it's potency. It's so cheap I just dump and re make it every two weeks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah I was thinking of just dosing at night but even with this mini doser it still too much . It’ll be 180 ml per hour. I need something like 30ML per hour.

Put it on a timer that controls by the minute. That's how I dose lots of things that only need 10-200 mL a day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, how little are you planning to dose? A small amount of kalk will not noticeably impact pH. You'd need to be dosing more than 1 dKH per day to be very useful, IMO.

 

[Jaybeastin]

Put it on a timer that controls by the minute. That's how I dose lots of things that only need 10-200 mL a day.

What timer do you use? I’m going to dose 200-300ml a night of kalk

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What timer do you use? I’m going to dose 200-300ml a night of kalk

Unless the tank is super small, that won't be useful. Even in 20 gallons, that's only 0.3 dKH and not enough to make much difference.

That said, I use a number of different times, but mostly these:

Amazon product ASIN B08Z3F8L4C

 

[Jaybeastin]

Unless the tank is super small, that won't be useful. Even in 20 gallons, that's only 0.3 dKH and not enough to make much difference.

That said, I use a number of different times, but mostly these:

Amazon product ASIN B08Z3F8L4C

Interesting! I have a 90g tank but I’m trying to use kalk along with AFR. What’s the min amount of ML OF kalk should I use?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Interesting! I have a 90g tank but I’m trying to use kalk along with AFR. What’s the min amount of ML OF kalk should I use?

Well, the more you use, the larger the pH boost will be, but then the fewer trace elements and such you get from AFR.

The pH effect is pretty linear with dose, and is mostly insignificant for 0.5 dKH per day or less.

 

[Jaybeastin]

Well, the more you use, the larger the pH boost will be, but then the fewer trace elements and such you get from AFR.

The pH effect is pretty linear with dose, and is mostly insignificant for 0.5 dKH per day or less.

You’re right so it seems kalk isn’t worth it if I’m using AFR already. Thank again Randy!

 

[Troylee]

You’re right so it seems kalk isn’t worth it if I’m using AFR already. Thank again Randy!

Depends on your coral load.. I dose well top off with fully saturated kalk and still dose 200ml daily of all for reef