Just did my First DKH test and....

[mimi117]

So the calculation is off, I put 1/2 tsp in a 1500 ML container which is .39 gallons, I know my evap rate is around .33 gallons per day, so I wanted to start dosing 10% of that water loss with my kalk solution and go from there.

I am going to assume based on your calculation that my consumption is actually .3 dkh per day? which is congruent with my testing.
4/15 (11:13am) - DKH 10.9
4/16 (11:31am) - DKH 10.5
4/17 (11:00am) - DKH 10.2 (started dosing 5ML ALK)
4/18 (10:50am) - DKH 10
4/19 (10:10am) - DKH 9.6 (started dosing 10ML alk)
4/20 (10:00am) - DKH 9.9/9.6
4/21 (11:40am) - DKH 9.9/9.6

 

[rishma]

So the calculation is off, I put 1/2 tsp in a 1500 ML container which is .39 gallons, I know my evap rate is around .33 gallons per day, so I wanted to start dosing 10% of that water loss with my kalk solution and go from there.

I am going to assume based on your calculation that my consumption is actually .3 dkh per day? which is congruent with my testing.
4/15 (11:13am) - DKH 10.9
4/16 (11:31am) - DKH 10.5
4/17 (11:00am) - DKH 10.2 (started dosing 5ML ALK)
4/18 (10:50am) - DKH 10
4/19 (10:10am) - DKH 9.6 (started dosing 10ML alk)
4/20 (10:00am) - DKH 9.9/9.6
4/21 (11:40am) - DKH 9.9/

You can use this calculator to approximate
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/KalkContribution.php

 

[mimi117]

Just tested, 3rd day in a row, 9.9dkh.


Looks like 10 ML per hour is the sweet spot at 1/2 tsp per 1500ML res. (least with my current coral load)

I do plan to buy a few more corals soon so I'll need to re-adjust, PH is 7.8, won't budge.

 

[rishma]

Just tested, 3rd day in a row, 9.9dkh.


Looks like 10 ML per hour is the sweet spot at 1/2 tsp per 1500ML res. (least with my current coral load)

I do plan to buy a few more corals soon so I'll need to re-adjust, PH is 7.8, won't budge.

How are you testing pH? Probe or test kit? I am sure pH is changing though the day due to photosynthesis

 

[mimi117]

I have a ph meter, hand held, it has been 7.7-7.8 the highest I have ever seen it was 7.9, it's been like that since day 1.

Just checked my nitrites finally they are 0.

I will check nitrate ppms in a few days and see where I am at!

 

[rishma]

I have a ph meter, hand held, it has been 7.7-7.8 the highest I have ever seen it was 7.9, it's been like that since day 1.

Just checked my nitrites finally they are 0.

I will check nitrate ppms in a few days and see where I am at!

7.8 is fine for now. A 0.2-ish pH swing from beginning to end of the light cycle is typical.

 

[mimi117]

So my 1500ml container where I mix my kalk was pretty much almost gone, added more fresh water and added another 1/2 tsp of kalk, mixed it a little and let it set overnight before dosing this morning, I noticed it was still pretty cloudy and when it dosed, I am pretty sure very small specs came into the display tank.

Nothing was affected but since I have OCD, I turned off the doser, disconnected the container, dumped it, rinsed it, put new water in it and this time only added 1/4 tsp.

There was some undissolved kalk on the bottom of the container from the first time I had mixed, I didn't want it affecting my dosage or concentration amount, I know water can only dissolve so much kalk the rest will sit at the bottom of the container, so I figured that meant I put too much the first time.

Did some calculations and it looks like at full saturation I should be at .79 tsp of kalk per 1500 ML of water but I only put .25 tsp this time around and I'll monitor the sediment, cleaning out the container weekly isn't too bad, but its just one more thing I need to remember to do, do you guys just let the sediment sit everytime you guys add more RO/DI water to your res? do you all clean it out?

 

[rishma]

So my 1500ml container where I mix my kalk was pretty much almost gone, added more fresh water and added another 1/2 tsp of kalk, mixed it a little and let it set overnight before dosing this morning, I noticed it was still pretty cloudy and when it dosed, I am pretty sure very small specs came into the display tank.

Nothing was affected but since I have OCD, I turned off the doser, disconnected the container, dumped it, rinsed it, put new water in it and this time only added 1/4 tsp.

There was some undissolved kalk on the bottom of the container from the first time I had mixed, I didn't want it affecting my dosage or concentration amount, I know water can only dissolve so much kalk the rest will sit at the bottom of the container, so I figured that meant I put too much the first time.

Did some calculations and it looks like at full saturation I should be at .79 tsp of kalk per 1500 ML of water but I only put .25 tsp this time around and I'll monitor the sediment, cleaning out the container weekly isn't too bad, but its just one more thing I need to remember to do, do you guys just let the sediment sit everytime you guys add more RO/DI water to your res? do you all clean it out?

If it’s settled overnight, I think it was fine. My dosing container lasts two months, so I just rinse it out before refilling. The settlement is left in the bottom is likely no problem, except if I leave it in there, it builds up to the point that it gets sucked in by my tube. Many people have accidentally dosed, cloudy kalk, sediment to their tank with no ill effects.

I see no reason to have reduced your potency

 

[mimi117]

I'll test my alk has been steady 9.9 for the past 3 days, if it starts to go lower in the next week, I know I need to go back to 1/2 tsp :) thanks for your input.

 

[rishma]

I'll test my alk has been steady 9.9 for the past 3 days, if it starts to go lower in the next week, I know I need to go back to 1/2 tsp :) thanks for your input.

If you reduced your potency by half, and it was steady before, you could double your dosing rate to maintain the same dKH input.

My general advice at this stage is to make as few changes as possible, and don’t react too quickly to your test data until you have several data points confirming the trend.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The particles maybe either undissolved calcium hydroxide, or other materials such as calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide.

I agree that if it settled overnight, ignore any residual cloudiness.

 

[mimi117]

Cool, I'll test the next 5 days and leave it as is and see if there are any changes. Thanks yall.