Guess when my kalk reservoir ran out and when I refilled the reservoir?
I realize kalk chemistry is more complex than simply pH maintenance, and pH is more than just kalk dosing, but I am loving real-time monitoring of the pH, and overall tank parameters (Hydros, but that is not material). I woke up to a pH drop and checked over the system and saw the empty kalk reservoir. So far I've had an expensive heater fail within 6 months of purchase, various road bumps (newer tank, glitches, and learning curve issues are expected), and feel real-time monitoring (pH, temperature, and water levels) has saved me further grief on those occasions. Without monitoring and alarms, I may not have noticed the kalk was dry for a day or two (or more as it is in a cabinet), or that my tank dropped 5 degrees overnight with the heater failure.
FWIW, for my ~130g total volume (WB Infinia 150.4), with 15 small LPS/SPS corals and lots of coralline growth on Marco rock, I am currently dosing Kalk (2 tbsp/gal with 5 mL/g vinegar) via a Versa pump at 1.3mL/min from a 5 g hedpack, which I switch out with another hedpack when I run low (or run out in this situation). I am seeing fantastic LPS, SPS, and corralline growth, and Alk is holding VERY steady, though I had to increase dosage with the addition of corals.
I'd love to level out pH a little more, but the tank is 6 months old and the refugium is anything but robust, though I can't complain about a daily 0.1 pH swing.
So +1 for kalk dosing and real-time parameter monitoring.
I realize kalk chemistry is more complex than simply pH maintenance, and pH is more than just kalk dosing, but I am loving real-time monitoring of the pH, and overall tank parameters (Hydros, but that is not material). I woke up to a pH drop and checked over the system and saw the empty kalk reservoir. So far I've had an expensive heater fail within 6 months of purchase, various road bumps (newer tank, glitches, and learning curve issues are expected), and feel real-time monitoring (pH, temperature, and water levels) has saved me further grief on those occasions. Without monitoring and alarms, I may not have noticed the kalk was dry for a day or two (or more as it is in a cabinet), or that my tank dropped 5 degrees overnight with the heater failure.
FWIW, for my ~130g total volume (WB Infinia 150.4), with 15 small LPS/SPS corals and lots of coralline growth on Marco rock, I am currently dosing Kalk (2 tbsp/gal with 5 mL/g vinegar) via a Versa pump at 1.3mL/min from a 5 g hedpack, which I switch out with another hedpack when I run low (or run out in this situation). I am seeing fantastic LPS, SPS, and corralline growth, and Alk is holding VERY steady, though I had to increase dosage with the addition of corals.
I'd love to level out pH a little more, but the tank is 6 months old and the refugium is anything but robust, though I can't complain about a daily 0.1 pH swing.
So +1 for kalk dosing and real-time parameter monitoring.