Kalk or co2 scrubber to raise ph

[allof fish]

So I recently bought a dos for my apex so I can automatic dose from now on but want to find a way to increase ph. Ph sits consistently right around 8 which isn’t bad but I know 8.2-8.3 is ideal. Options would be kalk or a Co2 scrubber. I know Co2 scrubbers work well but having to replace the media every few weeks can be expensive. Can I dose kalk to raise ph while dosing alkalinity and calcium? If so would be best to add some in ato or just in tank? Thanks for help

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you otherwise dose alk and calcium? How much?

 

[allof fish]

By hand dosing recently it’s been 1 oz calcium in morning and 1.5 alkalinity at night. Haven’t been able to set up DOS yet waiting on the power supply but will probably tone down dosing a little to get number a bit down. Switched salt to tropic Marin and mixes at lower numbers. Right now calcium 460 and alk 8.9 looking to be at 440-45” and 8.3-8.6 ish

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

By hand dosing recently it’s been 1 oz calcium in morning and 1.5 alkalinity at night. Haven’t been able to set up DOS yet waiting on the power supply but will probably tone down dosing a little to get number a bit down. Switched salt to tropic Marin and mixes at lower numbers. Right now calcium 460 and alk 8.9 looking to be at 440-45” and 8.3-8.6 ish

What does that correspond to in dKH per day? Or tell me what product and what system water volume. The reason for asking is to see if you have enough alk demand to get a useful boost from kalk.

 

[PapaBeepBeep]

I have a similar problem with pH consistently running 7.8 - 8.0. It was suggested to me to run an air stone in the sump.

 

[allof fish]

It was averaging about .3 a day but recently added several more coral majority lps so might be up around .5 now. Calcium has usually been about 10 a day but might be around 15 now I haven’t tested the exact amount

 

[allof fish]

Water volume is approximately 80 G after subtraction of everything

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

0.5 dKH per day? That’s not likely to be enough for kalk to make an important difference. I’d look to more fresh air to the skimmer or maybe the scrubber.

 

[allof fish]

Okay that sounds good I just know kalk and Is easier and cheaper in long run. Tank is fairly new only 4 months old. About 30 pieces of coral but looking to add a bunch is acros next few months so that maybe good change. Would a co2 scrubber be worth it to get the extra .2-.3 in ph? Apex says 8.06 now and won’t really go above that. Just looking for options

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I personally would not spend on boosting the pH unless high growth rates is a priority.

 

[allof fish]

I mean I would love high growth rates but I know stability is key. My ph drops about .25 between the high and lows so at night it can be 7.8. So the stability of it would be nice. How big of a concern is that drop. I know it can drop at night anyways but just want to keep it very similar as much as I can

 

[Staghorn]

Do you have the ability to run your skimmer intake to the outside of your house? It made a pretty big difference for me went from 7.8-7.9 to consistently over 8.2