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Ok who has a kalk stirrer? And do you use it to try an maintain the alkalinity and calcium, or do you maintain below desired level and then dose two part in addition to maintain the desired level?
Here’s why I ask: I have ran 2 part for 2 years now. I was able to maintain pretty consistent levels once I dialed in the right amount. But my ph is a bit low and thought I would switch stuff around and try a kalk stirrer instead. I love avast marine equipment, I run their ATO system so added their stirrer downstream from my top off water and it doses concentrated kalk water as my top off. I have a modest bio load of a mixed reef about 100 gallons total system. As a baseline to maintain around 8 dkh I had to dose around 60ml a day 2 part.
Avast marine recommended about 2 cups of powder for around 2 gallons a day evaporation to start off with abs then every 2 weeks add the powder again and every other time (once a Month) rinse out and repeat. So fresh powder every 2 weeks basically. I should have known better and under dosed to start but in 24 hours I had a 2.5 dkh increase and bleached out a bunch of acros and setosa. They will heal, but it was to much of course. Over the last 2 week I have adjusted the dose almost every day trying to nail the amount needed to maintain 8-9 dkh over 24 hours. I have it down to somewhere between 1/2 - 3/4 cup. In 24 hours will hold the dkh where it was.
BUT... 1/2 cup - 2/3 cup is too low and it starts to drop after 3 days but 3/4 to 1 cup is too high and it increases over 3 days.
So after all the background the big question is... it seems super hard to find a powder amount that will hold the dkh steady for a 2 week period. It seams that after I add the powder it is potent for the first day or so but then Trails off quickly. The mix in the container seams about the same visually. I’m not sure if I should keep trying to find an amount that will hold it perfect, or if I should run an amount that declines a bit below my desired level and then use 2 part in addition to target my level. I was hoping to eliminate 2 part at least until the kalk couldn’t keep up.
Any thoughts from kalk stirrer folks? Thanks in advance
Here’s why I ask: I have ran 2 part for 2 years now. I was able to maintain pretty consistent levels once I dialed in the right amount. But my ph is a bit low and thought I would switch stuff around and try a kalk stirrer instead. I love avast marine equipment, I run their ATO system so added their stirrer downstream from my top off water and it doses concentrated kalk water as my top off. I have a modest bio load of a mixed reef about 100 gallons total system. As a baseline to maintain around 8 dkh I had to dose around 60ml a day 2 part.
Avast marine recommended about 2 cups of powder for around 2 gallons a day evaporation to start off with abs then every 2 weeks add the powder again and every other time (once a Month) rinse out and repeat. So fresh powder every 2 weeks basically. I should have known better and under dosed to start but in 24 hours I had a 2.5 dkh increase and bleached out a bunch of acros and setosa. They will heal, but it was to much of course. Over the last 2 week I have adjusted the dose almost every day trying to nail the amount needed to maintain 8-9 dkh over 24 hours. I have it down to somewhere between 1/2 - 3/4 cup. In 24 hours will hold the dkh where it was.
BUT... 1/2 cup - 2/3 cup is too low and it starts to drop after 3 days but 3/4 to 1 cup is too high and it increases over 3 days.
So after all the background the big question is... it seems super hard to find a powder amount that will hold the dkh steady for a 2 week period. It seams that after I add the powder it is potent for the first day or so but then Trails off quickly. The mix in the container seams about the same visually. I’m not sure if I should keep trying to find an amount that will hold it perfect, or if I should run an amount that declines a bit below my desired level and then use 2 part in addition to target my level. I was hoping to eliminate 2 part at least until the kalk couldn’t keep up.
Any thoughts from kalk stirrer folks? Thanks in advance