Kalk vs refugium

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t think it’s possible to say for any given system which works better, especially since a refugium has no fixed size and effect, but I’ll note that 0.5 dKH of alk via hydroxide will have a pretty small pH effect.

 

[allof fish]

I don’t think it’s possible to say for any given system which works better, especially since a refugium has no fixed size and effect, but I’ll note that 0.5 dKH of alk via hydroxide will have a pretty small pH effect.

That’s good to know thank you. I think for now a refugium would make no sense as I would be depleting a lot of nutrients and would have to dose a lot of it back in. In your opinion is my ph drop from 8.3 ish to 8 or a little lower okay from time to time and will it have an affect on acros that I am starting to get into? If I don’t need to worry about it right now and the ph drop is okay then I would rather focus my budget on something like a trident to automate test and dial in a super consistent alk. If that’s the case as my dkh needs grow I could look into adding kalk over night as I continue to add sps to balance the consumption while increasing the ph slightly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That’s good to know thank you. I think for now a refugium would make no sense as I would be depleting a lot of nutrients and would have to dose a lot of it back in. In your opinion is my ph drop from 8.3 ish to 8 or a little lower okay from time to time and will it have an affect on acros that I am starting to get into? If I don’t need to worry about it right now and the ph drop is okay then I would rather focus my budget on something like a trident to automate test and dial in a super consistent alk. If that’s the case as my dkh needs grow I could look into adding kalk over night as I continue to add sps to balance the consumption while increasing the ph slightly.

Your pH is perfectly fine. I personally would not mess with it unless your highest priority is fast hard coral growth.

 

[rishma]

@allof fish I agree with Randy, your pH is fine. I am not sure it’s worth more effort.

I manage my tank pH using aeration with outdoor air.

 

[allof fish]

Okay sounds good. I figure my co2 scrubber should be enough. I’ll focus on stability more maybe invest in a trident soon instead of worrying about ph anymore. Thanks guys!

 

[allenk4]

You provide great information but IMO are over complicating it. OP just needs to raise his PH 0.3-0.4 overnight and when you're ask which one or the other, you look at the largest difference between the two. If OP already has issues with nutrients then obviously a refugium is out of the question. It really is that easy to answer OP's question. However, once you answer that question that's, how to best implement adding ALK to OP's tank without causing issues with their current 2-part dosing regime. That is where your information comes into play.

OP, if you're really looking for a simple answer to raising your PH without causing a disruption in your dosing regime, get a large (or a couple) Pothos or a Snake Plant next to the aquarium. I live in a fairly rural community but even I saw a large jump in PH when we started keeping house plants, and mine are only in the room adjacent to my aquarium. If you don't have a lot of windows in the room, you can always buy a $15 plant light from amazon and you'll be good to go. Worst comes to worst, if you don't see a change, at least you have some nice new decor!

I thought the houseplant dropping Co2 significantly had been disproved?

Can you point me in the direction of any further information?

 

[Doctor Derp]

I thought the houseplant dropping Co2 significantly had been disproved?

Can you point me in the direction of any further information?

It most certainly has.

https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-nasa-study-snake-plants-oxygen-survival-212605533455
I saw a video of a guy drastically sealing himself in an airtight room that was totally filled with snake plants. The co2 level steadily rose to the point where the experiment ended for safety reasons. Nobody out here has a thousand plants in their house.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I thought the houseplant dropping Co2 significantly had been disproved?

Can you point me in the direction of any further information?

It has.