Kalkwasser to Boost pH w/ All-for-Reef

[dr1271]

Long story short, calibrate your probes. My pH probe was reading 8.4 when it was actually 7.4.

Going to start dosing Kalkwasser through my GHL to bring up the pH. (2tsp/1L)

Alk is constant at 8.2 so if any increase from the Kalk will benefit.

question…I’m dosing based off 1% of tank volume (45gal tank). Once pH is at 8.2-8.3 do I continue at this same about or will it stay? How long should I slowly increase the pH to the new desired level?

anything else I should be aware of when dosing?

 

[arking_mark]

pH normally won't be below 7.8 unless:

1. Lack of tank aeration which causes CO2 accumulation
2. Dose of low-pH additives such as CaCO3 reactor
3. Super overstocked tank
4. House air that is so high in CO2 that it would be unhealthy for humans

Most likely, your pH reading of 7.4 is an error.

If you pH is less than 7.8, your pH meter is probably wrong

Post in thread 'Aquarium pH Distilled' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aquarium-ph-distilled.853474/post-9330359

www.reef2reef.com

That being said, I dose kalk and AFR and like the results.

I recommend dripping saturated kalk to your evaporation limit and using AFR to make up the rest of your CaCO3 consumption.

By dripping saturated kalk, I find I get roughly a steady 0.1 bump to my pH. If you don't drip and instead dose a couple times a day, you will have jumps in pH when you dose.

Daily swings of 0.5 pH are considered acceptable.

pH boost is almost always temporary...as the tank will seek equilibrium.

Aquarium pH Distilled

I just wanted to share my understanding of reef pH which is mostly based on: Low pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com Many would agree that reef tanks can be successful with pH between 7.8 – 8.5 NBS and daily swings as great as 0.5 NBS. Natural pH levels in our ocean...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Garf]

7.4 is very unlikely to be accurate, can you put a pic up of the tank? Kalk on a dosing pump works well.

 

[dr1271]

Tank is fully stocked and running over 10yrs. We did move last January into a brand new home which could contest to the closed airtight theory of holding CO2. Also an open top/rimless tank.

Running GFO/carbon reactor, algae reactor, and also dosing living phyto.

once I confirmed my pH tester was wrong, I went ahead and purchased a Hanna and calibrated it as it also ready 7.4. I’ve dosed about 1,600ml over the last could days and have increased the Ph to 7.86

 

[Garf]

Tank is fully stocked and running over 10yrs. We did move last January into a brand new home which could contest to the closed airtight theory of holding CO2. Also an open top/rimless tank.

Running GFO/carbon reactor, algae reactor, and also dosing living phyto.

once I confirmed my pH tester was wrong, I went ahead and purchased a Hanna and calibrated it as it also ready 7.4. I’ve dosed about 1,600ml over the last could days and have increased the Ph to 7.86

Do you keep the meter up there? Fantastic tank

 

[dr1271]

Just when I’m testing. I either leave it in RODI water or dry.

 

[arking_mark]

Tank is fully stocked and running over 10yrs. We did move last January into a brand new home which could contest to the closed airtight theory of holding CO2. Also an open top/rimless tank.

Running GFO/carbon reactor, algae reactor, and also dosing living phyto.

once I confirmed my pH tester was wrong, I went ahead and purchased a Hanna and calibrated it as it also ready 7.4. I’ve dosed about 1,600ml over the last could days and have increased the Ph to 7.86

Are you saying your tank's pH without dosing is 7.4? If so, that's virtually impossible. Your indoor CO2 levels would be upwards of 3300 with an Alk level of 7dKH.

 

[dr1271]

Are you saying your tank's pH without dosing is 7.4? If so, that's virtually impossible. Your indoor CO2 levels would be upwards of 3300 with an Alk level of 7dKH.

This was right before I started dosing Kalk. Dosing 16ml/day of A4F.

I just ordered another 2 part pH calibration fluid as I already used the one that came with the new probe.

 

[jrill]

Just when I’m testing. I either leave it in RODI water or dry.

I could be remembering wrong but don't the instructions say to store in pH 4 solution and never dry or in rodi?