I have a solution that should allow me to address pH, alkalinity, Ca, and salinity all together.
I’m addressing all of this together since I’m planning to use at least some automatic dosing that will impact all three. I currently live in a location that has well water. I tested it a while ago with an API kit, and found that it corresponds to the highest level measured by the kit. For all I know, it might be off the chart. I don’t have hard water, it’s probably “medium” water. I’d rather not have to use RO water, but will if necessary. Since Ca usually needs to be added, I wonder if I should be happy that I have lots of Ca in the tap water, and use it as is.
My plan is as follows: I will have a float switch that controls the addition of kalkwasser and freshwater simultaneously and with different peristaltic pumps. I will have the kalkwasser on a Milwaukee pH controller. So, if the system needs more water, both the kalkwasser and freshwater will be simultaneously added. If the system needs water, but the pH is getting too high, the kalkwasser peristaltic pump will turn off, and only the freshwater will be added.
This system will not work calcium is not being absorbed quickly enough. This might be a real problem, since I will have a lightly stocked tank to start out. If this is a problem, I’d guess my solution would be to stop using kalkwasser, and automatically add a kalk supplement mixed with water, so that I can add calcium separately once per day.
If I need more calcium than what is provided by the kalkwasser, I can add it separately. I’ve seen calcium supplements that contain strontium. Would using this be OK, since I’m not planning to test for strontium?
This setup should keep pH and salinity at the right levels. I can calibrate the Milwaukee probe with a standard periodically
“Red Sea” makes a test pack called “foundation pro”. that tests for Ca, Alk, and Mg. It seems like it’s a good price. Should I just use this? I happen to own an old spectrophotometer that was probably made in the 60s or 70s that I picked up at a tag sale for like $20. I could use the spectrophotometer for all of these parameters. Would it be worth it, or wouldn't I need that level of accuracy?
Thanks.
I’m addressing all of this together since I’m planning to use at least some automatic dosing that will impact all three. I currently live in a location that has well water. I tested it a while ago with an API kit, and found that it corresponds to the highest level measured by the kit. For all I know, it might be off the chart. I don’t have hard water, it’s probably “medium” water. I’d rather not have to use RO water, but will if necessary. Since Ca usually needs to be added, I wonder if I should be happy that I have lots of Ca in the tap water, and use it as is.
My plan is as follows: I will have a float switch that controls the addition of kalkwasser and freshwater simultaneously and with different peristaltic pumps. I will have the kalkwasser on a Milwaukee pH controller. So, if the system needs more water, both the kalkwasser and freshwater will be simultaneously added. If the system needs water, but the pH is getting too high, the kalkwasser peristaltic pump will turn off, and only the freshwater will be added.
This system will not work calcium is not being absorbed quickly enough. This might be a real problem, since I will have a lightly stocked tank to start out. If this is a problem, I’d guess my solution would be to stop using kalkwasser, and automatically add a kalk supplement mixed with water, so that I can add calcium separately once per day.
If I need more calcium than what is provided by the kalkwasser, I can add it separately. I’ve seen calcium supplements that contain strontium. Would using this be OK, since I’m not planning to test for strontium?
This setup should keep pH and salinity at the right levels. I can calibrate the Milwaukee probe with a standard periodically
“Red Sea” makes a test pack called “foundation pro”. that tests for Ca, Alk, and Mg. It seems like it’s a good price. Should I just use this? I happen to own an old spectrophotometer that was probably made in the 60s or 70s that I picked up at a tag sale for like $20. I could use the spectrophotometer for all of these parameters. Would it be worth it, or wouldn't I need that level of accuracy?
Thanks.