Ph and Kalkwasser

[jdpeters]

Currently running my 40b on AFR. Tank certainly has its issues but is starting to get closer to a balance. Mostly easy sps like montis, birdsnest, cyphastrea and mix of lps. Im starting to have noticeable growth across the board but I think my PH is a limiting factor.
I haven’t tested it after lights out but with the lights on I’m sitting at 7.9 maybe 8.0 at the highest. Would I have significant improvements switching over to Kalkwasser? House is relatively small with a family of 6 and pets. Curious if I’d see a measurable difference in the health and growth of corals. Might be worth noting that I don’t have a single bit of coralline growth even with all the clean up crew and frags that came in with it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you know your alk consumption daily? (in dKH?)

The benefit of hydroxide as an alk supplement on pH depends entirely on how much is dosed, and secondarily on the extent of aeration (more aeration may limit or even eliminate the effect).

 

[jdpeters]

Do you know your alk consumption daily? (in dKH?)

The benefit of hydroxide as an alk supplement on pH depends entirely on how much is dosed, and secondarily on the extent of aeration (more aeration may limit or even eliminate the effect).

I should have came equipped with more information. I think it’s pretty low since it’s about 30 small frags. I think it’s around .3 dkh a day. I have a considerable about of flow and surface agitation, I’m inclined to believe it’s appropriately oxygenated but I could be wrong.

My last system was up for about 4 years and had pretty slow growth and I know coralline isn’t the best metric to base system health off of but when I tore that system down it also had zero coralline.

I’m thinking it would be a worthwhile experiment but if it’s a negligible difference it might not be worth the work. I’d have to have the storage container remote in closet and drill through a wall to properly place it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That level is too small for an appreciable kalk effect. I’d measure the pH in the early am and see how low it is.

 

[jdpeters]

Ok thank you. I’m running skimmerless but probably should just drill the floor and pull air from outside, I suspect I should have had done that in the first place. I have a ac skimmer and hate the hum, I will suck it up and get a dc skimmer