Pros and Cons of Alkalinity and Calcium Dosing Methods

[Koty]

TM with the A & K mixed into them. I occasionally have to dose K. It has now been 3 years since last WC. I want to do an ICP to learn how far I am from NSW

 

[smallcrpt]

How are you dosing alk and calcium?

I'm using a versa to pump kalk mixed in rodi. I don't have a stirrer, so I mix 1 tablespoon into 1 gallon, shake and add it to my 5 gallon container. The versa runs from 12am-12pm and doses 1200ml into my sump for my 120 gallon.Alk 7.6 and 475 was my last calcium measurement two weeks ago. My evaporation is about a gallon a day, so half kalk half ATO. I only dose kalk nothing else.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm currently doing AWC with tropic Marin salt and my calcium has been creeping higher. If I switch to IO, do you recommend dosing trace elements? Or should they be ok with kalk and io?
I was using io Orange bucket but thought the fancy TM salt would help with growth.

Maybe. IO is lower is some elements and higher than others relative to TM Classic. In general, water changes cannot maintain trace elements at levels in the salt mix unless you change 100% daily.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm using a versa to pump kalk mixed in rodi. I don't have a stirrer, so I mix 1 tablespoon into 1 gallon, shake and add it to my 5 gallon container. The versa runs from 12am-12pm and doses 1200ml into my sump for my 120 gallon.Alk 7.6 and 475 was my last calcium measurement two weeks ago. My evaporation is about a gallon a day, so half kalk half ATO. I only dose kalk nothing else.

There's nothing wrong with solids on the bottom, but 1 tablespoon per gallon will leave significant excess undissolved calcium hydroxide. That solid material can be reused next time, however.

 

[smallcrpt]

There's nothing wrong with solids on the bottom, but 1 tablespoon per gallon will leave significant excess undissolved calcium hydroxide. That solid material can be reused next time, however.

Ok! Some food for thought, I could certainly save money switching to io purple. Have a great day, we all really appreciate your info and time!!

 

[drbrivers]

I used a diaphragm pump that lasted as long as I used it (many years).

Dear Mr. RH-F: What brand of diaphragm pump did you use for ATO Kalkwasser top off? Many thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Dear Mr. RH-F: What brand of diaphragm pump did you use for ATO Kalkwasser top off? Many thanks.

Refiller. No longer sold.

 

[smallcrpt]

Refiller. No longer sold.

Is there anything on the market that is equivalent?

 

[Garf]

Is there anything on the market that is equivalent?

I used to have a diaphragm pump for my kalk. It needed a separate "room", and even then you could hear it klunkety klunking it's klunker when it turned on, lol.

 

[GARRIGA]

Haven't read everything as I'm occupied making money and this may have been posted but my understanding being nitrification is a consumer of alkalinity therefore best return that alkalinity before throwing out nitrates with the bath water. Either carbon dosing (lowers pH) or preferably via macroalgae as it not just removing nitrates and also returns base but also lifts pH by removing co2 and especially if lit at night opposite display light. Personally I've ran those 24/7 without seeing any negative affects and plan on continuing that with a minor modification where I turn the lights off by pegging them to pH.

For those making water changes to drop or maintain nitrates then wouldn't they be needing more alkalinity to offset nitrification assuming they have a modest population of fish. I get where those having less fish or less food intake would rely less on nitrification or perhaps rely heavily on skimmers or media such as Purigen removing organics before they decompose but that's not all of us. Especially those starting a reef where little is being removed by finger size stubs and forced to rely on old school biological and wanting fish. I'm not waiting two years to add movement and I like fish.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there anything on the market that is equivalent?

Sorry, I haven’t looked. Peristaltic pumps have mostly taken over the reefing market. A drawback to it was noise.

 

[billyocean]

I'm doing 2 part with diy part c so adding the 203ml when a gallon is used. I'm using carbonate and calcium chloride for the two part. Being that carbonate is roughly twice as potent as bicarb what is my dosing ratio for calcium? Meaning...100ml of bicarb and 100ml of chloride is the ratio there i think...but for carbonate should I dose roughly twice the calcium chloride as carbonate? I understand the 1:1 is the starting point and it's not perfect and whatnot but curious for carbonate.

Thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Haven't read everything as I'm occupied making money and this may have been posted but my understanding being nitrification is a consumer of alkalinity therefore best return that alkalinity before throwing out nitrates with the bath water. Either carbon dosing (lowers pH) or preferably via macroalgae as it not just removing nitrates and also returns base but also lifts pH by removing co2 and especially if lit at night opposite display light. Personally I've ran those 24/7 without seeing any negative affects and plan on continuing that with a minor modification where I turn the lights off by pegging them to pH.

For those making water changes to drop or maintain nitrates then wouldn't they be needing more alkalinity to offset nitrification assuming they have a modest population of fish. I get where those having less fish or less food intake would rely less on nitrification or perhaps rely heavily on skimmers or media such as Purigen removing organics before they decompose but that's not all of us. Especially those starting a reef where little is being removed by finger size stubs and forced to rely on old school biological and wanting fish. I'm not waiting two years to add movement and I like fish.

Exporting nitrate by water change does consume alk. About 2.3 dKH per 50 ppm removed.

 

[GARRIGA]

Exporting nitrate by water change does consume alk. About 2.3 dKH per 50 ppm removed.

Recall you mentioning the 50 ppm but always forget the 2.3 and to me seems substantial enough to warrant returning base before that water change. Especially as I plan to use AFR to keep it simple. I also have no plans for water changes but might help others that do and wonder why their alkalinity out of balance constantly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm doing 2 part with diy part c so adding the 203ml when a gallon is used. I'm using carbonate and calcium chloride for the two part. Being that carbonate is roughly twice as potent as bicarb what is my dosing ratio for calcium? Meaning...100ml of bicarb and 100ml of chloride is the ratio there i think...but for carbonate should I dose roughly twice the calcium chloride as carbonate? I understand the 1:1 is the starting point and it's not perfect and whatnot but curious for carbonate.

Thank you

All two parts, including all of my recipes take into account the potency of the alk part.

The exact ratios are here when using the carbonate or hydroxide recipes.

DIY Three Part with Balling Part C Recipe

Notice: These DIY supplement recipes are simple and utilize a 1:1:1 dosing ratio to maintain proper alkalinity. For instance, if you need to dose 50 mL of the alkalinity solution daily, you should also dose 50 mL each of Part 2 and Part 3. Alkalinity (Choose One) Option 1: Sodium Carbonate...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Recall you mentioning the 50 ppm but always forget the 2.3 and to me seems substantial enough to warrant returning base before that water change. Especially as I plan to use AFR to keep it simple. I also have no plans for water changes but might help others that do and wonder why their alkalinity out of balance constantly.

Just note the alk depletion happened before the water was actually changed, when the nitrate was first formed.so folks may have adjusted dosing based on daily demand.

 

[GARRIGA]

Just note the alk depletion happened before the water was actually changed, when the nitrate was first formed.so folks may have adjusted dosing based on daily demand.

I get that and just pointing out less buffer needed were the nitrates not flushed. No clue how that equates to cost as it would highly depend on how inefficient at natural reduction of nitrates or how efficient at nitrification.

 

[billyocean]

All two parts, including all of my recipes take into account the potency of the alk part.

The exact ratios are here when using the carbonate or hydroxide recipes.

DIY Three Part with Balling Part C Recipe

Notice: These DIY supplement recipes are simple and utilize a 1:1:1 dosing ratio to maintain proper alkalinity. For instance, if you need to dose 50 mL of the alkalinity solution daily, you should also dose 50 mL each of Part 2 and Part 3. Alkalinity (Choose One) Option 1: Sodium Carbonate...

www.reef2reef.com

Cool. That's the one I'm following. Just wanted to double check. Adding about 138ml of carb and 160ml of calcium a day currently
Thanks Randy!

 

[amarti2038]

I didn't know there was a discussion and I left you a rating with this text, I post it here too because it seems better here.

@Randy Holmes-Farley, thanks again for your time and sharing results. On the cost side, in the AFR I see that you add its liquid form, many people use the 1600g powder version, which in Europe costs me 56 Euros and gives 10 Liters of preparation, 2dKH use 114ml in 100 gallons. It is much cheaper than the liquid version. Maybe you could include it, although there in the USA, in BRS it is 75$.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I didn't know there was a discussion and I left you a rating with this text, I post it here too because it seems better here.

@Randy Holmes-Farley, thanks again for your time and sharing results. On the cost side, in the AFR I see that you add its liquid form, many people use the 1600g powder version, which in Europe costs me 56 Euros and gives 10 Liters of preparation, 2dKH use 114ml in 100 gallons. It is much cheaper than the liquid version. Maybe you could include it, although there in the USA, in BRS it is 75$.

Yes, powder AFR is cheaper, but more expensive than carbocalcium powder (the main AFR ingredient) that is in the article.