When should I start Kalk

JTL · 07/26/2017, 12:14 PM

My Ca is 500 and my Alk is 10. pH is consistently 8.0. Just started adding some corals and few lps and sps, the easier ones.

mcgyvr · 07/26/2017, 12:43 PM

When your current water change schedule isn't sufficient to keep your levels stable enough..
We can't tell you when that will be.. too many variables..

You just need to be monitoring (testing) and see when/if thats happening..
Decide on whats an acceptable alk "range/swing" and when its falling out of that between water changes then its time to start dosing..
Plain and simple..

example..
I think most will say that a swing of up to 1 dKH isn't an issue anymore and you start to have issues..
So if your alk is dropping below 9 between water changes then its time to start dosing (or increasing your water change schedule)..

JTL · 07/26/2017, 12:49 PM

I had to buffer Alk to get it up to 9 from 8. I thought the time to start Kalk is when the Ca and dKH were in the range in order to keep it there. I could use a little more pH also.

JTL · 07/26/2017, 02:32 PM

I am just starting to add Ca loving corals so I expect my levels to drop. I kind of understand. Once things stabilize based on the Alk and Ca demands than use Kalk to try to keep them in the range without using two part. It has been a few years and my memory is not what it once was. In the mean time I will just use two part to keep everything copacetic.

bertoni · 07/26/2017, 04:07 PM

I agree that your alkalinity kit will tell you when you need to start dosing. I'd measure once a week or so and watch the trend line. Twice a week might be appropriate for a bit here, since the demand can change fairly rapidly.

JTL · 08/12/2017, 10:57 AM

My alk is at 10 using a buffer and by Ca stays pretty consistent at 500-520. Should I just keep using a buffer to keep the alk up? I'm afraid if I start to us kalk my Ca my get too high.

Sk8r · 08/12/2017, 12:53 PM

Wait until your levels start to need regular dosing to keep them steady. When corals really start eating, you'll notice. Until then, yes, it does kind of pile up.

JTL · 08/12/2017, 01:25 PM

I need to dose alk weekly to keep the levels up but Ca stays pretty much at 500.

bertoni · 08/12/2017, 08:05 PM

That's fairly normal for a tank with a lower demand level. Dosing alkalinity only is fine as long as you are careful about watching the calcium level. Eventually, water changes might not keep up with demand, but until then, dosing alkalinity by itself is okay, although using a two-part is more error-proof.

JTL · 08/13/2017, 08:22 AM

I just tested with a newer kit and the Ca is now 480 and the alk is 11. Not sure what numbers I should shoot for but I am getting close to what I think would be good. I usually do a 10% water change on Mondays so I will check all the params then. I would prefer to use Kalk and not mess with two part. I have more corals arriving on Tues so the dynamics may change a little.

Vinny Kreyling · 08/13/2017, 03:51 PM

11 is on the high side as NSW runs 7-8,
Calcium is also slightly high but not as bad as Alk.

JTL · 08/13/2017, 06:07 PM

I think the alk will come down with a wc and no buffer. The Ca is another issue.

07/26/2017, 12:14 PM	#1
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	When should I start Kalk My Ca is 500 and my Alk is 10. pH is consistently 8.0. Just started adding some corals and few lps and sps, the easier ones. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

07/26/2017, 12:43 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	When your current water change schedule isn't sufficient to keep your levels stable enough.. We can't tell you when that will be.. too many variables.. You just need to be monitoring (testing) and see when/if thats happening.. Decide on whats an acceptable alk "range/swing" and when its falling out of that between water changes then its time to start dosing.. Plain and simple.. example.. I think most will say that a swing of up to 1 dKH isn't an issue anymore and you start to have issues.. So if your alk is dropping below 9 between water changes then its time to start dosing (or increasing your water change schedule).. __________________ Who me?

07/26/2017, 12:49 PM	#3
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	I had to buffer Alk to get it up to 9 from 8. I thought the time to start Kalk is when the Ca and dKH were in the range in order to keep it there. I could use a little more pH also. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

07/26/2017, 02:32 PM	#4
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	I am just starting to add Ca loving corals so I expect my levels to drop. I kind of understand. Once things stabilize based on the Alk and Ca demands than use Kalk to try to keep them in the range without using two part. It has been a few years and my memory is not what it once was. In the mean time I will just use two part to keep everything copacetic. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

07/26/2017, 04:07 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that your alkalinity kit will tell you when you need to start dosing. I'd measure once a week or so and watch the trend line. Twice a week might be appropriate for a bit here, since the demand can change fairly rapidly. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/12/2017, 10:57 AM	#6
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	My alk is at 10 using a buffer and by Ca stays pretty consistent at 500-520. Should I just keep using a buffer to keep the alk up? I'm afraid if I start to us kalk my Ca my get too high. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

08/12/2017, 12:53 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Wait until your levels start to need regular dosing to keep them steady. When corals really start eating, you'll notice. Until then, yes, it does kind of pile up. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/12/2017, 01:25 PM	#8
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	I need to dose alk weekly to keep the levels up but Ca stays pretty much at 500. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

08/12/2017, 08:05 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That's fairly normal for a tank with a lower demand level. Dosing alkalinity only is fine as long as you are careful about watching the calcium level. Eventually, water changes might not keep up with demand, but until then, dosing alkalinity by itself is okay, although using a two-part is more error-proof. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/13/2017, 08:22 AM	#10
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	I just tested with a newer kit and the Ca is now 480 and the alk is 11. Not sure what numbers I should shoot for but I am getting close to what I think would be good. I usually do a 10% water change on Mondays so I will check all the params then. I would prefer to use Kalk and not mess with two part. I have more corals arriving on Tues so the dynamics may change a little. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

08/13/2017, 03:51 PM	#11
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	11 is on the high side as NSW runs 7-8, Calcium is also slightly high but not as bad as Alk. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

08/13/2017, 06:07 PM	#12
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	I think the alk will come down with a wc and no buffer. The Ca is another issue. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.