Dosing Kalk via ATO?

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by Corailline, Apr 13, 2015.

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  1. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    My ATO container holds 5.5 gallons of water.

    I have never put kalk in an ATO because I have heard that it burns out the pumps too quickly and can cause failure of the tubing. Makes sense it's such a strong base.

    So if I mix 1 gallon of water with 2 tsp of kalk should the mixture be diluted enough as to not cause issues with the pump if that gallon of kalk mixture is diluted in the 4 gallons in the ATO?

    TIA
     
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  3. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    I was using 4 tbl spoons per 5 gallons for awhile with no issues, granted that doesn't mean much.
     
  4. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    I use 33 tsps in my 35g have been for about 5 months and have had no issues other than the suction cups won't stick the the wall, which was a problem before i added kalk.
     
  5. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    Can you provided numbers? Ca/Alk and pH if possible please.
    How long have you been using this method?

    Why did you stop Kevin?
     
  6. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    MarineDepot and zesty like this.
  7. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    I am at work at the moment but will check them and post them for you when i get home.
     
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  9. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    I started using Kalk in November and, thanks to Aquarimate for keeping record for me, my pH bobbed from 7.8 to 8.1 between september and october last year. I would always check my parameters after midnight when i got off work so this is just its day to day fluctuation and not reflecting how much it traveled throughout the day. My Alk would fluctuate from about 8 to 10.5 sometimes 11 (yeah, it was bad). Calcium was around 370 to 450. No wonder I had so much trouble with my coral color and growth, I'm surprised they survived!:confused:

    My pH today is 8.42 at 2:28am and is pretty consistent only seeing it rise when the ato kicks in and it goes up to 8.5 and back down within about 2 minutes. I will be able to get a better understanding of how my pH looks throughout the day when I get the wifi attachment for the reef angel and will be able to chart it.

    My Alk is 9.8 and it fluctuates from about 9.6 - 9.9 from day to day so i am pretty pleased with this from what it was before.

    Calcium I check about once a week and it fluctuates about 5 ppm either side of 430, I never had too much of a problem with the calcium just never could dial in the 2 part I was dosing manually so it did travel. It was more of a check the level and adjust every few days.

    Let me know if you need anything else. Hope this helps
     
  10. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    8.42 wow, that is awesome.

    Thanks for the in depth reply.
     
  11. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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  12. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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    dosing is as always will be over my head, its complicated. I have been experimenting with kalk in my ato as well and cant get it to dissolve. I just dont understand.