Kalk+ Vinegar in Top off water

[Jkraft136]

Well ive finally got down the correct amount of kalk to dose in my ATO to keep my alk stable. Now i want to start incorporating carbon dosing via vinegar in my top of water. Well i using 5 tbs of kalk for 5gallons of top of water. I go thru that in about 3-4 days. Now i dose 1.5ml of vodka a day in my 200g system. How much vinegar should i put in the top of water? I'm also assuming this is white vinegar correct?

[HighlandReefer]

Hmmm, kalk water is saturated at 2 teaspoons per gallon of rodi water. Your stating you are using 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) per gallon of rodi water?

[bertoni]

Well, the conversion rate is about 8:1 to substitute vinegar for vodka. I'd likely do the switch gradually, but the end dose would be about 12 ml of vinegar per day. The vinegar will allow more kalk to dissolve, so you might need to back off on the kalk a bit. I'd watch the alkalinity.

[Jkraft136]

i meant tsp not tbs

[Jkraft136]

Any suggestions on the kalk/vin ratio i should start with?

[bertoni]

I might start with a ml a day of the vinegar, and add 1 ml more each following day, but watch carefully. I assume you want to back off on the vodka? I'd drop it proportionately.

[panhandler01]

I mix 4 tsp. of Kalk in 12 tbsp. of vinegar and then add that mixture to 2 Gal. of RO water. I drip that into my tank to make up for evaporation. This keeps Ca levels in the my tank at 430-450. Also never have a problem with alk dropping. Ph stays at 8.1-8.3. If that much vinegar makes you nervous you could drop it to 8 tbsp. and still dissolve far more of the kalk powder than if you were dissolving it in RO water alone. The only SPS coral I have is a Monti but I do have a few Acans.