Alk and Kalk?

[Authentic]

I top off with saturated kalkwasser,my alk is usually around 8.3, when I do a water change my alk drops and I raise it with randy recipe alk,if I raise my alkalinity higher with the recipe ,say to 8.9 will my kalkwasser top off keep it there as it does at 8.3?

[tmz]

That depends on how much alk is consumed in the tank over what period of time. The ongoing input via kalk wont change in the scenario in your post. So if it holds steady at a baseline of 8.3 it might do the same at a higher initial level 8.9 or somewhere in between 8.3 and 8.9. The higher alk will likely increase calcification and consumption to a degree increasing consumpotion somewhat, though.

[bertoni]

I agree. The only way to be sure is to try it. Higher alkalinity often increases consumption.

[Psyops]

That's exactly what has happened to me the past couple of months. I raised my alk from 8 to 9 over a weeks time. My consumption is actually doubled. My growth is also (as expected) much faster.

Alex