Adding Kalk to top-off

[ResponsiCulture]

O.K. so as of now i have been using SeaChem's 2-part system for alkalinity and calcium control...I have also been adding RO/DI water myself for top off. My tank is a 40 gallon mixed reef (SPS dominant). SeaChem's 2-part has been working well, but i want to find a good way to buffer my top off water to help minimize fluctuations. I have had slow SPS growth and i feel the fluctuations are the resons because all other negative factors are non-existent or minimal. Ideas? Feed-backs? Thanks

[dublo8]

Read the stickies and use the search function. There are many, many, many threads on adding Kalk to your top off water.

[bertoni]

Kalk might help. You could use dosing pumps to add the 2-part throughout the day in smaller doses, too. To dose Kalkwasser, I'd suggest getting a peristaltic pump or something that produces a series of drops. Kalkwasser can spike the pH of a system if it's dosed rapidly. I might try automating the 2-part first, but it's hard to predict what would help more. The stony corals might be having some other issue, as well.

[disc1]

What fluctuations do you think buffering your top off water will help? If the top-off water is pure, then it shouldn't cause any fluctuation to any parameter. If you are thinking of the pH of the top-off water then relax, it has absolutely zero effect on the pH in the tank.

[klwheat]

as above...make sure you put your topoff on an ATO pump that will periodically add SMALL amounts. Large additions of kalk water can trash a tank :(

[ResponsiCulture]

Thanks for the feedback! I think im going to try automating the two part system first, ill give it a week or two with that and see if that stabilizes things.