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Unread 04/22/2018, 08:17 AM   #1
Arf82
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Alk dropping help

Hi all, I have a fairly heavy stocked mixed reef, 100litres. I’m losing one to two dkh a day, I’m really struggling to keep it above 9dkh. Is this normal for a tank as stocked as mine? My coral list below. Thanks.

30+ heads Duncun, 30+ head torch, 10 head hammer,
Stylo colony, small Pocillopora, 2, 5 inch Monti caps,
2 smaller Monti caps, forest fire Monti bit bigger than a frag,
Large toadstool mush, one smaller toadstool, 2 head acan,
Lots of xenea!! Lots of gsp!! Limeberry hystrix 5 inch colony. Pink hystrix,
Bubble tip Anemone. one head torch, one head frogspawn, loads of zoas,
Two ricordea mushroom, 2 inch disc sunset Monti. Small Bali green slimer acropora.!


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Unread 04/22/2018, 08:24 AM   #2
homer1475
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Sounds about right to me.

I only have a handful of corals and drop 1/2 DKH a day.


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Unread 04/22/2018, 08:29 AM   #3
Arf82
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Thanks, how do you keep it up? I’m currently dosing a tea spoon of bicarbonate of soda nearly every day. It seems like madness to me but if it’s right I’ll keep going with it? Are there any other cheap ways of keeping it up? I dont have a auto fisher though.


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Unread 04/22/2018, 08:38 AM   #4
homer1475
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I use a doser to maintain alk right at 8.5.

Might be easier if you mix the baking soda with RO/DI first. Google Randy's Recipe. Part 1 is to raise PH, part 2 is for lowering PH. The only difference is one uses soda ash(bake the baking soda to drive out any water), the other is just plain baking soda.

Might want to look into kalkwasser in your topoff, but I think you might be past that point. But still worth looking into and trying. Not sure if it would be cheaper, but it's definitely easier.


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Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht:

"He's just taking his lunch to work"
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Unread 04/22/2018, 08:41 AM   #5
lapin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by homer1475 View Post
I use a doser to maintain alk right at 8.5.

Might be easier if you mix the baking soda with RO/DI first. Google Randy's Recipe. Part 1 is to raise PH, part 2 is for lowering PH. The only difference is one uses soda ash(bake the baking soda to drive out any water), the other is just plain baking soda.

Might want to look into kalkwasser in your topoff, but I think you might be past that point. But still worth looking into and trying. Not sure if it would be cheaper, but it's definitely easier.
+1 on Randys baked baking soda


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Unread 04/22/2018, 09:09 AM   #6
Arf82
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Thanks Homer, when you say I might be past kalk, what do you mean? I was thinking of doding calcium hydroxide as a next step, would it be as simple as mixing it with top off?


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Unread 04/22/2018, 09:23 AM   #7
homer1475
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Typically Kalk(kalkwasser) is the first step to dosing, then move on to 2 part, then when your fed up with that, or your consumption is to high to bother, you move on to a CalRX(Calcium Reactor).

Quite a few people use kalk and 2 part together. I looked into it, and found it to absurdly hard to try and figure out how much kalk is being used to then add 2 part to make up the difference.

And yes it's as simple as mixing in your topoff, but I have read recently people are doing it with a dripper. Read up on it if your interested. You might have better luck using kalk instead of doing 2 part to start off with since your relatively low on consumption. Just keep in mind that kalk will add alkalinity and calcium in a balanced ratio.


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80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256

Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht:

"He's just taking his lunch to work"
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Unread 04/22/2018, 09:31 AM   #8
Arf82
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Quote:
Originally Posted by homer1475 View Post
I use a doser to maintain alk right at 8.5.

Might be easier if you mix the baking soda with RO/DI first. Google Randy's Recipe. Part 1 is to raise PH, part 2 is for lowering PH. The only difference is one uses soda ash(bake the baking soda to drive out any water), the other is just plain baking soda.

Might want to look into kalkwasser in your topoff, but I think you might be past that point. But still worth looking into and trying. Not sure if it would be cheaper, but it's definitely easier.
Thanks for all your help Homer, greatly appreciated.
I will look into dosing kalk.


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Unread 04/22/2018, 01:30 PM   #9
bertoni
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Kalk is a very dilute supplement, so many tanks don't evaporation enough water to keep the alkalinity steady with it, but you could consider trying it. It's very cheap, and doesn't affect the SG. I agree that ATO is a good way to dose it for many tanks. If the evaporation rate varies, though, you might need a doser.

The recipe 2 does drop the pH a tiny bit, maybe 0.05 units or so, depending on the dose, but the effect is very temporary. Carbon dioxide will outgas rapidly to bring the pH back up.


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Unread 04/23/2018, 07:42 AM   #10
mcgyvr
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I'd skip the kalk attempt at this point and go straight to the 2 part..

Best move IMO sounds like its time for you to invest in dosing pumps and start dosing alk/cal (and mag as needed)..
Either by purchasing a 2 part premixed system
Search the "additives" section here..
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/

or making your own..
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
chemicals needed to make your own here..
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/calci...ments/brs.html

dosing pumps.. Others out there at other suppliers..
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/calci...ing-pumps.html


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