Kalk in ATO while dosing 2 part?

[gnashty]

I started using kalk in the ATO several months ago, what I found my ATO would dump in too much fully saturated kalk water at a time and it just wasnt stable..so I stopped.

Now, I dose BRS 2 part recipe 1..I dose about 80ml of calcium & alk twice per week and adjust according to testing after weekly WC's. My PH stays low though - 7.9-8.1. Would using a very light kalk solution in the ATO (about 1 tbsp for 10 gal) in addition to the 2 part help keep my PH up? or is it just moot and let it be?

The real question is - does anyone see any problems with using both kalk and BRS 2 part or is it too much funky chemistry going on?

I dont have room for a reactor...

 

[purplegorilla]

I have been doing it for several years now. First off, what do you mean your ATO is dumping too much fully saturated kalk. How much evaporation do you have a day? Do you have a canopy? What is your temp?

 

[gnashty]

purpleGORILLA;561902 wrote: I have been doing it for several years now. First off, what do you mean your ATO is dumping too much fully saturated kalk. How much evaporation do you have a day? Do you have a canopy? What is your temp?

maybe I worded it wrong - the ato water was 2 tbs per gallon kalk. when the ATO kicks in it was just too much to shoot my PH up like that several times per day and god forbid it were to stick on.

I havent figured my daily evap but its in the range of a gal per day. I use a 10 gal tank next to the sump to pull from and fill it once every few days - sometimes less. My skimmer is a factor too as I am still trying to dial it in and have been wet skimming like crazy lately..

I do have a canopy, temp goes from 78-80 when the lights are on.

 

[corigan]

I heavily dose kalk through the top-off and also further supplement with BRS two-part when evaporation levels are light (in the summer months). I have zero problems and my tank grows like crazy. I have been hand dosing BRS 2 part all summer with the kalk still adding through the ATO. However, I do have a PH Controller on the ATO so I am not worried about spikes as it kicks off within a few seconds of coming on due to the ph spiking around the probe.

 

[purplegorilla]

1 gallon a day of evaporation is not really that much. So I wouldn't not worry too much about spiking the pH. Do you have the ATO entering at the high flow section in your sump? You can't over saturate your Kalkwasser. I usually dump a whole cup and let the stirrer do its job. Any over saturated Kalkwasser paste would settle to the bottom.

Now if your skimmer is skimming wet then there is another factor that I would worry more about than the pH. That is the salinity of the system.

I would concentrate first on your ATO to make sure it is running smoothly for a month or 2. Once you notice the pH is stable (doesn't fluctuate more than .3) then concentrate on dosing with your 2 parts. The amount of dosing of your 2 parts depends on how much hard corals you have in your system. Don't worry too much on trying to get to 8.2-8.3, but instead of stability of the pH. If your probe is too close to where the ATO enters then it might affect the reading so move it further away.

 

[gnashty]

purpleGORILLA;562043 wrote: 1 gallon a day of evaporation is not really that much. So I wouldn't not worry too much about spiking the pH. Do you have the ATO entering at the high flow section in your sump? You can't over saturate your Kalkwasser. I usually dump a whole cup and let the stirrer do its job. Any over saturated Kalkwasser paste would settle to the bottom.

Now if your skimmer is skimming wet then there is another factor that I would worry more about than the pH. That is the salinity of the system.

I am skimming about the same amount I evaporate - but its not a standard amount each day. we are talking abotu a max of 2-3 gal of skimmate per week if I dont mess up and overdial it and accidently lose 3-4 gal in an afternoon..

I check my salinity often and adjust as needed in my ATO as well to keep it good. it has never fallen more than .002 and I just add salt to my ATO when it falls low - I also adjust this during weekly WC's

 

[jcusmarine]

Maybe you could consider an CO2 Scrubber....I utilize BRS 2-Part and an CO2 Scrubber and maintain Ph. Would save you having to use Kalk.

 

[gnashty]

I dont want to buy another peice of equip...doing good maintaining what I have now - i ran a small search for one though and didnt find anything but media -didnt look long though, im at work and slammed today

 

[jcusmarine]

gnashty;562054 wrote: I dont want to buy another peice of equip...doing good maintaining what I have now - i ran a small search for one though and didnt find anything but media -didnt look long though, im at work and slammed today

Understood. I just thought it may be worth considering. Here is my review:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43798">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43798</a>

I would now recommend putting one together DIY and buying the media vs buying the MCU research Scrubber I have.....and buying the media in bulk to save some more $.

 

[gnashty]

yeah, i followed your review - i dont think my skimmer would support it - I use am MRC MR2 Dual Beckett with a Mag 24 feed pump - wouldnt know where to put the little hose to..

 

[jef4y]

I dose Kalk separately from my ATO and CA Reactor, simply for absorption of excess CO2 to keep my pH up. I run it on a 10 second timer each hour for 7 or 8 cycles each night (forget how many cycles, it's programmed). I do it using a Tom's lift pump and a needle valve on the end of the tube to control the drip a bit so I don't overdose.

For me, I just need a very small amount to help pH without significantly altering CA/ALK, and this works well.

 

[jaustin]

Run your skimmers air intake line outside. Your PH problem (not really that much of a problem) will be solved. But I dose BRS two part and use saturated lime water for my ato.

What pump are you using for your ATO? If you don't have one already and don't have much head pressure, use an Aqualifter pump. Also add some float swiches to your existing ATO to prevent an overdost if both switches fail. I had both get stuck on mine and it wiped out 90% of my SPS with a 7 gallon Kalk dose.

Now I have 4 float switches for my ATO...not going to do that ever again. Plus I have a controller that monitors PH and if it goes above 8.5 the Aqualifter pump is shut off. and I get a text message, RKE is the heat!

 

[gnashty]

JAustin;562107 wrote: Run your skimmers air intake line outside. Your PH problem (not really that much of a problem) will be solved. But I dose BRS two part and use saturated lime water for my ato.

What pump are you using for your ATO? If you don't have one already and don't have much head pressure, use an Aqualifter pump. Also add some float swiches to your existing ATO to prevent an overdost if both switches fail. I had both get stuck on mine and it wiped out 90% of my SPS with a 7 gallon Kalk dose.

Now I have 4 float switches for my ATO...not going to do that ever again. Plus I have a controller that monitors PH and if it goes above 8.5 the Aqualifter pump is shut off. and I get a text message, RKE is the heat!

I cant run the line outside unless I drill through 2 walls and I can promise you that is not going to happen. I actually dont have an input on my skimmer for air tube

I use a small rio pump for my ATO - I do have an aqaulifter though, in the garage..not in use. I forgot about telling the RKE to shut down the pump at 8.5 - I could try that.

 

[jef4y]

I only wish I could run my skimmer line outside or leave a window open, but neither are realistic on a 24x7 basis. =(

I have left a window open for the last 2 days though and actually managed to hit 8.1 pH though! (normally I run 7.7-7.9).