Dosing Top Off Water?

[beanhead]

I've been doing some testing because my tank has been on the low side for alk/dkh floating in the 6-7 range and cal around 400. I tested my premix for water change and it is at 460 cal and 9 dkh so no problems there. then i tested my ATO reservoir and it had an alk of 4 and a cal of less than 100. Should i be dosing the ATO to desired levels so it doesnt water down the tank between water changes?

[Weasel Baron]

limewater

[beanhead]

I have a 5 gallon reservoir for my 26 gallon tank and use a jbj ato dual float. Do I have to worry about parameter swings using a 1/2 tsp per gal mixture?

[NorthGaHillbilly]

I would start with 1/4 tsp and monitor your levels.

[Weasel Baron]

good info:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/

 

I put a tablespoon/gal and use that as my top-off. I dont have an ATO system, but lose about a half gallon to evap per day, so I add a few cups of lime to a slow-dripper in the morning, afternoon, and evening (I SERIOUSLY need to invest in an ATO).

 

NGA suggests a good safe route if youre worried, but you having an ATO makes it way easier and I see no reason why you should worry about using less than 1tbsp/gal. CaHO2 hits a saturation point and falls out of solution, so assuming youre dosing small quantities throughout the day, you shouldnt have to worry about parameter swings or overdosing

[NorthGaHillbilly]

good info:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/

 

I put a tablespoon/gal and use that as my top-off. I dont have an ATO system, but lose about a half gallon to evap per day, so I add a few cups of lime to a slow-dripper in the morning, afternoon, and evening (I SERIOUSLY need to invest in an ATO).

 

NGA suggests a good safe route if youre worried, but you having an ATO makes it way easier and I see no reason why you should worry about using less than 1tbsp/gal. CaHO2 hits a saturation point and falls out of solution, so assuming youre dosing small quantities throughout the day, you shouldnt have to worry about parameter swings or overdosing

 

While true in theory, I do 3/4 tsp per gallon, as 1 tsp was putting my alk over 9, a situation that my corals wernt fond of

[Weasel Baron]

guess it depends a lot on tank size. having a 50+gal plus 20 in the sump makes things easier for me Im doing a tbsp and still having a hard time keeping Ca over 400 and alk above 8

[VW_TDI_02]

Kalkwasser (lime water) is probably your best bet but as with any sort of dosing regiment, start slow and from there you can adjust your dosing in order to better suit your needs. You never want to all of a sudden start dosing the full amount of your tank because it can cause quick changes. By starting off with 1/4 or 1/2 tsp you can see how your tank is impacted by the dosing. From there you can start ramping up the amount you dose but make sure not to go above 2 tbs per gallon. That's pretty much the cut off where you simply can't dissolve any more lime.

[beanhead]

I ended up getting seachem marine buffer, I added a tsp to my 5 gallon ATO to bring up the parameters of the rodi and it seems like it gonna do the trick. Like the idea of not worrying about OD with kalk and its still fairly cheap.

[vuqchu]

Also agree with kalkwasser.