Kalk and polyp extension

[TonyMc]

I got into SPS about 4 month ago and always dosed with sealab #28 calcium blocks and buffered with baking soda. Last night I bought some pickling lime(I have never dosed kalk before)because my PH was falling and I couldn't keep it in check. I mixed 1 tsp of kalk with 1 gal of RO/DI and let settle over night. I built a dripper using these instructions and started a slow drip this morning about 5 hrs before lights on.
OK. Now to the point.
My PH so far has risen from 7.8 to 8.2. I hope I'm not increasing it to fast, 4 points in 9 hours? but the polyps on my corals are extending like never before. I've had my birdsnest for a little over a week and it always looked good. Nice and pink, but never real fuzzy. Same with my tricolor. You could always see the green polyps as dots, but never the tentacles.
I'll keep a close eye on PH, Alk, and Cal as I go, but I think no more freshwater topoff for me.

 

[cwcross]

yes, this is fine. Your pH will rise up, then possibly, probably drop some and level off. pH rises for Kalk are somewhat transient until the CO2 levels equilibrate. I use pickling lime myself. It is AOK.

However, I suggest 2 tsp /gallon of RO/DI water instead of 1 to make a saturated kalk solution. You can use less depending upon your calcium/alk demand.

I have added as much as 1 gallon saturated Kalk into my 75 (100 gallon total) tank within 4 hours overnight with no adverse affects. Slower is better though.

Collin

 

[Katchupoy]

Tony, I am also using those calcium blocks....

Make sure to test your water... It gives a very high calcium on it and always offset my balance on my alk....

What I do is brake it into 4 then add slowly...

0.4 points in 9 hour i think is ok... I do it also when I add part b of B-ionic....

 

[TonyMc]

I stopped using the #28 blocks now I went to kalk, but yes they do produce alot of calcium.
I test once to twice a day until I find the right dosage then I'll probably go to once or twice a week.