Removing CO2... what are the best options?

[bbyatv]

Curtis,

 

My primary means of keeping Alk and Calc at the proper levels is by using Kalkwasser.  My Calc reactor supplements what I can not achieve with my Kalk stirrer.  I am not fond of dosing Kalk in large amounts (as might occur with some ATO systems) and so it should be dripped in slowly over the course of the day.  In order to do this I turned off my ATO for a day and measured how much my tank evaporates.  I added 2 fans over the display and 1 over the sump to maximize evaporation and the amount of Kalk I can pump back in.  With all 3 fans running, I evap 3 gallons a day.  I bought a dosing pump and use it to pump 2.9 gallons a day of Kalk into the tank.  My ATO then makes up the difference.  I would highly recommend that you use an overflow style Kalk setup so that you are only running straight water through the dosing pump and not Kalk solution. Then after a few days, I measure my Alk and Calc in the tank and adjust my calcium reactor to bring the levels where I want them.  If you want to stop over and check out my Kalk and air pump setup, you are welcome to.  I have been running this setup for over 3 years and it keeps my parameters very stable.

 

Bruce

[gmerek2]

I'm sure most people know but Bruce has huge exotic corals with high calcium and Alk demand. If your corals are small frags like mine you may not need to do the extra stuff. Test test test to figure out your tanks demand

[Orion]

Been following this thread since it started yesterday.

 

Looking at my apex graph my pH goes from 8.10 to 8.40 with a .3 swing on average each day.    Corals are growing (SPS/LPS mix), fish are eating, and healthy (as far as I can tell).  Is there any conclusive evidence that keeping a minimal swing in pH is better for the inhabitants?

[bbyatv]

Not sure if ph swings are bad, but in general, I try to keep my parameters as close to sea water as possible.  One thing is for sure, they do not swing very much very fast.  With the exception of lagoons or something where water levels are rapidly changing.

 

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

 

Bruce

Been following this thread since it started yesterday.

 

Looking at my apex graph my pH goes from 8.10 to 8.40 with a .3 swing on average each day.    Corals are growing (SPS/LPS mix), fish are eating, and healthy (as far as I can tell).  Is there any conclusive evidence that keeping a minimal swing in pH is better for the inhabitants?

[Curtis Scott]

 

Curtis,

 

My primary means of keeping Alk and Calc at the proper levels is by using Kalkwasser.  My Calc reactor supplements what I can not achieve with my Kalk stirrer.  I am not fond of dosing Kalk in large amounts (as might occur with some ATO systems) and so it should be dripped in slowly over the course of the day.  In order to do this I turned off my ATO for a day and measured how much my tank evaporates.  I added 2 fans over the display and 1 over the sump to maximize evaporation and the amount of Kalk I can pump back in.  With all 3 fans running, I evap 3 gallons a day.  I bought a dosing pump and use it to pump 2.9 gallons a day of Kalk into the tank.  My ATO then makes up the difference.  I would highly recommend that you use an overflow style Kalk setup so that you are only running straight water through the dosing pump and not Kalk solution. Then after a few days, I measure my Alk and Calc in the tank and adjust my calcium reactor to bring the levels where I want them.  If you want to stop over and check out my Kalk and air pump setup, you are welcome to.  I have been running this setup for over 3 years and it keeps my parameters very stable.

 

Bruce

 

I'll have to take you up on stopping by and checking out your setup sometime. You mentioned the fans help maximize evaporation, are these necessary to help evaporate the CO2 out of the tank if dosing kalk?

[bbyatv]

Here is good article (from the master of water chemistry) on fixing low pH.

 

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

 

Bruce

[bbyatv]

Curtis,

 

No.  They are just there to evaporate as much water as I can.  This allows me to pump back in as much Kalkwasser as I can.  The Kalk is what helps raise the pH.  I use the air stones pumping fresh air from outside to degas the CO2.

 

Bruce

I'll have to take you up on stopping by and checking out your setup sometime. You mentioned the fans help maximize evaporation, are these necessary to help evaporate the CO2 out of the tank if dosing kalk?

[Curtis Scott]

Ah, gotcha. thanks