Kalk drip question/problem

[ScruffyRubicon]

I broke down and finaly started dripping Kalk. I did a DIY and have used it for three days now. I was under the impression that this should help with my PH. My 75g has always stayed a bit on the low side (7.9 to 8.05with a pinpoint)and never had much of a swing between day and night. Since I started the kalk, my PH has dropped to a range of 7.74 to 7.95. Is this normal?

Alk - 12
Ca - 460
Nitrate - 20 (gotta start removing those bio-balls)
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Phosphate - 0.5

[trottman]

it should drop, not that much though...... mabe you are dripping to fast?

mine rose form 8.1-2 to 8.4-5 nothing major.

[DrBDC]

It should raise it a tenth or two. The pH of saturated kalkwasser is about 12. Are you using 2 teaspoons per gallon of water? You aren't using vinegar to increase saturation are you? Do you have a ca reactor on the system? When was the last battery change/calibration and with which two calibration solutions?

[ScruffyRubicon]

I initially used 1 tsp per gallon. Second gallon starting yesterday I used two tsp to see if that was the issue. I wanted to start on the low side since I had never dripped Kalk. Not using vinegar. No Ca Reactor. PH Meter is only a month old, but I am having some issues with the probe. It jumps around badly if the wire to the lead is touched. Tried different batteries and recal'd. When the meter is stable it reads the same as the color test kit.

I started dripping Kalk because I was under the impression it would help bring my PH up. I can never seem to get it above 8.05 without a buffer or opening a window. Being from this area you know how difficult it can be to get more fresh air in the house in winter. That has helped the last few times I have been able to though. I may have to run a airline from the skimmer to outside.

[DrBDC]

Do you have a sump? I would try to aim a powerhead at the surface in the sump to get more surface aeration or even aim them toward the surface some in the display to help. You can run an airline outside for the skimmer input if that is an available option too.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Think I'll go out today and get some airline for the skimmer input. I've been putting that off anyway. PH was at 7.95 first thing this morning, so hopefully things are just getting adjusted to the kalk.

[DrBDC]

You may want to check out this article it shows how bad most of the pH calibration solutions are.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-02/rhf/index.php

[saltyunderground]

Are you keeping the tip of the PH probe wet with a little sponge when it's not in use? This is how I keep my Milwaukee PH meter in calibration. If not it reads wrong. Don't know if this is the case with all probes though.

[DrBDC]

I think snip is probably relevant from that article if you used coralife pH solution. The un-named bottle from a LFS in the study read 7.5. I'm pretty confident that it is Coralife because when I calibrated with a "good" brand, the 7.0 coralife was 7.4 on mine.

From the article:
Suppose that an aquarist calibrated with a pH 4 buffer that was really pH 4.0 and a pH 7 buffer that was really pH 7.5. In that case, the natural seawater pH value of 8.2 would read as pH 7.6.

I'm not sure what calibration solution you used but if the wrong ones, it can be way off and you are fighting a non existent problem. Either way kalk is one of the cheapest way's to get your ca and alk which you need anyway. Also the outdoor airline is always good too even if not needed.

Instead of taking it out, why not leave it in the tank? But you do have to keep them wet with a sponge or in a pH 7.0 solution.

[ScruffyRubicon]

I used the packets that came with it. Not sure what the name aws on the packet. I went and bought new solution earlier today(coralife). I bought the 7 and 10. When i put the probe in the 10.0 solution it reads 4. I'm wondering if they have the wrong solution in the container. Looks like the solution is going back to the store.