Dosing 2-part During the Photoperiod vs Evenly Over the Course of the Day

[Royce023]

Is ALK more stable overall if it is dosed during the photoperiod when consumption is the highest? I have always dosed during the photoperiod and not when the lights are off. Just wondering if dosing during night will benefit the tank. If dosed at night, I would be assuming there would be a greater ALK swing, but a benefit to pH. Should we even worry about ALK swings?

Perhaps someone with an automatic ALK tester can enlighten me.

 

[Alexander1312]

Alk should be 24/7 (or BOLUS shortly before lights on, but only if bicarbonate), due to improved alk stability and smaller dosing amounts, which should provide less precipitation (exception with BOLUS). Alk through Kalkwasser is a different story.

CA only during photoperiod (cannot remember why).

Stable alk vs stable PH, ideally both, is its own discussion. My focus is on keeping alk relatively stable.

I only test alk once a week around the same time in the day, and try to keep the target value stable.

I tend to start liking the idea of an alk auto tester, Aqua Whiz being the new gold standard.

P.S.: For ozone dosing, there are some changes recommended to the dosing schedule, in simple terms, no dosing around the time of ozone.

 

[Royce023]

I’m thinking of the AquaWiz too but I wonder how reliable it will be over the years.

 

[Alexander1312]

I’m thinking of the AquaWiz too but I wonder how reliable it will be over the years.

Not an issue as any (!) part of it can be replaced easily and rather cheaply.