Adding Kalk

toejam · Apr 20, 2012

I want to boost my ph thats at 7.6-7.8 with Kalk.

I am using brs two part that raises ph but doesnt do much.

Two ways to do this.

My auto top off I use a brute 32 gallon trash can with ro water. I could dump some kalk into it stir it and forget about it.

Or

I could get a Kalk reactor and use my RKL to control the pump that feeds it using the ph probe dosing when ph drops below 8

I like option 1 better but it seems alk and ph might go through the roof. Any ideas on what would work better?

phil519 · Apr 20, 2012

A hybrid of the two choices above would be a reactor tied to your ATO. I have my tunze ato connected into a kalk reactor.

toejam · Apr 22, 2012

I like the idea of using my RKL in controlling the amount of kalk used. I can set up ph limits like using a calc reactor. So I would have two containers one with ro water the other kalk, both using two ato connected to the controller. If the ph drops below 8 it uses the kalk top off. If its above it uses the ro water. This would keep the ph were I would like it. I have the alk and calc dialed in. I think this setup will make my alk unstable because I cant control how much alk and calc I am adding like with the two part. This is were I get confused.

pumarjr · Apr 22, 2012

I use the drip method, I do not need to worry about the controller being stuck on or dumping the stirred solution.

toejam · Apr 22, 2012

So I could use a dosing pump on a timer? I can put kalk into a gallon jug and shake it as needed?

bobssecrtsn · Apr 22, 2012

toejam said:
So I could use a dosing pump on a timer? I can put kalk into a gallon jug and shake it as needed?

you can use a dosing pump on a timer, you just need to figure out how much water evaps from your tank. divide that number by how many minutes per drip and how many times you want it to turn on till you reach your evaporated water

i just shake it once in a 5g water change bucket and put my ATO line in there 1.5inches above the bottom and let it sit for 3-4 hours before the ato kicks on

reefsmokinFOOL · Apr 22, 2012

This is what i did or will be doing since my PH drops so much at night. I will use my Tunze top off during the day(RO ONLY). I bought Deltec KM500 and spectrapures Ultra-Precise Auto Top-Off that will only be on at night. I have an APEX not RKL. If my PH gets above 8.2 it will turn off spctrapures top off and put the tunze back online.

baldbean · Apr 22, 2012

toejam said:
I like the idea of using my RKL in controlling the amount of kalk used. I can set up ph limits like using a calc reactor. So I would have two containers one with ro water the other kalk, both using two ato connected to the controller. If the ph drops below 8 it uses the kalk top off. If its above it uses the ro water. This would keep the ph were I would like it. I have the alk and calc dialed in. I think this setup will make my alk unstable because I cant control how much alk and calc I am adding like with the two part. This is were I get confused.

The only pitfall I see is that when the other pump is on kalk will not be added to the tank. And since pH raises thoughout the photoperiod there is a huge chance very little to no kalk may be added to the system at all. So you would need to find the tsp/gal kalk ratio to keep this from happening if you want to maintain your desired parameters.

I do like the two pump/resevoir system though and have been thinking of topping off with just RO/DI when the lights are ON and switch to dosing kalk a few hours after the lights turn off during the pH drop. This may be easier for me to keep my pay in check.

baldbean · Apr 22, 2012

pH not "pay". Of course I want more of that...

toejam · Apr 22, 2012

So I bought two brs kalk jugs and I am going to try and add the recommended amount to my 32 gal brute ato water. I ll just keep an eye on my ph and will be taking my alk and calc offline.

toejam · May 2, 2012

So after 7 days of kalk my alk has gone from 7.64 to 10. My ph has stayed above 8 through the 7 days. So I am taking the kalk offline because of the alk swing and now will go through a ph swing. It seems silly to add kalk not being able to control the alk going in.

lolgranny · May 2, 2012

How much kalk are u adding per gallon?

toejam · May 2, 2012

I added 25 tsp to my 32 gallon brute can. Less than what they recommend on a few coral tank. Might as well go back to two part.

I could try using it the same way as the two part.

toejam · May 2, 2012

I will try diluting the kalk mix with fresh ro water for now and the next time I refill my ato container I will go 1/2 tsp per gallon cutting the dose in half. Does that sound right?