Alk, Calcium, etc

msujohn · Jan 18, 2015

I'm still a newbie and have a 90 reef tank (plan is to be mixed reef - but mainly LPS, maybe a few SPS). Right now I only have a few frags (frogspawn, torch, acan, and favia). I'm been reading alot about keeping Alk, Calcium, and Mag in line. I would really like some suggestions on the best way to maintain these elements. My thought is to get the levels to where they need to be and maintain it with Kalk via my ATO. The other option would be to go with 2 part dosing, but this requires additional equipment, etc.

I know the issue with kalk and ATO is related to your evaporation levels? Is this a major issue? If I went this route, does this limit me in any way down the road?

Reefing Madness · Jan 20, 2015

heathd.hd · Jan 20, 2015

I went kalk after reading a bunch of randy holmes articles and couldn't be happier.

JimWelsh · Jan 20, 2015

The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION

NanaReefer · Jan 20, 2015

BRS 2part for me. Soon to be using a doser. I'm to concerned about over dosing to use Kalk/ATO. I go through 5g top off every 4-6 days.

reefndude · Jan 20, 2015

I use kalk in ato. I also go through about 5g of top off water every 4-6 days.
Check alk every 2-3 days. It stays fairly constant at 8.4-8.6 dkh

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 21, 2015

I don't consider the changing evaporation rate to be a big concern for a system like mine, but some folks do.

Both a two part and limewater (or both) can work perfectly well. Limewater also need not be part of an ATO.

I've used only limewater in an ATO for 19 years, but it I had substantial SPS, it would not keep up and in that case, a two part is a good choice. The linked article has a lot more discussion of the pros and cons.

NanaReefer · Jan 22, 2015

I tried the Kalkwasser in my ATO before. Found mixing it up and then waiting for it to settle, then cleaning out the resivoure each time to be a pita. Is there an easier less messy, time consuming way?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 22, 2015

NanaReefer said:
I tried the Kalkwasser in my ATO before. Found mixing it up and then waiting for it to settle, then cleaning out the resivoure each time to be a pita. Is there an easier less messy, time consuming way?

Yes.

1. Never clean the reservoir (ever).
2. Make it in directly in the ATO reservoir.
3. Make up a large amount at once.

I spend about 10 minutes to make 120 gallons, which lasts about a month.

reefndude · Jan 22, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes.

1. Never clean the reservoir (ever).
2. Make it in directly in the ATO reservoir.
3. Make up a large amount at once.

I spend about 10 minutes to make 120 gallons, which lasts about a month.

I've always mixed is a different container and let settle 24 hours. Why do you suggest mixing in reservoir and never clean it

kidtango · Jan 22, 2015

There are kalk reactors out there. I like running kalk independent from ATO. That gives you the ability to control how much and when to dose. Link kalk reactor to ATO is risky imo.

AVAST Marine Works - K2 Kalk Stirrer - Product Details

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 22, 2015

reefndude said:
I've always mixed is a different container and let settle 24 hours. Why do you suggest mixing in reservoir and never clean it

It's easier. I let it settle and use the water on top of any residual mud. In some cases, excess solids on the bottom may actually clean the water more.

smiley28 · Jan 22, 2015

Hey Randy I have been reading about dosing kalk and how it should be added slowly and so I am curious as to if using my ato that is ran with a tunze osmolater would be a bad idea? I ask this because of the many comments I have read about people have a slow drip rate when adding kalk.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 22, 2015

Many people do use the osmolator with limewater, but I've not used one myself.

Do you know how much liquid it delivers to your tank with each "delivery"?

Where are you delivering it? (sump, tank, etc.)

smiley28 · Jan 22, 2015

The ato returns into the back of my aio tank and I don't know the exact amount of water returned but if I had to guess I'd say around 1,1/2-2 cups per return but i don't know how many times a day.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 22, 2015

The concern is how quickly that added liquid mixes into a larger volume of tank water.

Adding 1.25% of the volume in some space (like a sump) will bump the pH by about 0.7 pH units. That's generally enough to cauise preciptiation of calcum carboante, unelss the flow through is pretty high.

smiley28 · Jan 22, 2015

So I'd be better off just adding a resevoir for the kalk with a switch valve to dial in the flow of the kalk and still have my normal ato?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 22, 2015

You mean have the limewater on a different pump?

msujohn · Feb 2, 2015

I think I plan to go the kalk via ATO way in the beginning (since I already have the ATO set up).
So I know that I have to get my Alk/Cal to match the parameters I want(prior to using Kalk).

Here are my questions.

- What is the easiest way to increase Alk/Cal prior to usking Kalk to mainatain my levels?
- Do I use Calcium Chloride (Cal) and Sodium Bicarbonate (Alk) to raise the parameters?
- Once I get my Alk/Cal parameters to the levels that I want, how long do I wait until I start using kalk? Do I need to go several days/weeks adjusting my parameters before I start kalk?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 2, 2015

1. Baking soda for alk and calcium chloride for calcium.

2. Yes.

3. Start it right away. You may need to tweak the limewater over time based on the tank alkalinity (not pH or calcium).