Am I ready for Kalk?

[Jizu Puentes]

Before I ask the real question here are my tank stats;

Tank size: 110 Display, 55 gallon Sump (medium stocked display for size)
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 150
Return pump: Eheim 1040
Powerheads: 2 Koralia 850s, 2 koralia 425s
ATO consumption: 1 gal a day

I have been doing bi-weekly 15 gallon water changes and testing the water the day after the water change and then two weeks later the day before the next water change. Here are my test results. After water change the tests show MG-1440 KH-8.4 and Ca-450. After 13 days the results are MG-1400 KH-8 and Ca-400. I test the PH throughout the day with a PH meter but only record the night reading when I do the other tests. The PH during the day is usually 7.8 and the PH at night around 11pm is 7.5 to 7.6. So here is the question: Am I ready for Kalk?
I plan on starting with a low saturated mixture in my ATO jug of maybe a 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon per gallon but Im not sure which would be best. Also which element should I test daily when starting Kalk to monitor changes?

 

[DannyB]

Are you asking if you should use Kalk for the KH and Ca or to maintain the pH?

 

[shovelhead]

I had similar parameters and I started with one tsp per gal of kalk in top off and that keeps my PH around 8 to 8.3.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Are you asking if you should use Kalk for the KH and Ca or to maintain the pH?

All three. Im asking if I should start kalk now with the small changes Ive noticed in ym parameters or if I should wait until they are being depleted more readily.

I had similar parameters and I started with one tsp per gal of kalk in top off and that keeps my PH around 8 to 8.3.

Thanks shovelhead. What does your calc and alk measure at with that amount?

 

[shovelhead]

All three. Im asking if I should start kalk now with the small changes Ive noticed in ym parameters or if I should wait until they are being depleted more readily.

Thanks shovelhead. What does your calc and alk measure at with that amount?

Alk and calcium hasn't really ever changed. Ca 420 alk 7.5~8. Calcium drops to 400~410 when water change is due.

 

[Tahoe61]

I use kalk daily to maintain a pH of around 8.2. Still dosing two part for alk and ca daily as well to maintain a alk of 8.5 and a Ca 430. It takes some fine tuning when you use kalk, start low, and slowly dial it in.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Before I ask the real question here are my tank stats;

Tank size: 110 Display, 55 gallon Sump (medium stocked display for size)
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 150
Return pump: Eheim 1040
Powerheads: 2 Koralia 850s, 2 koralia 425s
ATO consumption: 1 gal a day

I have been doing bi-weekly 15 gallon water changes and testing the water the day after the water change and then two weeks later the day before the next water change. Here are my test results. After water change the tests show MG-1440 KH-8.4 and Ca-450. After 13 days the results are MG-1400 KH-8 and Ca-400. I test the PH throughout the day with a PH meter but only record the night reading when I do the other tests. The PH during the day is usually 7.8 and the PH at night around 11pm is 7.5 to 7.6. So here is the question: Am I ready for Kalk?
I plan on starting with a low saturated mixture in my ATO jug of maybe a 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon per gallon but Im not sure which would be best. Also which element should I test daily when starting Kalk to monitor changes?

I think it is fine to start, but it won't take much.

I would start at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of top off and monitor only alkalinity to know if you are using an appropriate amount.

Your demand is not very high, so if alk rises too much, I'd drop back from the 1/4 to 1/8 or even less.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

I think it is fine to start, but it won't take much.

I would start at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of top off and monitor only alkalinity to know if you are using an appropriate amount.

Your demand is not very high, so if alk rises too much, I'd drop back from the 1/4 to 1/8 or even less.

What would be the limit for alk?

 

[Jizu Puentes]

As long as the alk level is within limits then I can continue to only measure Ca every other week right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As long as the alk level is within limits then I can continue to only measure Ca every other week right?

Yes, that is reasonable.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What would be the limit for alk?

I'd aim for 7-11 dKH.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

I would skip kalk all together and just work on your end-game setup, and dose 2 part. Then it's just an adjustment of previously setup work vs a change in methodology.

 

[Mike in CT]

Unless he gets a large amount of sps, kalk should be able to handle his Ca/alk needs without any problem.

 

[sk8elenex92]

I've started kalk from the very beginning. Within two months I have had a lottttt of coralline. I don't know if it's from the kalk but I've never had it grow so fast in a new tank with dry rock. I dose it every hour for 20 seconds using an aqua lifter pump.
You should have no problem using kalk. I use pickling lime from Walmart by the way. Try it out and see if your parameters Are steady. Can't hurt anything just watch your ph.

 

[DannyB]

I would skip kalk all together and just work on your end-game setup, and dose 2 part. Then it's just an adjustment of previously setup work vs a change in methodology.

I tried manually dosing 2 part when I had the need for dosing and found it to be more difficult to keep alk stable. It would go up and down a lot. Once I began using kalk in my ato everything became stable. I don't think i will ever attempt to manually dose again but will probably go to dosing pumps when kalk won't cut it anymore.

 

[gcrawford]

I've started kalk from the very beginning. Within two months I have had a lottttt of coralline. I don't know if it's from the kalk but I've never had it grow so fast in a new tank with dry rock. I dose it every hour for 20 seconds using an aqua lifter pump.
You should have no problem using kalk. I use pickling lime from Walmart by the way. Try it out and see if your parameters Are steady. Can't hurt anything just watch your ph.

+1 I use Mrs. Wages pickling lime from WM in my Kalk reactors. Costs me $2.88 for each reactor every 3 months. Keeps ph up as well.

 

[DannyB]

+1 on the Mrs. Wages here too

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Dang I guess I should have read about Mrs. Wages before i spent $15 at my LFS on my way to work today.....

I would skip kalk all together and just work on your end-game setup, and dose 2 part. Then it's just an adjustment of previously setup work vs a change in methodology.

I don't plan to have a heavy sps stocking but I like how kalk covers three parameters in one instead of dosing individual parts.

Side note: Our weather in FL has been nice lately so we have been opening windows and my tanks PH has gone from a high of 7.8 to 8.4. Holy cow haha

 

[DannyB]

You should run your skimmer air intake outside then. That would keep it up there.

 

[twilliard]

PH in my opinion is a number to not chase.