Can Someone School me on Using Kalk?

[siggy]

Dang, beat me to it. Nothing better than Randy's grandma article for learning about kalk.

I've been using it for 2 years as my primary Alk/Ca replenishment. I dose via my ATO, but I've considered switching to a dosing pump. Just haven't gotten off my LARS and done it.

Bump, any pointers

A.

Brs has a video on there single doser ....I used kalk in my ato for a year and when things go good it works but when they dont also plan on having extra ato pumps handy, I purched 3 in a year $35 x 3 = 1 doser

 

[salty joe]

Yes, yes, yes ,yes and yes!

As expected, never as easy as it sounds. .

It really is that easy. I use saturated kalk and dose with a fairly inexpensive peristaltic pump the amount the tank needs by tracking alk. What could be easier?

 

[Cory]

I use a doser. I dose 24 times a day fully saturated and settled likewater. Start with a super low dose. Like 1 ml 5 times a day. Then if it drops the next day, double it. Check again jext day up the dose. Eventually youll have stable alk and calcium.

 

[ZoWhat]

VERY OPINIONATED HERE...FROM EXPERIENCE

unless you have a good uptake of carbonates (alk) by your corals, continuing to add Kalk to chase pH will put your dKH into the dangerous 13-16dKH over time. Quicker than you'd might expect.

Kalk solution itself has a dKH of like 30-40dKH

You gotta know your uptake rates and dose accordingly

Been there...lost all that



.

 

[sawdonkey]

VERY OPINIONATED HERE...FROM EXPERIENCE

unless you have a good uptake of carbonates (alk) by your corals, continuing to add Kalk to chase pH will put your dKH into the dangerous 13-16dKH over time. Quicker than you'd might expect.

Kalk solution itself has a dKH if like 30-40dKH

You gotta know your uptake rates and dose accordingly

Been there...lost all that



.

Good point. I think most in this thread are discussing in terms of alk/cal dosing. I think of the increased PH as a side benefit. You’re right though.....there are definite consequences of using Kalk to chase Ph. I would not do it.

 

[Holy_makerel]

Bump, any pointers

A.

I've been using a doser for at least a year to add kalk.
I use some vinegar to make sure all my kalk is in solution and not adding particles into the system. Add it to an area with high flow or you might have some of it fall out of solution and settle in your sump. I'd also recommend running vinegar through the lines every 6 or so months to clean out any residue

 

[Holy_makerel]

VERY OPINIONATED HERE...FROM EXPERIENCE

unless you have a good uptake of carbonates (alk) by your corals, continuing to add Kalk to chase pH will put your dKH into the dangerous 13-16dKH over time. Quicker than you'd might expect.

Kalk solution itself has a dKH of like 30-40dKH

You gotta know your uptake rates and dose accordingly

Been there...lost all that



.

Were you adding it in the ato? Bummer you had a bad outcome. The way I'm using it I'm not really chasing pH but raising it a small amount and increasing buffering capacity. The addition is well below uptake and the rest is balanced with 2 part.

I think using it in the ato is too variable for me to be comfortable.

 

[salty joe]

Bottom line is you need to keep a close eye on alk, especially when first using kalk. Maybe check alk a couple times a day at first.
I also dose kalk every hour. My evaporation is not consistent throughout the year, so my kalk dosage is about equal to my lowest seasonal evaporation rate. In my case, it's not enough to meet alk/Ca demand but it helps. I also get some much needed help with pH.
Kalk is very easy to use and is very helpful. Just watch the alk, especially at first.

How much help you get in terms of pH depends on how much kalk you can add and your alk determines that. I doubt you'll get to 8.2 pH with kalk alone but who knows, every tank is different.

 

[Jet915]

I started dosing kalk a few months ago and to me its been easy. I watched the BRS video, I add 1 teaspoon per gallon for my ATO reservoir since I have a mixed reef, so far all my parameters have been pretty stable. I can see my ATO pump going out sooner than later since it does create alot of residue but other than that Ive been happy with the outcome so far.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Good point. I think most in this thread are discussing in terms of alk/cal dosing. I think of the increased PH as a side benefit. You’re right though.....there are definite consequences of using Kalk to chase Ph. I would not do it.

IMO, using hydroxide is a great way to deal with low pH, whether it is from limewater/kalkwasser, or a DIY two part.

Like any alk additive, you just need to be sure you are not adding to much alkalinity.

 

[ZoWhat]

Like any alk additive, you just need to be sure you are not adding to much alkalinity.

I too watched the BRS vid about adding a teaspoon per gallon of TO-Water used..... in 4 weeks the SPS I did have, started to slowly die.

I tested my Alk (that was 9ish for months and months)....and it tested 14.x dKH !!!!

I wouldn't use Kalk if someone gave it to me for free and did all the work adding it.

Once bitten, twice shy



.

 

[sawdonkey]

I too watched the BRS vid about adding a teaspoon per gallon of TO-Water used..... in 4 weeks the SPS I did have, started to slowly die.

I tested my Alk (that was 9ish for months and months)....and it tested 14.x dKH !!!!

I wouldn't use Kalk if someone gave it to me for free and did all the work adding it.

Once bitten, twice shy



.

This is exactly what Kalk is supposed to do. You just failed to do in a measured way. You have to watch your alk closely (I test only once per week when I fill my ATO tank) and adjust your Kalk solution accordingly.

It’s really pretty simple. If your alk went down since your last test, make a slightly stronger solution than you did last time. This way, you’re slowly adjusting for changing evaporation rates and coral uptake rates.

 

[salty joe]

This is exactly what Kalk is supposed to do. You just failed to do in a measured way. You have to watch your alk closely (I test only once per week when I fill my ATO tank) and adjust your Kalk solution accordingly.

It’s really pretty simple. If your alk went down since your last test, make a slightly stronger solution than you did last time. This way, you’re slowly adjusting for changing evaporation rates and coral uptake rates.

IMO, saying never to kalk because of a bad experience that can be eliminated by monitoring alk doesn't make sense considering how useful it is.
IMO again, the best way to use kalk is a fully saturated solution and adjust dosage volume. I feel things are more consistent that way. More than one way to skin a cat, though.

 

[ZoWhat]

IMO, saying never to kalk because of a bad experience that can be eliminated by monitoring alk doesn't make sense considering how useful it is.

So kalk is easy but....
* I have to constantly monitor my dKH
* constantly adjust kalk dose due to varying uptake
* buy three $25 Salifert Alk test kits a year

Very easy and inexpensive for you but I dont see it....but that's my opinion



.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So kalk is easy but....
* I have to constantly monitor my dKH
* constantly adjust kalk dose due to varying uptake
* buy three $25 Salifert Alk test kits a year

Very easy and inexpensive for you but I dont see it....but that's my opinion
.

Each of those points relates exactly the same to any alk dosing system, right?

There's no way to avoid it.

 

[KStatefan]

So kalk is easy but....
* I have to constantly monitor my dKH
* constantly adjust kalk dose due to varying uptake
* buy three $25 Salifert Alk test kits a year

Very easy and inexpensive for you but I dont see it....but that's my opinion



.

What method do you use to maintain dKH?

 

[lapin]

What method do you use to maintain dKH?

Are we are now off the OP "how to chase ph" issue and onto how to maintain dKH? If so I use a calcium reactor. I still have to test for Alk.

 

[ZoWhat]

What method do you use to maintain dKH?

There's this new radical dosing method called.....

Water Changes



.

 

[Cory]

So kalk is easy but....
* I have to constantly monitor my dKH
* constantly adjust kalk dose due to varying uptake
* buy three $25 Salifert Alk test kits a year

Very easy and inexpensive for you but I dont see it....but that's my opinion



.

Uptake should be pretty consistent. I let mine drift up and down even though it might take months to change a lot. If it gets too high I lower the dose. Too low i raise it. Kalk is simple especially when it comes to calcium and alk demands.

 

[Potatohead]

There's this new radical dosing method called.....

Water Changes



.

If you can keep up demand with water changes (which is mathematically impossible over a long enough period of time) then you didn’t need the kalk in the first place.

It’s just like getting fat if you eat a lot and don’t burn enough calories.