Dosing and kalk drip

[Tab28]

I have been dripping kalk for years. My corals now require more than the kalk mix so have been manual dosing. Thinking of adding a dosing pump. Is there any thing about mixing a kalk drip with 2 part. Also can kalk be dosed through one of the pumps.

 

[Dre59]

Tagging along!

 

[Pete polyp]

Yes you can dose kalk though a dosing pump with great control. I think with the 2 part you will want to dose where it will mix well so the kalk won't precipitate. With a doser you can adjust the times at which each one will dose so this won't happen.

 

[jduck]

If you switch to dosing 2/3 part I would only use the kalk if you were having issues with low ph. And then I would only use the kalk at night in the ato. Running kalk through a pump or doser tends to gum it up from deposits. That is why a lot of the kalk stirrers pump rodi in and use a gravity drain.

 

[Tab28]

If you switch to dosing 2/3 part I would only use the kalk if you were having issues with low ph. And then I would only use the kalk at night in the ato. Running kalk through a pump or doser tends to gum it up from deposits. That is why a lot of the kalk stirrers pump rodi in and use a gravity drain.

The clogging i though would be the issue. I use my kalk drip as an ATO. It is set to drip gravity flow at about 1/2 gallon a day. I make 5 gallons a week in a vented sealed jug. So already setup that way. I am looking at 3 or 4 pump unit but i guess the 4th pump may not serve my needs then.

 

[mcarroll]

I have been dripping kalk for years. My corals now require more than the kalk mix so have been manual dosing. Thinking of adding a dosing pump. Is there any thing about mixing a kalk drip with 2 part. Also can kalk be dosed through one of the pumps.

I'd keep the kalk on your ATO pump vs setting up another doser head for it. (You would not run kalk through either of the heads you would use for two-part.)

Since you're already a kalk doser, consider adding vinegar to your kalkwasser to boost its output instead of adding two-part to your dosing! All of the pH and clogging issues (in fact, pretty much all the issues kalk has) go away when you do this.

Read this: kalkwasser

If your tank's consumption is really high like mine has been in the past, it may still make sense to run two-part as well as kalkwasser.

-Matt

 

[Tab28]

I'd keep the kalk on your ATO pump vs setting up another doser head for it. (You would not run kalk through either of the heads you would use for two-part.)

Since you're already a kalk doser, consider adding vinegar to your kalkwasser to boost its output instead of adding two-part to your dosing! All of the pH and clogging issues (in fact, pretty much all the issues kalk has) go away when you do this.

Read this: kalkwasser

If your tank's consumption is really high like mine has been in the past, it may still make sense to run two-part as well as kalkwasser.

-Matt

Thanks for info. Never heard of vinegar in kalk mix. Tried vodka dosing years ago but gave it up. May try this though. Was going to keep kalk drip since it is basically my ATO anyway and also 3 part dose.

The amount of vinegar is in question. Seen articles stating 45 ml per gallon which i think is just over an once. Which is almost a cup per the 5 gallons a week i use. Isn't that a lot. I see algae blooms in my future.

 

[mcarroll]

Thanks for info. Never heard of vinegar in kalk mix. Tried vodka dosing years ago but gave it up. May try this though. Was going to keep kalk drip since it is basically my ATO anyway and also 3 part dose.

The amount of vinegar is in question. Seen articles stating 45 ml per gallon which i think is just over an once. Which is almost a cup per the 5 gallons a week i use. Isn't that a lot. I see algae blooms in my future.

I thinkyou will love combining kalk+vinegar. Read the article...they explain what the chemically correct amount to dose is, as well as a conservative (lower) starting point if you're worried.

FWIW, I never had issues dosing at the chemically correct level, but getting into something new slowly is never a bad idea. Do what your gut tells you - it's all covered in that link.

-Matt