Dosing Kalk in 10 gal IM fusion

[agfish12]

So my salt mixes to about 320 fresh mix and I've been using Instant ocean salt mix. I want my calcium to be closer to 400 so I'm contemplating dosing my ATO water with Kalk. There is only about 6.5 to 7 actual gallons of water in the tank.

Any recommendations for how much Kalk to add to my one gallon ATO reservoir? I obviously want to raise the calcium slowly so I don't swing my all to quick or raise my PH too much. Thanks !

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Limewater (kalkwasser) is not a suitable way to boost calcium.

If you boosted calcium with it by 100 ppm, alkalinity would rise by 14 dKH and pH would be quite high even if added very slowly.

You need calcium chloride to boost calcium like this.

That said, IO has way higher calcium than that if made to 35 ppt salinity (sg = 1.0264).

Perhaps you are making it fairly weak, or your calcium testing is off???

 

[agfish12]

Is there a brand of calcium chloride you suggest? I'll test my fresh salt again tonight. I can use Kalk to maintain it once I get the desired level correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, you can maintain calcium and alkalinity with limewater.

Most hobby or DIY food grade or pharmaceutical grades of calcium chloride are fine.