Easiest way to dose ca and alk

[Murica]

I currently run kalk which keeps my levels fairly stable, but I'm getting tired of constantly refilling my drip and mixing the kalk up. Is dosing two part easier? Are there any set it and forget it methods?

 

[theMeat]

After years of dosing 2 part, and now years of kalk. Imo kalk is easier, cheaper, helps ph, and more stable. Mix a weeks worth for ato and forget till next week. Does dosing and top off. Done

 

[joseserrano]

Doser

 

[Flippers4pups]

I currently run kalk which keeps my levels fairly stable, but I'm getting tired of constantly refilling my drip and mixing the kalk up. Is dosing two part easier? Are there any set it and forget it methods?

Have you tried putting it in a ATO reservoir?

Yes 2 part can come premixed, but requires dosing.

The easiest way to supplement them is a calcium reactor. Pretty much set and let run. Occasionally checking pH and effluent drip or rate.

 

[Murica]

I actually drip it out of a five gallon glass beer carboy. Works well, but just a pain to constantly fill it up with rodi, since it feels like it takes forever

 

[Flippers4pups]

I actually drip it out of a five gallon glass beer carboy. Works well, but just a pain to constantly fill it up with rodi, since it feels like it takes forever

If you have the room, fill a larger container with RO/DI water and that way you have the water when needed. Yes that means two containers, but if large enough you can have enough for water changes and your Kalkwasser dosing.

 

[Murica]

Can you dose a certain amount of kalk every day or does it have to be a drip? I have enough water volume that there wouldn't be a huge ph swing

 

[theMeat]

Can you dose a certain amount of kalk every day or does it have to be a drip? I have enough water volume that there wouldn't be a huge ph swing

Far as I know you can only add kalk saturated water, not kalk itself

 

[Murica]

Far as I know you can only add kalk saturated water, not kalk itself

Sorry I should have been more specific, will adding doses of kalk water be as effective as a drip?

 

[theMeat]

Mine gets dosed via automatic auto top off 2, maybe three times a day. Know tanks that dose the same way, except don’t only get dosed each day or two.
Many variables, evap rate, tank size, etc, if I had to guesstimate would say each day is fine. More than every day and a half, two, probably not good, certainly not as good

 

[vetteguy53081]

Dosing unit is the way to go. Allows you to regulate:
m/l per day
frequency of dosing
type of additives to dose

Calcium reactor is perfect but costly

 

[McGene]

When using kalk in your ATO — I’ve read that the pumps can really become a mess. Currently I’m using an aqua lifter in my small JBJ45. I sorta made my own top off with a dual switch that operates the pump. When the pump operates it’s really just dripping the ro/is water. So that should work well with kalk (I think).
Any comments on the pump issue? I’d really like to try this but really concerned about the pump and over dosing.

 

[Ammocan]

Use a kalk reactor. It is the best way and most stable. Dose nopox and that’s it

 

[Ammocan]

Use a kalk reactor. It is the best way and most stable. Dose nopox and that’s it

 

[SteadyC]

I've been using kalk for a while, adding in many ways, kalk reactor is what I'm using now, so easy, I add kalk to it twice a month.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Here is how I run my @AVAST Marine Kalk Stirrer and how I have it all hooked up to my saltwater mixing station. First I bought the K1 model #kalkwasser Stirrer for my new up and coming SCA 150 Rimless build. I just got rid of my TINZE 3155 ATO system! I wanted something a little different so I can transfer water from my saltwater mixing station which sits about 50 ft from From my display tank to my mixing station. I want to be able to push water at least 50 feet, so I ended up going with a @AVAST Marine ATO system w/ a Diaphragm pump. The main reason why I wanted a diaphragm pump b/c it's an excellent choice for automatic top-off duty. Unlike other diaphragm pumps available, this little powerhouse can push water to 60psi (~130ft high). It can also safely run dry, unlike conventional powerheads. It is quiet and runs on 12v DC power. The flow rate is approximately 400mL/min, but note that it is not rated for continuous duty nor saltwater applications. This means for intermittent use (as in ATO usage) it is great, but @AVAST Marine does not recommend it for use as a calcium reactor feed pump, for example. What I mainly am going to use it for is to be used in conjunction with a #kalkwasser stirrer, but only to push fresh water into the stirrer & into my Sump. @AVAST Marine does not recommend pulling kalkwasser through the pump, as it may shorten the life of the rubber diaphragms. Everything is on #TITIAN timer that BRS sells which I have it set on the reverse cycle of my lighting. I have the #TITAN timer set to come on ones every two hours for 15 minutes and it kicks off and works perfectly!!! Calcium Reactor will be my next big purchase and I will most likely go with either an Ultra Reef Calcium Reactor or a Geo Reef 612 reactor ones I am ready to start adding SPS corals is when I will start shopping around for one.

Here is how I will run my Kalk Stirrer w/ my Avast Diaphragm pump

Titan Timer

@AVAST Marine - K1 kalkwasser Stiererr including a @AVAST Marine - Diaphragm pump:

 

[hbrochs]

I’m not a fan of Kalkwasser in the ATO, it kills the pump, fair amount of effort, and if something goes wrong and too much ATO goes in then you get Alk spike which is bad.
I have a Kalkstirrer. I put about three months of powder into the stirrer and there is a plastic encased magnetic rod in the bottom. It stirs on a timer four times a day. The outflow is drawn from the top of the stirrer where there is saturated Kalkwasser. I dose about a gallon a day broken up into small parts throughout the day. I use a Litermeter pump to push the water. No mechanical parts come into contact with the Kalkwasser. This accounts for about 90% of my daily evaporation, and I have a separate ATO to account for the last bit of top off.
I only have to fill my ATO reservoir like once a month because of the Kalkwasser.

 

[hbrochs]

Kalkstirrer gets filled every three months.

 

[PhreeByrd]

I've done kalkvasser, 2-part, and used a Ca reactor (at different times). I really think that what works best for you depends on the size and demands of your system.

For a smaller system, dripping kalk is good, although I found the mixing and constant refilling a chore. If you dose via top-off water, unless you mix a very weak solution in your ATO reservoir, you'll end up with a lot of precipitate that could eventually clog things up; it's also a very hit-or-miss approach. I never did use a kalk reactor because I wasn't that into the whole kalk thing. I did use a medical peristaltic pump (eBay) and IV bags, which made it easier. Adding kalkvasser helps support the system alkalinity, but does not add any carbonates, so you may still need to do that. For me, kalkvasser was very low cost, but high maintenance.

A Ca reactor is great for a larger system. Once dialed in, it's very low maintenance and keeps everything very steady. Highest initial cost, but lowest maintenance cost, IME. Since it dissolves actual coral skeletons as its source of Ca, it also replenishes alkalinity and at least some trace elements at a near-natural balance. Set it and forget it, yes, pretty much.

2-part dosing is great for a medium-sized system. A good dosing pump makes things very hassle-free except for refilling your additive containers from time to time. The dosing pump really isn't necessary, but it sure makes life easy. You could spend almost as much on 2-part as you would on a Ca reactor though, especially over the long term. Mixing your own solutions (BRS, for example) can reduce the costs significantly. For me, this is also very much a set it and forget it method. I only test for Ca and alk every 2-3 weeks, and only occasionally need to make small corrections to stay on target.

Those have been my experiences, at least. I think the first step should be to figure out exactly how much Ca and alkalinity your system is consuming each day. Once you have those figures, you'll know just how much supplementation you'll need, and it will be easier to decide on the best approach.

 

[TexasTodd]

OP, how large is your system?
I prefer a 24/7 kalk drip but I do it with a chemical dosing pump. But, I also use another pump to constantly mix my 60g kalkwasser container (with lid). I can adjust the concentration up as needed. You CAN go above the 2tsp per gallon and it still works as it's suspended. I've now done this on two systems. The first pump I used was discontinued so had to find another this time. Found it from Stenner.