Kalkwasser Dosing

[gcrawford]

Does anyone here dose Kalk? I've been doing some research on it and it seems like a cost effective way to keep up with alk, cal and ph. I ordered a kalk kit from BRS last year which comes with alk, mag and cal to get things in the correct zone before going to kalk. I've been keeping parameters as directed and have began the slow drip method for the kalk using a gravity feed method with slow dripping at night - maybe one drop per second. My ph has slowly risen to around 8.3 and I'm watching it like a hawk as I don't want to have a spike.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone locally doses or uses a nilsen reactor, kalk reactor or stirrer and if so what works for you and would be recommended. It's pretty interesting researching these - some of which are DIY.

Thanks,

-g

 

[watdachuck]

I dose via my AUTO system which drips it in through a dosing pump very slowly. The trick is knowing how much to add to your ATO based on the evaporation rate and Ca consumption of your tank. Other than that All rocks!!

 

[gcrawford]

Thanks! I was considering marrying my Tunze osmolator to a kalk stirrer.

 

[beaslbob]

I used the diy two part system and recommend that.

But for top off I did add a teaspoon of Mrs Wages pickling lime.

So I guess I used both systems.

 

[gcrawford]

Yes, I'm using BRS 2 part now, which may be easier than mixing kalk every other day. Funny how there seems to be a trade off for any change I make. For 2 part I mix cup fulls of calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate with RO and dose small amounts. For kalk I mix small amounts of calcium hydroxide with RO and dose gallons per week.... Hence the invention of the Nilsen reactor I guess. seems I'm walking up and down the hall all the time!

 

[ChrisKey]

I am currently using the 2 part system for my 360 gallon system. It costs me about $5 per month on my mixed reef tank. I thought about switching to a calcium reactor but for now I plan to stick with the 2 part until a large system upgrade on the reef tank.

I am currently mixing mine every month (1 gallon each month), but I am about to premix a 5 gallon bucket of calcium (Prestone Driveway Heat) and a 5 gallon bucket of alk (baked baking soda) and keep them as reserves to just fill up my dosing containers. This will save me time each month. If I get super spunky, I may even get two separate 20g food grade containers and mix them in it. Then I can put a hose barb on it and have a really quick fill up station for my 2-part.

 

[gcrawford]

Wow, I've got to look up Prestone Driveway Heat. That sounds totally toxic, but I know you research everything thoroughly, so should be safe. Anything special you have to do with it - different than aquarium grade calcium chloride?

 

[gcrawford]

Chris,

I saw these on another post and thought they looked awesome. Might work for you...

 

[aslmx]

I think the best way is in ato. Teaspoon a gallon of Mrs wages. Evaporation is not really enough to worry about. Mr.saltwater did a video on it with some good info.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I use a calcium reactor and food grade calcium hydroxide (same as picking lime) in ATO on my 180. My reactor keeps the calcium and alkalinity where they should be and a small amount of CaOH in my top off water keeps the pH from going too low (I just add some lime when I fill the ATO reservoir once a week.) 2 part dosing seems like too much work to me. If I get a controller, I can automate the periodic CO2 monitoring/adjustment like Harry does.

I bought the food grade CaOH from Brenntag in Madison for something like $11.00 for 50 lbs many years ago, and I am still using the same bag since 2006 (have not run out of it.) A welding shop in Decatur charges almost $9.00 for the refill of a 20 lbs CO2 cylinder (which lasts more than a year). The annual running cost is very low. I bought a filled 20 lbs cylinder for $70 and a dual gauge regulator for $30. The welding shop simply swap my cylinder with another tested and certified filled cylinder every time (no charge for testing and certifying.) You can DIY a calcium reactor like Harry did or 8Ball did for me using a whole-house water filter canister for cheap.

 

[ChrisKey]

I use the bubble magus dosing pump with the 5L containers, similar to what you have in that picture. It is completely automated to dose every 2 hours, alternating calcium and alk. I am sure the calcium reactor is more precise and probably better, but I have lower pH and this keeps it between 8.0-8.3 now. But Tomoko has a good system with the lime in the ATO.

 

[gcrawford]

Very nice.... I need a sump room for all these items. There's just not enough room under the tank. Next question, how do I go about taking over the closet on my daughter's room? It's right behind the tank... ; ) she is 22 and should understand...

 

[ChrisKey]

Easier to ask forgiveness than get permission.

 

[H@rry]

she is 22 and should understand...

Good Luck!! :look_down:

 

[beaslbob]

Wow, I've got to look up Prestone Driveway Heat. That sounds totally toxic, but I know you research everything thoroughly, so should be safe. Anything special you have to do with it - different than aquarium grade calcium chloride?

FWIW ~5 years ago I found cal-chlor (or something like that) at sherman concrete off of palmer in madison. That is anhydrous (92-94%) calcium chloride. It was like $8 for a 25 pound bag.

(They looked at this wierd guy with a suv amonst all the cement tracks and asked what I needed it for. I said for saltwater aquariums and the guy just gave me a bag. Kinda hard to beat free. Plus it was good stuff)

 

[gcrawford]

Wow, very cheap! Thanks for the suggestion!

-g