Kalkwasser or two part for me?

red reef · Oct 9, 2015

This is how I dose Kalk. I have a 5 gal jug that I mix in 8 teaspoons of Kalk, from bulk reef supply and I have a 50milliliter per hour dosing pump also from bulk reef the pump is controlled by my apex controller. right now I have it set to run for 3 minute every hour. my top off water is gravity feed, controlled by a simple float switch in the sump. I found that for some reason my evaporation rate varied a lot from day to day so by adding my kalk the way I do I am able to control it very easily, and it is like adding 5 gals of water towards my top off.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 9, 2015

red reef said:
This is how I dose Kalk. I have a 5 gal jug that I mix in 8 teaspoons of Kalk, from bulk reef supply and I have a 50milliliter per hour dosing pump also from bulk reef the pump is controlled by my apex controller. right now I have it set to run for 3 minute every hour. my top off water is gravity feed, controlled by a simple float switch in the sump. I found that for some reason my evaporation rate varied a lot from day to day so by adding my kalk the way I do I am able to control it very easily, and it is like adding 5 gals of water towards my top off.

That's certainly a fine way to go.

Jizu Puentes · Oct 9, 2015

red reef said:
This is how I dose Kalk. I have a 5 gal jug that I mix in 8 teaspoons of Kalk, from bulk reef supply and I have a 50milliliter per hour dosing pump also from bulk reef the pump is controlled by my apex controller. right now I have it set to run for 3 minute every hour. my top off water is gravity feed, controlled by a simple float switch in the sump. I found that for some reason my evaporation rate varied a lot from day to day so by adding my kalk the way I do I am able to control it very easily, and it is like adding 5 gals of water towards my top off.

You said that your evaporation rate varies so is it possible for your evaporated rate to slow one day but the 3 min an hour of kalk keeps the float switch from activating and causing the tank to not get enough ro water?

red reef · Oct 9, 2015

I mix the kalk in RO water so all total my tank receives the right amount. I use the kalk water on a dosser to give me exactly what I need to keep my ALK and Cal at the right level.

Ryan15236 · Oct 9, 2015

So I will be fine adding directly to the RO water the calcium hydroxide in whatever quanity needed to keep up with the corals' needs? Any other tips for using kalk? Heard something like make sure ATO pump isn't getting water from the bottom of the container because of precipitates or something?

red reef · Oct 10, 2015

Ryan15236 said:
So I will be fine adding directly to the RO water the calcium hydroxide in whatever quanity needed to keep up with the corals' needs? Any other tips for using kalk? Heard something like make sure ATO pump isn't getting water from the bottom of the container because of precipitates or something?

that is the idea, happy reefing

Ryan15236 · Oct 10, 2015

When I need to refill the reservoir can I just add fresh solution into it? Or do I need to take the whole reservoir out and dump it out and clean it to get the solids on the bottom and they solid layer on too out?

red reef · Oct 10, 2015

Ryan15236 said:
When I need to refill the reservoir can I just add fresh solution into it? Or do I need to take the whole reservoir out and dump it out and clean it to get the solids on the bottom and they solid layer on too out?

cleaning it out would be best if you build up a sediment on the bottom. that is one of the other reasons I do mine the way I do, my top off tank is plumbed into my sump and would be a pain to take out and clean every 5 days or so.

Ryan15236 · Oct 10, 2015

Luckily my reservoir is just a plastic dog food container that comes in and out very easily. I placed it right in front on the door so it basically slides in and out. Could I add a little more water too it to make it two last weeks so I can just clean it out every two weeks when I do water changes and clean my skimmer? The 8 gallons gets me about 7-8 days. So then could I add 4-6 gallons to get me to water change and maintenance day? Or should I really go ahead clean it out and not stir up the impurities and sediments?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 10, 2015

Ryan15236 said:
So I will be fine adding directly to the RO water the calcium hydroxide in whatever quanity needed to keep up with the corals' needs? Any other tips for using kalk? Heard something like make sure ATO pump isn't getting water from the bottom of the container because of precipitates or something?

Yes, based on alkalinity (not calcium) since it responds far faster to over or under dosing than does calcium.

You don't want to suck up the solid settled calcium hydroxide as that will could add way to much calcium hydroxide and boost the pH sky high.

But if you are added considerably less than saturation, there won't be much of this material remaining.

moreef · Oct 10, 2015

Why don't you just connect a kalk stirrer to your ato. Avast Marine makes a nice one and you can save $$ by building one yourself it's really easy.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 10, 2015

Ryan15236 said:
When I need to refill the reservoir can I just add fresh solution into it? Or do I need to take the whole reservoir out and dump it out and clean it to get the solids on the bottom and they solid layer on too out?

I haven't cleaned mine for years. The solids do not hurt anything if you leave them in place. They may even help purify the water from things like copper by precipitating them onto the calcium carbonate surfaces (I showed this in one article).

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 10, 2015

1eberk said:
Why don't you just connect a kalk stirrer to your ato. Avast Marine makes a nice one and you can save $$ by building one yourself it's really easy.

Why is that an advantage over dosing from a settled reservoir?

I prefer dosing from a settled reservoir. It is much easier to control the potency that way and I can be sure the solids settle out properly.

moreef · Oct 10, 2015

I just thought a stirrer made things easier maintenance wise as far as adding kalk less often.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 10, 2015

1eberk said:
I just thought a stirrer made things easier maintenance wise as far as adding kalk less often.

How often do you add it? I make up a months worth of water at a time (132 gallons).

Ryan15236 · Oct 10, 2015

Ok so test alkalinity over a weeks time or so and see the rate of depletion. Figure out potency needed? Maybe start with 2tsp for the whole 8 gallons. Then maybe put a lid upside down and sit the ATO pump in it so doesn't suck anything straight from the bottom. Then I guess just monitor pH, alkalinity, and calcium. Clean reservoir when needed? About it?

moreef · Oct 10, 2015

I only used mine a few months and had to take tank down for a move out of state. Also I was worried I wouldn't do it right and crash my tank so I didn't add much to the stirrer.

moreef · Oct 10, 2015

btw I decided to use kalk after reading your article. Your articles and advice has been HUGE for me sir Thank You

red reef · Oct 10, 2015

Yes, Kalk is a wonderful thing.

Ryan15236 · Oct 10, 2015

Should I be worried about my pH? My pH this morning when the actinics were on was 8.4...will kalk push it to high? My tank has heavy surface agitation and the the durso standpipes mix in a ton of air in the overflow. I can reduce surface agitation if that will help but stuck with the dursos