kalkwasser question

[jukboxx]

i have a aprox. 200 gal mixed reef setup (including main, sump & frag tank) i use 2 part right now but would like to start using kalk. i have a gravity fed ato w/ a kent float valve and was curious of any sugestions on how to acomplish this. can i just mix some in bucket and poor it in the ato container, just need some pointers on this, trying to keep this low maintanence and low cost.

 

[Mitchell]

I'm in the process of setting up a system. You might want to look into the Two Little Fishies stirrer BRS has them for like 65 bucks. I don't think you can just dump it in the water. It will settle at the bottom and be useless. You have to have it in a suspended state. The stirrers are best because they don't mix the Kawlk super hard like the old reactors did, requiring timers and stuff for pumps.

 

[Mitchell]

Two Little Fishies Kalkwasser Stirrer / Reactor 300 - English

 

[capt85]

Please don't use a normal float valve! I did and just about crashed my tank. Although you are using only the "clear" water from the kalk it will clog the valve and cause problems. I use a peralistic pump but you could also use a reactor or an automated top off like a JBJ.

What is your evaporation rate and would you consider it heavily stocked?

Welcome to the world of kalk!

 

[zemuss]

Capt,

I was going to hook this up in line with my ATO that I bought from BRS. I have the PRO ATO they sell and it works pretty good. Thoughts on setting this up? In a day i can lose about 1 gallon of water due to evaporation.

Z

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

You do not need a Kalk reactor (Stirrer.) Kalkwasser can be kept indefinitely in a still, tightly covered ATO container. Just make sure there is some extra, undissolved Kalk in the bottom of the bucket. After time, you may notice a hard "skin" (Calcium Carbonate) form on the top of the Kalk solution. This occurs when the Kalk solution is exposed to CO2 and creates a barrier that limits further degradation. For these reasons and the high pH, it's best to use a pump rather than constantly opening and closing the bucket to dose manually.

You dose only the clear liquid. I use a Osmolator and it works perfectly.

 

[capt85]

Zemuss, I didn't see one listed as just PRO ATO could you attach a link or tell me what type it is... peralistic pump?

Sorry I am doing this on my phone.

 

[zemuss]

Ok so if I put it in line after my pump on the ATO I should be ok? The only thing I am curious about is having a over dose?

So my setup would be Pump to Reactor to Sump when the ATO was triggered to pump water to the SUMP.

Any concerns with that setup? I also understand you don't want the water milky and using a Reactor would help prevent this, correct?

 

[zemuss]

My fault its called Reef Fanatic.

Reef Fanatic Level Controller w/2 Float Switches - English

 

[capt85]

I see no problem. And correct you don't want milky water being dosed, as long as it has time to settle you will be fine. Also I would start slow with how much kalk and ramp up over time.

You may not have enough evaporation to keep up with all your ALK and CAL needs but I enjoy how it works for me.

 

[capt85]

Yea that will work great. Put the pump about 1"-2" off the bottom and that will make sure you don't suck up the solid that settles.

 

[zemuss]

So for my current setup you see nothing wrong with my float sensors?

Any opinion on the ATO that i bought?

 

[capt85]

I see no problem at all. Only opinion I have is I want it .. my peralistic pump is a pain to get set right and I seem to have to adjust it every few months.

And because everyone likes pictures here is mine. I have been using kalk for about 8 months now.

 

[capt85]

Double post

 

[zemuss]

Cool! Okay so the only mod you might want to consider is the suction cup mod I did. Basically I bought to Mag Floats some Aquarium Silicon and glues the floats to the mag floats. I dont' trust suction cups, but do trust mag floats.

So I bought these: Mag-Float Magnet Cleaner (Glass)

They work well.

When I get my new sump for the new tank I am going to be adding the Kalk Reactor. I will do a write up of the entire system hopefully.

 

[jukboxx]

i would say i lose about 1.5 gallons a day, and i would say my tank is average when considering the amount of corals and frags that i have. probally around 30 or so in total

 

[capt85]

Then yea kalk would work well for you. Cheapest way would probably be buying an automated top off like a JBJ or what z bought.

Unless you have a controller.

 

[elblond]

I use a 10 gals open container, an ATO from AutoTopoff.com, and drip the Kalkawasser to refill my tank evaporation with an Aqualifter AW-20 with a valve to control the drops and works excellent.

 

[Devonjevon]

Ok here is the deal

1) You can not have a gravity feed ATO system and use kalksweiser in the ATO. You must let the kalk settle before dosing and all the impurities will settle to the bottom as a sludge. I am assuming that the bottom of the storage container has a hole in it so that water pours into your tank as needed. If so the impurities and sludge will be the first thing that pours in your tank. Not good

2) kalk stirrers are a good solution but they don't allow for hyper saturation techniques. ( i.e. adding vinegar to kalk mix to increase calcium saturation)

3)(my prior post)Don't forget when using kalksweiser either in ATO or Kalk stirrer that the water temp in your storage container stays consistent through out the year. This is really important with smaller tanks or tanks that have an ato directly in or near the main display. Fall or spring months are of special concern. During these months it's often cold in the mornings and hot in the afternoon. Last week in Nashville it was like 40 degree in morning and about 75+ in the afternoon. So if your auto top off doesn't have a heater or located in your crawl space like mine, you would be surprised at the ph difference. pH of calcium hydroxide and temp of the water are inversely proportionate. The pH is substantially higher at lower temperature. At your normal tank temp of 77 degrees. Fahrenheit the pH of normal (not super saturated) kalksweiser is 12.54. The pH of kalksweiser at 40 degrees is 13.1+
So with that said in an unregulated storage tank, The ph of kalksweiser last week (in Nashville ) would be 5.1 times higher in the morning then the afternoon.(if the math in my head is right) In our world stability is the key to a thriving reef tank. It is literally like going from adding something with ph of ammonia which is already hi (basic) to adding something with the ph of lye.

As a side note I hyper/super saturate my limewater with vinegar which helps in 2 ways. 1) Increases the amount of calcium hydroxide that can be dissolved per gallon 2) Reduce the pH
Main disadvantage. As with any carbon dosing possibility of algae bloom. 2) higher bacterial population can reduce oxygen levels.
I use a hyper saturated kalksweiser solution. 5 1/2 tablespoon( 15 teaspoons) to 5 gallon bucket and 1 cup ( actually 225 ml ) cheap distilled white vinegar.The vinegar allows more solid lime to dissolve into the limewater, and limits the maximum pH swing that the aquarium will attain. Drawbacks include the possibility that bacterial growth will be driven by the acetate in the vinegar. I started using hypersaturation when normal kalksweiser auto top off ( 1-2 teaspoon per gallon)was not keeping up with demand of corals. It can bridge the gap before you have to dose both kalksweiser and 2 part. Or a reactor.

The maximum u should ever dose kalksweiser at one time should be 0.25 % of your aquarium water volume! Any more than that will cause to much of a ph swing and should be gradually introduced. .25% is about 1 liter per 100 gallon saltwater volume. Since you have a 200 gallon tank you can dose 2 liters of supersaturated limewater all at once and should only receive a 0.1-0.2 bump in ph which is usually acceptable. ( occurs at night in most of our aquarium). But with that said DONT DOSE THAT MUCH AND PUSH IT
4) Since you have a large water volume I wouldn't spend very much on an expensive pump peristaltic or doser. You have alot of room to play with. I have a 150 gallon total volume and I use a maxijet and a ball valve to slow the flow down . They can be turned off and on alot with no damage.
5) I would invest in a quality I repeat quality ATO valve. I hate float switches and you will to after your switch fails. There are many optical or solid state switches
6) open containers are not recommended because exposure to CO2 speed the formation of calcium carbonate which can be used. Do not put a circulation pump in in your storage container
Ok I typed to much I'm sure I left something out.

 

[capt85]

Great read!