Kalkwasser & trace elements

[Tmmste]

Dear all,

I have been using kalkwasser for some time. Here in Holland the use of kalkwasser is considered outdated.. newer methods like dymico & dsr are used more and more. I prefer kalkwasser though for many reasons. I wondered if anyone can help me with dosing trace elements combined with kalkwasser. I have some grotech ABCM & balling light trace elements.. Is it possible to.. for example.. dose 5ml of grotech ABCM for every teaspoon of calciumhydroxide.. of maybe for every 2, 3 of 4 teaspoons. Ofcourse not mixing in with kalkwasser but adding manually to the aquarium ever time I mix up a new batch. Currently I am adding 1 teaspoon of calciumhydroxide & 15ml vinegar per 4l rodi water. Kalkwasser is doses via a dosing pump (bad experiences with top-off unit) +- 3000 to 3200 ml evaporation per day.
I usually make 20 liters kalkwasser.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure how it is outdated as a method of adding calcium and alk, especially in situations where a pH boost is useful since no method can do better, and most are half as effective or less. But I agree that other methods also work well and many folks now prefer using two part systems with dosing pumps.

In terms of the amount of trace elements added, that is an area of widely varying opinions. I'm also not sure it is really tied to calcium and alk consumption since many organisms take up trace elements and have no impact on calcium or alkalinity (micro- and macroalgae, soft corals, etc.).

 

[Tmmste]

I'm not sure how it is outdated as a method of adding calcium and alk, especially in situations where a pH boost is useful since no method can do better, and most are half as effective or less. But I agree that other methods also work well and many folks now prefer using two part systems with dosing pumps.

In terms of the amount of trace elements added, that is an area of widely varying opinions. I'm also not sure it is really tied to calcium and alk consumption since many organisms take up trace elements and have no impact on calcium or alkalinity (micro- and macroalgae, soft corals, etc.).

Dear Randy,

Thank you for your quick reply! Maybe a small waterchange every two weeks or so would do.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It might. There are a lot of different opinions on trace elements.

I know that iron can sometimes help with macroalgae. Other trace elements may or may not be useful depending on your situation.

Sorry I cannot be more specific on what is optimal.

 

[Tmmste]

It might. There are a lot of different opinions on trace elements.

I know that iron can sometimes help with macroalgae. Other trace elements may or may not be useful depending on your situation.

Sorry I cannot be more specific on what is optimal.

I guess I will have to be a guinea pig. I will be using blue treasure seasalt and add 5ml of each solution (A, B, C, M) when I do a waterchange. The recommended dose is many times higher, so I guess this is on the safe side. Thank you for your input.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Let us know what you find.

 

[Tmmste]

Let us know what you find.

I will [emoji1]! Maybe you can develop some kind of a guideline in the course of time? I would like to see some more articles on how to keep rock steady water parameters with kalkwasser [emoji16] (e.g. when kh/ca remain stable with x tablespoons of kalkwasser.. recommended mg dosage is x per 10 teaspoons and x of brand x trace elements). I do not know to what extend this is possible.. as it may also depend on how much vinegar is used.

My way of dosing kalkwasser.