Kalkwasser
- Thread starter 36boo
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Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
^^^^ correct^^^^^
Testing is the key here before adding.
If the loss of CAL and ALK just can be replaced by weekly WC than dosing isn't a option yet.
If you come to a point that you can't bring the # back to the level you desire on your tank we start thinking about dosing the two, either by two part or through the ATO and you have a option to use a Calcium reactor.
Make sure if you do it through the ATO that you have a small pump in there that at least will pop on every other hour to keep your Kalkwasser mixed as it will settle on the bottom.
Testing is the key here before adding.
If the loss of CAL and ALK just can be replaced by weekly WC than dosing isn't a option yet.
If you come to a point that you can't bring the # back to the level you desire on your tank we start thinking about dosing the two, either by two part or through the ATO and you have a option to use a Calcium reactor.
Make sure if you do it through the ATO that you have a small pump in there that at least will pop on every other hour to keep your Kalkwasser mixed as it will settle on the bottom.
OP
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36boo
Active Member
Thank you I'll test before and after to check the levels
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36boo
Active Member
I mix it and let it settle for several hours for a start dripping it what airline tube at night only I need to check before and after
Testing before & after is the only way to find the "sweet spot" for your particular situation. For example, dosing 1/2 teaspoon of kalk per night keeps my 29 gal frag tank right at 9 dKH for alkalinity and just barely raises the calcium. However, if I were to add or remove any corals demand would change, so dosage would have to change accordingly.
reeferfoxx
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Are you dosing kalk for dKH or calcium? Or are you supplimenting any calcium?Testing before & after is the only way to find the "sweet spot" for your particular situation. For example, dosing 1/2 teaspoon of kalk per night keeps my 29 gal frag tank right at 9 dKH for alkalinity and just barely raises the calcium. However, if I were to add or remove any corals demand would change, so dosage would have to change accordingly.
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36boo
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how much evaporation do you have on your 29 gallon a day
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36boo
Active Member
Try to get my calcium up but should I just work trying to get where I need to be before I dose kalkwasser
I have the same tank and I have had some kalk sitting for a couple of days.
From what I understand, the kalk will only maintain. You need to get parameters correct.
In my situation, my alkalinity runs high and my calcium runs low. From what I understand, the key to it is my magnesium.
All analogies fail, but think of magnesium as a carburetor with alkalinity and calcium being the air and the fuel. Tweaking the magnesium will adjust the ratio. My calcium is running about 380, my alkalinity about 12-13. My magnesium is about 1240. I am slowly raising it up to about 1350 and monitoring the other two. This should cause calcium to rise and alkalinity to fall. When I can get alkalinity down and calcium consistently over 400, I will start dripping, but not before.
There are a *ton* more experienced reef chemists on here, but this is my understanding of it and since we are in similar situations with similar tanks, I thought I would chime in.
From what I understand, the kalk will only maintain. You need to get parameters correct.
In my situation, my alkalinity runs high and my calcium runs low. From what I understand, the key to it is my magnesium.
All analogies fail, but think of magnesium as a carburetor with alkalinity and calcium being the air and the fuel. Tweaking the magnesium will adjust the ratio. My calcium is running about 380, my alkalinity about 12-13. My magnesium is about 1240. I am slowly raising it up to about 1350 and monitoring the other two. This should cause calcium to rise and alkalinity to fall. When I can get alkalinity down and calcium consistently over 400, I will start dripping, but not before.
There are a *ton* more experienced reef chemists on here, but this is my understanding of it and since we are in similar situations with similar tanks, I thought I would chime in.
If I dose 1/2 teaspoon of kalk (every night) to keep up with the (almost) 1/2 gallon daily evaporation, that keeps both my alk & cal right where they need to be without any additional supplementation. Calcium sees a slight boost but its not much to speak of. But this 29 gal is loaded with corals (especially LPS) at the moment, as it is serving as my "Noah's Ark" tank until I setup another large reef.
So, the coral bioload in your 36 may be significantly less and if so, you may need to dose less kalk to maintain your parameters. The poster above me is also absolutely correct about magnesium - that should be kept between 1250-1350 ppm at all times to balance out your alk & cal.More info here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/
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36boo
Active Member
Thank you so much all ya been helpful
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36boo
Active Member
I don't know if I have that much evaporation so what can I do. I have a hob protein skimmer two power heads facing each other and never took my hob filter off and it running
Dose 1/2 teaspoon of kalk in however much water you do evaporate on a daily basis. It doesn't have to be in 1/2 gallon of water to dissolve; it can be less.
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36boo
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You have a pic of your set up and what all have going sorry for all the questions
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36boo
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How big is the bottom picHaven't taken a pic in awhile (with all the corals) but this is how it basically looks:
It now has frags of most of these corals in it:
bubbaque
Follow me on Instagram @ Bubbaquecorals
When you say you don't really need to dose anything if you can replace your consumption with weekly water changes, I have a question. Say my alk is at 9 dkh on Sunday and it drops to 7.5 dkh by next Sunday without dosing anything but when I do my water change with higher alk to bring it back up to 9 dkh, is that okay? Or is it to much of a dramatic change?
