heliguy71
Active Member
hi i am new to this so what is the best way to dose kalkwasser i want to put it in a 5 gallon pail with my auto top off how should i go about doing this.
thanks mike:smile:
thanks mike:smile:
kalkwasser
- Thread starter heliguy71
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Hmm.. Lot's of answers to that question but the right answer is based on your set up, ca/alk demand, intent for dosing the kalk (I"m assuming to maintain a higher pH), current freshwater top off method, etc....
Here are some more articles:
Chemistry and the Aquarium
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
The Degradation of Limewater in Air by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
Chemistry and the Aquarium
The most common method of kalk dosing is to mix in a specific amount into your freshwater top off and dose it over a period of time (ideally 24/7 but many dose kalk overnight since pH values are ususally lowest at night). Keep in mind that kalk is at max concentration when you mix 2 teaspoons per gallon of water (the concentration can be increased by adding vinegar to the solution but that's not a good practice to start out with). Kalk can be mixed as lightly as you want but the potency of the solution is maxed out at 2 tsp/gallon. In order to help you determine the best starting dose we would need to know your current alk/ca supplementation methods and dosing amounts. If your just starting a ca/alk supplementation regimen then I would suggest the following:
1) calculate your total 24 hour evaporation amount (how much fresh water do you add daily to maintain salinity at a stable reading).
2) mix a solution of kalk starting with a ratio of 1/4th teaspoon (not tablespoon) per gallon of water.
3) Use your kalk solution in replacement for your daily fresh water top off.
4) Don't dose it all at once!!! Dose it over at least 12 hours and ideally over 24 hrs. Dosing it all at once will likely cause a major precipitation event and spike your pH high enough to kill most living animals in your tank.
5) Monitor your alk level daily. Daily monitoring as your getting a concentration dialed in is vital. It can save you lots of headaches as well as helping to prevent major shifts in alk levels. If after a few days you notice your alk is slowly dropping then increase the concentration of the kalk solution. If your alk is slowly raising then slightly decrease the kalk concentration. Knowing your current method of supplementation and daily alk uptake will help us guide you to a proper starting dosing regimen that will help prevent any quick changes in alk. Fast changes in alk is often detrimental to stony corals. If your starting with your ca at an acceptable range then there is really no need to monitor ca as frequently as alk (if your using kalk as your sole means of ca/alk supplementation). Kalk replenishes ca and alk at the same ratio that reef inhabitants utilize it. Generally if alk moves 1dkh up or down then ca will follow it up or down by a value of approx 20 ppm. If your alk is kept steady at a certain value, and kalk is the only means of ca/alk supplementation, then your ca will stay steady as well (there are a few odd scenarios that can cause an imbalance in ca and alk when dosing kalk but they are very rare occurrences and very unlikely to be an issue for you). I personally do check ca once a month just to be sure everything is still in line.
Since I don't know your method of top off, tank volume, current method of ca/alk supplementation, or the daily alk consumption rate I can't give much more advice than that for now.
Jeremy
Here are some more articles:
Chemistry and the Aquarium
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
The Degradation of Limewater in Air by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
Chemistry and the Aquarium
The most common method of kalk dosing is to mix in a specific amount into your freshwater top off and dose it over a period of time (ideally 24/7 but many dose kalk overnight since pH values are ususally lowest at night). Keep in mind that kalk is at max concentration when you mix 2 teaspoons per gallon of water (the concentration can be increased by adding vinegar to the solution but that's not a good practice to start out with). Kalk can be mixed as lightly as you want but the potency of the solution is maxed out at 2 tsp/gallon. In order to help you determine the best starting dose we would need to know your current alk/ca supplementation methods and dosing amounts. If your just starting a ca/alk supplementation regimen then I would suggest the following:
1) calculate your total 24 hour evaporation amount (how much fresh water do you add daily to maintain salinity at a stable reading).
2) mix a solution of kalk starting with a ratio of 1/4th teaspoon (not tablespoon) per gallon of water.
3) Use your kalk solution in replacement for your daily fresh water top off.
4) Don't dose it all at once!!! Dose it over at least 12 hours and ideally over 24 hrs. Dosing it all at once will likely cause a major precipitation event and spike your pH high enough to kill most living animals in your tank.
5) Monitor your alk level daily. Daily monitoring as your getting a concentration dialed in is vital. It can save you lots of headaches as well as helping to prevent major shifts in alk levels. If after a few days you notice your alk is slowly dropping then increase the concentration of the kalk solution. If your alk is slowly raising then slightly decrease the kalk concentration. Knowing your current method of supplementation and daily alk uptake will help us guide you to a proper starting dosing regimen that will help prevent any quick changes in alk. Fast changes in alk is often detrimental to stony corals. If your starting with your ca at an acceptable range then there is really no need to monitor ca as frequently as alk (if your using kalk as your sole means of ca/alk supplementation). Kalk replenishes ca and alk at the same ratio that reef inhabitants utilize it. Generally if alk moves 1dkh up or down then ca will follow it up or down by a value of approx 20 ppm. If your alk is kept steady at a certain value, and kalk is the only means of ca/alk supplementation, then your ca will stay steady as well (there are a few odd scenarios that can cause an imbalance in ca and alk when dosing kalk but they are very rare occurrences and very unlikely to be an issue for you). I personally do check ca once a month just to be sure everything is still in line.
Since I don't know your method of top off, tank volume, current method of ca/alk supplementation, or the daily alk consumption rate I can't give much more advice than that for now.
Jeremy
three fish
Community Member
Excellent info. I will be using Kalkwasser in my system and your links really explain things.
I am thinking about a gravity feed through a float valve and was wondering if the kalk will clogg the feed line quickly. Any tips around this?
I am thinking about a gravity feed through a float valve and was wondering if the kalk will clogg the feed line quickly. Any tips around this?
Fishcrazy06
Reefing Addict
I use to dose Kalk into my system this way. It won't really clog the line so much as where it drips from the float valve into the tank....however, Be careful going this way as I had stuff in my sump and it got pushed up against the valve opening it up and not letting close and saturated my tank with Kalk.
I use something similar to a float valve, but it is an air pressure sensor of some kind. when it isn't blocked by water, it will turn on the outlet connected to it. in order to guard against over flows I only have the outlet activated for 1 minute once an hour via a digital timer. so even if it gets plugged, stuck, etc, I won't get a massive overdose. I used to just have the float and did have a overdose once. haven't had an issue with the current setup.
I elevate a 5 gal. bucket, and drip the whole thing in about 2-3 hours.
I do this every 2 days. It is my top off rutine.
I do this every 2 days. It is my top off rutine.
Last edited:
Bri Guy
Active Member
I, like Bill, have mine turn on for 1min every hour, maybe doses 1/2 cup at a time, and Ive been using the same aqualifter for about 3 1/2 yrs, I just flush it with hot water every once in awhile.
Yes using kalk though a float valve will cause some pluggage. Thats why I stopped doing it that way and now just use the aqua lifter. Also having evaporation decide on how much to dose isn't recommended. Evaporation can fluctuate and so would your dosing, when really you want to find your tanks usage and match your dosing to that.
Yes using kalk though a float valve will cause some pluggage. Thats why I stopped doing it that way and now just use the aqua lifter. Also having evaporation decide on how much to dose isn't recommended. Evaporation can fluctuate and so would your dosing, when really you want to find your tanks usage and match your dosing to that.
johnanddawn
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i have been using a dripper for many years now
i have the two and a half gallon size hooked up to a garbage pail with a maxi pump and hose to fill it
my system evapes 2 1/2 gal /day - this is my set up:
i fill the garbage pail with water and kalk mix, and let it settle (a pail full lasts me about 10 days)
every night i simple hit a switch that turns on the pump and fills the dripper, and the kalk slowly runs into the sump. yes this is very hands on - but i like hands on because you never have trouble with overdosing due to stuck valves or bad timers. i've thought about automating with a dosing pump but this works for me
and yes be careful with kalk it tends to plug everything. even with my simple set-up, the I-V style valve tends to plug up, so most of the time i just run it full open
i don't think i would run an sps heavy tank without kalk. it really cuts down on the 2 part and keeps the system stable
i have the two and a half gallon size hooked up to a garbage pail with a maxi pump and hose to fill it
my system evapes 2 1/2 gal /day - this is my set up:
i fill the garbage pail with water and kalk mix, and let it settle (a pail full lasts me about 10 days)
every night i simple hit a switch that turns on the pump and fills the dripper, and the kalk slowly runs into the sump. yes this is very hands on - but i like hands on because you never have trouble with overdosing due to stuck valves or bad timers. i've thought about automating with a dosing pump but this works for me
and yes be careful with kalk it tends to plug everything. even with my simple set-up, the I-V style valve tends to plug up, so most of the time i just run it full open
i don't think i would run an sps heavy tank without kalk. it really cuts down on the 2 part and keeps the system stable
three fish
Community Member
WOW! Lots of great points. Thank you. I like the Aqua Lifter idea Bri Guy. You are right on about knowing how much is needed before just adding it to the system. I am at an easily moldable state now as my tank is still empty. I am just getting back into things after a couple of years off.
OP
OP
heliguy71
Active Member
when i mix kent kalkwasser and let it sit for almost a day it is still very cloudy is this normal.also my ph still does not seem to go up after using kalkwasser either.what the heck is going on.alk is a dkh of 9.how long does kalkwasser take to bring ph and alk up a little i di not want to over dose.
thanks mike:sad:
thanks mike:sad:
