Hey guys, I’ve been picking up more sps pieces for my 75 gallon system and I want to start dosing kalkwasser to up my growth and maintain color. What do you guys think is the proper way to go about doing this. I plan on adding the kalkwasser to my ato but I am afraid of overdosing. Typically I can make a 5 gallon bucket last about 5/6 days. So how much kalkwasser do you guys suggest adding? Additionally I am using standard instant ocean and do water changes about once every 3 weeks. Thanks!
Kalkwasser
- Thread starter Afrashz
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i have a 80 gallon system mixed reef with plenty sps and i use instant ocean too so we are doing close to the same thing. When ever i start a tank with kalk in the ATO go really low and measure alk at the same time everyday. if you put too much itll go up too little itll keep going down and adjust from there.
on a 5 gallon bucket id start off at 4 teaspoons. remember 2 teaspoons per gallon is max so in your 5 gallon container dont pass 10 teaspoons or your wasting the product at that point you need to dose alk/calcium apart.
Grab yourself a reliable alk test like the hannah marine alk. https://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Marine...rds=hanna+alk&qid=1558408897&s=gateway&sr=8-1 thats the amazon link. youll use this your entire stay of the hobby
on a 5 gallon bucket id start off at 4 teaspoons. remember 2 teaspoons per gallon is max so in your 5 gallon container dont pass 10 teaspoons or your wasting the product at that point you need to dose alk/calcium apart.
Grab yourself a reliable alk test like the hannah marine alk. https://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Marine...rds=hanna+alk&qid=1558408897&s=gateway&sr=8-1 thats the amazon link. youll use this your entire stay of the hobby
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Butuz
Valuable Member
In my 10g ATO, I started with 5 teaspoons of Seachem Kalk, then gradually increased to 10, which is their recommended dosage (1 teaspoon per gallon). I have some details in my post below, following my discussion with Seachem on this. Start with half of the recommended dosage and monitor alk and calcium daily so you get a feel. It was easy once dialed in, I used it for a few months. However, my ATO outlet line to the sump (ball float valve) and my mini ATO water pump were getting clogged. Had to take it apart to clean. Also, I could not top off the ATO without waiting for it to go empty to mix a new batch with kalk. Finally, you have to vacuum out the sediment on the bottom of your ato periodically (every 4-5 refills), you dont want the stuff at the bottom in your tank. Those were the reasons I decided to stop using Kalk and started dosing Aquaforest Component 1+,2+,3+. Now, I can top off my ATO whenever I want. I also bought XD Aqua Flood Guardian, so when hooked to my smart plug, I can fill my ATO remotely when I am away for extended period of time. Shile mixing Kalk was easy, the other issues away were a pain, I don’t miss it.
Butuz
Valuable Member
From my experience doing both, dosing is way easier and stable. With kalk, even the amount of time to stir the mix would change the potency. This way, with your dosing containers full, you can go for months without doing anything special, just filling ato. With dosing, you do need to dial it well, so daily testing for the first few weeks at least to get dosage and consumption dialed in.
If you decide to use AquForest Component 1,2,3, they have a helpful calculator that establishes your daily dosing volume. Another thing thats easy with AF component is that you are dosing identical volume on all 3. Here is a link:
https://aquaforest.eu/en/afcalculate/
Butuz
Valuable Member
Aquaforest’s website has recommended values to shoot for. Pretty universal ranges for calcium, magnesium, etc.
I do both
I use a Avast K1 kalk stirrer and I dose 2 part as well to supplement as it is a touch easier to regulate (I also had the 2 part set up first and added the kalk to raise PH)
The combo seems to be working well for me
Len
I use a Avast K1 kalk stirrer and I dose 2 part as well to supplement as it is a touch easier to regulate (I also had the 2 part set up first and added the kalk to raise PH)
The combo seems to be working well for me
Len
cracker
5000 Club Member
I use Kalk in one tank & dose 2 part in the other .
. I find the dosing a lot more controllable than the kalk . However You can't forget to dose . 1 teaspoon per gallon is the right dose for full concentration. You can add vinegar which allows a little more of the kalk to dissolve
. I find the dosing a lot more controllable than the kalk . However You can't forget to dose . 1 teaspoon per gallon is the right dose for full concentration. You can add vinegar which allows a little more of the kalk to dissolve
Fiesty
Active Member
I use a cheap jeboa doser to dose kalk and works perfect. Much better than using in ATO in my opinion. I dose ever hour with a little heavier through the night to keep PH up. This way u can mix at max saturation and just adjust dose to get to your desired levels much easier. I also dose 2 part in addition to the kalk. It sounds complicated but with the combo and dosing pump was surprising easy to get the levels right
I have also found the hanna checker the best / easiest / fastest for testing Alkalinity and the Red Sea the best for Calcium for same reasons, for me.
I have also found the hanna checker the best / easiest / fastest for testing Alkalinity and the Red Sea the best for Calcium for same reasons, for me.
Last edited:
Check out http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html, measure your alkalinity needs over a set period of time, and calculate your replacement. Adjust doser daily to every few days until it's dialed in, then weekly (at least that's how I plan on doing it)
Fiesty
Active Member
I just wanted to add that, like u are, i was using the standard Instant ocean with ok success when i just lightly hand dosed. When i went to using a doser on new 200 gal tank and trying to keep elevated levels, i switch to the reef crystals. The upgraded salt has levels very close to what im trying to maintain through dosing. That way when I do water changes it should keep things stable to level I'm trying to dose to maintain. If u do larger water change with salt at lower level u will just be fighting yourself and needing to dose more to get back up and then creating more unstable sea saw effect. At least this is my understanding and the route i have gone and seems to be working very well. I am new to dosing at larger levels so hope others more experience can give some ideas as well.
TinyTinCans
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I know this post. Is a little old but is worth a shot:
What volume of kalkwasser do you dose. I’m currently sourcing items for my 150. I also would like to dose kalkwasser instead of adding it to my ATO. I’m just trying to get a general idea I know each tank will be different. But the kalkwasser must work in general terms if it can maintain ca-all and PH.
Fiesty
Active Member
I have about a 225 gallon mixed reef system heavily stocked with corals and several clams. I currently dose fully saturated kalk every hour (24 times a day) at 180 ml each hour. Total of 1.14 gallons a day. I also dose a fair amout of 2 part to keep up with demand.
TinyTinCans
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Awesome, I know This is something everyone Has to work out on their own but it’s nice to have a general idea of how much it’s taking on someone else’s system so that I can take that in consideration when I’m building my own dosing reservoirs and pumps and everything I appreciate it. thank you!
Fiesty
Active Member
No worries and glad i can help. I know your system will be different but having a general idea is always helpful. Obviously the largest 2 factors r goiing to be how much your average evaporation is and how much kalk u need to maintain pararmeters. When u get tank set up and going, id say turn off your auto top off for 24 hours and then measure how much water it takes to get back to right level. Then set to dose just under that level per day. Essentially u r now using your dosing pump almost as a top off. Then figure out how strong the kalk needs to be to maintain alk and calcium and then mix to that level. That way as coral grow and tank uses more then u can just increase strength of kalk until u hit full saturation and wont need to mess with changing actual dosing pump.
CNDReef
Formally Toomanyfish
I like to make the kalk fully saturated ( I do use a reactor) and dose to my needs and let the ato take care of the rest. As my needs increase all I have to do is increase the dose on the doser. Essentially the same thing as fiesty but the opposite lol
