Kalwasser in ATO

[JerseyReefer]

So I decided to try kalwasser to maintain Ca and Alk instead of my 2-part. I also needed a slight raise in pH since I moved my tank across town 2 months ago. Figured kalkwasser was perfect. I mixed up 5-gal for my ATO bucket but decided to drip dose with a diy bottle dripper just to make sure I had the right concentration. I'm doing 2-tsp/gal and it seems to be the right amount to keep my params stable and elevate my pH a bit (at 8.0 trying to get back to 8.3).

Issue I'm having is that even with the lid on the bucket I get a crust on the water surface. A day it's just a film. 2 days it's almost like a sheet of ice on top. What can I do? This stuff breaks up and clouds the water and clogs my dripper (as I'm sure it will do to my ATO). I almost think an IV bag would be the best solution but I'm sure one of you guys know a simpler solution.

Thanks for all your help as always!!!!

 

[Kadee]

I use kalk in my ato. I have a piece of eggcrate in the bottom of the bucket to keep my ato pump out of the kalk slurry. There is a layer of kalk on the top of the water. This has not effected the ato whatsoever to this point. I do rinse the pump once per week with fresh ro during water change. Imo this is the best delivery for kalk. Fwiw my ato is an Ice Cap.

 

[KJoFan]

It's been my understanding always with kalk is that that surface crust is a good thing, as it sort of seals up the solution and helps the kalk keep it's potency. If exposed to air and continually stirred potency of the solution decreases.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Kadee]

It's been my understanding always with kalk is that that surface crust is a good thing, as it sort of seals up the solution and helps the kalk keep it's potency. If exposed to air and continually stirred potency of the solution decreases.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I have read the same. The kalk solution will degrade with exposure to the CO2 in the atmosphere. It is recommended to keep stirring to an absolute minimum, keep solution covered and only mix small amounts at a time to keep solution as fresh as possible.

 

[Donovan Joannes]

I am wondering whether kalk in ATO is a good way to maintain ca/alk. In my case, evaporation varies on daily basis, 1.5 liter in a hot day, less than 300ml if it is raining. I believe auto dosing or controlled dripping method are the best way adding big 3 elements, and this is very true in my case.

 

[JerseyReefer]

I am wondering whether kalk in ATO is a good way to maintain ca/alk. In my case, evaporation varies on daily basis, 1.5 liter in a hot day, less than 300ml if it is raining. I believe auto dosing or controlled dripping method are the best way adding big 3 elements, and this is very true in my case.

You're probably right. Just monitor your evaporation rates and decide from there. I do about a gallon per day year round but it may jump a bit in winter. If so, just reduce your mix. Based on the responses I'm going to try it and see what happens.

 

[Donovan Joannes]

You're probably right. Just monitor your evaporation rates and decide from there. I do about a gallon per day year round but it may jump a bit in winter. If so, just reduce your mix. Based on the responses I'm going to try it and see what happens.

I am on controlled dripping method (improvised intravenous I bought from pharmacy) and it keeps ca/alk at proper level.

 

[JerseyReefer]

I am on controlled dripping method (improvised intravenous I bought from pharmacy) and it keeps ca/alk at proper level.

Ha! I was wondering about this. Thanks!

 

[JerseyReefer]

Hey guys... I've been running kalk in my ATO for a month now. Calcium is stable but Alk is slowly creeping up. Does this make sense? If I reduce my concentration to stabilize Alk, will that cause Calcium to drop too?

 

[dnov99]

Hey guys... I've been running kalk in my ATO for a month now. Calcium is stable but Alk is slowly creeping up. Does this make sense? If I reduce my concentration to stabilize Alk, will that cause Calcium to drop too?

Kalk will also increase your ALK, just make sure it doesnt raise it too high. It should maintain your calcium levels also, depending on your amount of consumption from corals and amount of kalk you are doing. I dose it in my ATO and its a fantastic for my corals. Just need to monitor your ALK so it doesnt get too high.

PS where in NJ are you?

 

[Fritzhamer]

I dose kalk with a doser, 25ml every four hours. I dose it like one would dose two part, separate from my ato. This keeps the dose consistent regardless of evap rates.

 

[sawdonkey]

Hey guys... I've been running kalk in my ATO for a month now. Calcium is stable but Alk is slowly creeping up. Does this make sense? If I reduce my concentration to stabilize Alk, will that cause Calcium to drop too?

Yes, calcium will drop too. Kalk is balanced meaning that it supplies the right amount of calcium and alk together. If your starting point is unbalanced, kalk cannot balance it for you. Use your 2-part to get calcium up, then proceed with kalk.

I've been using Kalk in my 220 mostly SPS tank that's pretty much all colonies for about four years now. I do it through my ato. I almost never clean my ato pump and never have problems with it. Like others have said, just don't let your pump sit on the bottom of the container.

Regarding the film, this is just what kalk does. Just don't break it up unless you're whipping up a new batch of kalk. Then wait at least three hours or so before pumping the new solution into your tank.

 

[coralbeauties]

Are any of you guys and gals using kalk with a controller to maintain a consistent ph? I fight low ph and recently added an apex system and have been thinking of using my controller to add kalk to maintain between 7.9 and 8.0 ph level and let the daily upswing with the lights take ph up from there. I could put in an upper limit float switch to limit excess water being added. thinking of adding the kalk with a separate ato system and have the ro/di ato work when kalk isnt needed. Any thoughts
thanks
Jeff

 

[BoomCorals]

I am wondering whether kalk in ATO is a good way to maintain ca/alk. In my case, evaporation varies on daily basis, 1.5 liter in a hot day, less than 300ml if it is raining. I believe auto dosing or controlled dripping method are the best way adding big 3 elements, and this is very true in my case.

This depends on your environment. For me my tanks lose the same amount for the most part year round.

To the OP look at using a kalk reactor so you don't have to have your pump and rodi filled with kalk.

I use this one. Works great.
https://premiumaquatics.com/product...MI8JyIu_nR1QIVBrnACh26FwLyEAQYByABEgKBHfD_BwE

 

[sawdonkey]

Are any of you guys and gals using kalk with a controller to maintain a consistent ph? I fight low ph and recently added an apex system and have been thinking of using my controller to add kalk to maintain between 7.9 and 8.0 ph level and let the daily upswing with the lights take ph up from there. I could put in an upper limit float switch to limit excess water being added. thinking of adding the kalk with a separate ato system and have the ro/di ato work when kalk isnt needed. Any thoughts
thanks
Jeff

Seems like it would work, but more than I'd want to deal with. More things to mess up. Once you use kalk for a while, you get a feel for how the strength of your solution impacts your alk. I only test my alk when I fill my ato and make a new kalk solution. If alk has risen since the last time, I make a slightly weaker batch. Stronger batch if alk has gone down. The push/pull of alk isn't taking place quickly, so corals are fine with it. No need for complex equipment. I haven't tested ph in over two years and don't worry about it. Alk is king for me.

 

[Donovan Joannes]

This depends on your environment. For me my tanks lose the same amount for the most part year round.

To the OP look at using a kalk reactor so you don't have to have your pump and rodi filled with kalk.

I use this one. Works great.
https://premiumaquatics.com/product...MI8JyIu_nR1QIVBrnACh26FwLyEAQYByABEgKBHfD_BwE

Noted. Thanks for the info.

 

[JerseyReefer]

Kalk will also increase your ALK, just make sure it doesnt raise it too high. It should maintain your calcium levels also, depending on your amount of consumption from corals and amount of kalk you are doing. I dose it in my ATO and its a fantastic for my corals. Just need to monitor your ALK so it doesnt get too high.

PS where in NJ are you?

Near Morristown. Thanks!

 

[JerseyReefer]

Yes, calcium will drop too. Kalk is balanced meaning that it supplies the right amount of calcium and alk together. If your starting point is unbalanced, kalk cannot balance it for you. Use your 2-part to get calcium up, then proceed with kalk.

I've been using Kalk in my 220 mostly SPS tank that's pretty much all colonies for about four years now. I do it through my ato. I almost never clean my ato pump and never have problems with it. Like others have said, just don't let your pump sit on the bottom of the container.

Regarding the film, this is just what kalk does. Just don't break it up unless you're whipping up a new batch of kalk. Then wait at least three hours or so before pumping the new solution into your tank.

I'll go back to RODI only and dose calcium to keep it level while Alk drops back down. I'll try 1/2 tsp of kalk per gallon when I start up again.

Thanks for your help!