Managing calc/alk/magnesium levels

[KleineVampir]

Seems like manually testing this stuff is kind of labor intensive. I mean you have calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium that you have to maintain levels on. So that's 3 tests however often to have some idea of what's going on. Aren't there ways of keeping an eye on this stuff electronically? If you had a device that could measure all 3 at once, that would be amazing. Seems like this is where our technology kind of fails us if you ask me. Maintaining these elements is a big part of the hobby but yet there's no real slick way of even knowing what your levels are. Even if there is a 2,000 dollar answer, well ok. But were our technology better we could just stick something in there like a TDS meter except for these 3 elements.

Also I'm thinking of trying to drip kalkwasser into my water. At least with that you get 2 elements + a nice ph boost. Then all you have to worry about is magnesium. I think I might get a dosing pump for the kalk sometime soon, but I want to see how dripping it goes before I spend that kind of money. Seems like if you could get that kalk in there slow and consistent enough, you could take a lot of the drudgery out of this hobby. Even if you don't know what the levels are exactly, a totally stable amount of kalk going into your water should be pretty good. You would still have to test but prior to that you would be dosing consistently and therefore having hopefully somewhat stable parameters.

How would you guys recommend dosing kalkwasser? I could maybe try it just in the ATO but that stuff is incredibly caustic and probably makes calcium deposits too. Seems like it'd be awfully hard on the pump. Also that pump can turn on for quite a while in certain circumstances...so the possibility to overload the system is definitely there. That's kind of why I'd prefer a dripper unit. It's not even electronically controlled. And there's no way to get too much at once. That is the danger with kalkwasser after all.

Also if someone could shed some light on the kalkwasser "slurry" that accumulates at the bottom of the container, that would be good. I'd like to be able to actually use that instead of always throwing away a portion of your kalk. You can't just put in more water to try and get it to mix in?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You can buy very expensive devices to automate testing, but the parameters don’t generally move independently. You never need to check magnesium more than once a month. Calcium perhaps a bit more often. Alkalinity is the main one to measure and dose all three based on the alk changes.

 

[KleineVampir]

You can buy very expensive devices to automate testing, but the parameters don’t generally move independently. You never need to check magnesium more than once a month. Calcium perhaps a bit more often. Alkalinity is the main one to measure and dose all three based on the alk changes.

What are those devices called?

How would you dose based just on alk tests?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How would you dose based just on alk tests?

Use a two part system of some sort where it is all put together for you. If it is a smaller tank, even a one part like Tropic Marin Carbocalcium can work based primarily on alk testing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What are those devices called?

How would you dose based just on alk tests?

Alkatronic is one. It measures and controls alkalinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What are those devices called?

Scroll through the threads in this forum to see many automatic measuring devices:

Aquarium Controllers

This forum is dedicated to all Aquarium Controller Discussion. Share your experience as well as learn from others.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[KleineVampir]

Alkatronic is one. It measures and controls alkalinity.

For one easy to pay installment of 900 dollars! Not to mention the 800 for the controller. Might need to cash out of some of the equity of my house!

And that's just alkalinity! And it's fairly big. Technology is really failing us in this department. I get it's not as easy to measure as TDS and pH but dang. What's the next best thing? The hanna checkers?

 

[Acroalan]

I use a Hanna Alk (dkh version) checker and really like it. Only takes a minute to do a test, so I test a lot. Granted, I'm a little OCD about stability and to be honest I sort of enjoy testing as it gives me a way to interact with my tank. I use Red Sea Pro tests for Ca and Mg, which I test a lot less often.

I'm also using Kalkwasser in my ATO container. Right now I'm mixing 5 gallons at a time. Eventually I'll probably switch to a Kalk reactor of some type if directly mixing in my ATO water gets annoying, but for not it hasn't been an issue.

 

[KleineVampir]

I use a Hanna Alk (dkh version) checker and really like it. Only takes a minute to do a test, so I test a lot. Granted, I'm a little OCD about stability and to be honest I sort of enjoy testing as it gives me a way to interact with my tank. I use Red Sea Pro tests for Ca and Mg, which I test a lot less often.

I'm also using Kalkwasser in my ATO container. Right now I'm mixing 5 gallons at a time. Eventually I'll probably switch to a Kalk reactor of some type if directly mixing in my ATO water gets annoying, but for not it hasn't been an issue.

I haven't actually tried these methods yet, but it seems to me like dripping it in may be the best way. Or maybe dosing is better but boy is it more expensive. Depends on if I can get it to drip slow enough or not.

I don't think I'm on board with the ato method, at least not for my system. I've had too many events where the ato dumps a lot of water in at once. That would be a disaster for the tank. I think it's all about the slow drip.

 

[Txplicit]

I may be missing something here, but the apex trident measures alk, cal, mag 4 times a day.

 

[KleineVampir]

I may be missing something here, but the apex trident measures alk, cal, mag 4 times a day.

Well the fact that there's a 1400 dollar buy-in. But the device I'm talking about does kind of exist. I'm not running a business here though, so there's no way that would be worth it for me. Now if I had a 1,000 gallon frag tank that was everything to me it would be a different story. But for my 40 gallon breeder newb setup? Yeah I don't think so. For that much I can just dink around with my red sea test kit.

 

[Txplicit]

I'm not going to say it is cheaper than manually testing as chemicals are $100/ 6months, aside from the trident being $700.

Just saying if you wanted ease of use and less monotony of testing, that would be a device that does it for you.

 

[KleineVampir]

I'm not going to say it is cheaper than manually testing as chemicals are $100/ 6months, aside from the trident being $700.

Just saying if you wanted ease of use and less monotony of testing, that would be a device that does it for you.

It is, in theory. But in practice it's a rich man's toy. I mean even if you were a business you'd be looking to keep costs down. Debatable whether it would ever actually be worth it. For that much you could probably hire an employee to check it once a day and do a heck of a lot more for you.

 

[Txplicit]

That may be a little overkill. At min wage, even on the lower end of $6 an hour. Assuming all tests can be done within an hour (and it could be), you're still at $180 a month. Heck in 6 month you've paid for your trident and chemicals and save a few hundred going apex.

 

[KleineVampir]

That may be a little overkill. At min wage, even on the lower end of $6 an hour. Assuming all tests can be done within an hour (and it could be), you're still at $180 a month. Heck in 6 month you've paid for your trident and chemicals and save a few hundred going apex.

Ok, but if you already have an employee anyways. Lol.

 

[Txplicit]

Off subject, if I were a business owner in this business, I think it may be a piece of mind for my customers to be able to see my parameters at a glance and know I keep them stable. It is a dual edge sword cause it may drive off customers if your parameters are way off. Lol

 

[KleineVampir]

Is it possible to get away with only using kalkwasser as your calcium and alkalinity? My system is only 60 gallons with a 40 gallon display, and not a ton of corals.

 

[Mical]

"Auto - testers" are a luxury. I have no problem testing my tanks weekly - it keeps me directly in touch w/my tanks. Folks who have the Tridents, etc... more power to them. I'm one of those folks who likes doing oil changes on my cars, wiring around the house and being "hands on".