New to Kalkwasser dosing in ATO.

Hunter399 · Jan 9, 2018

I recently purchased a Tunze Osmolator ATO and set it up with a ATO container. I want to add Kalkwasser and will start with a small dose at the BRS starting dose. I have a small 24g cube with 10 Gallon sump. I have been doing large water changes weekly with Redsea Coral pro salt. My question is if I use the Kalkwasser and have my calcium and alkalinity stable, what do I need to do as far as magnesium is concerned? I cant find much info on this as far as consumption and when to dose etc.
Thanks for the help.

yort265 · Jan 9, 2018

The BRS Magnesium Mix for Kalkwasser (here) can be used on an as-needed basis to keep Magnesium where you'd like it. It comes pre-measured so one bag makes one gallon of solution. In a tank your size it should last you a long time. I usually test once a week and dose if I need to bring it back up to target.

Hunter399 · Jan 9, 2018

With regular water changes will the magnesium be replenished and is the rate of consumption a lot lower than Alk and Ca?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 9, 2018

yort265 said:
The BRS Magnesium Mix for Kalkwasser (here) can be used on an as-needed basis to keep Magnesium where you'd like it. It comes pre-measured so one bag makes one gallon of solution. In a tank your size it should last you a long time. I usually test once a week and dose if I need to bring it back up to target.

That's my DIY magnesium recipe.

Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

It is perfect for dosing magnesium as needed, but the OP may very well never need any magnesium if doing water changes with Coral Pro.

Note that it cannot be mixed into limewater (kalkasser).

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 9, 2018

Hunter399 said:
With regular water changes will the magnesium be replenished and is the rate of consumption a lot lower than Alk and Ca?

MUCH lower. At max, it is about 1/10th of the calcium depletion rate in ppm per day, and coral pro has so much magnesium, you may never need any.

Hunter399 · Jan 9, 2018

Thank you for all the help and quick responses guys. One last question, I know you have to seal the container as much as possible and not to agitate the water in hopes of minimizing CO2 contact.

This is my new ATO container. Do I need to seal off those probe holes? I assume yes but trying to find something that looks good is a pain. Thanks again.

Greybeard · Jan 9, 2018

I would at least loosely cover those probe holes. Tape a sheet of plastic over them, if nothing else. You're just trying to keep out excess CO2.

Keep an eye on your ATO pump. Those osmolator pumps are inexpensive, if I were pumping Kalk with one, I'd probably try and keep a spare around. Kalk is rather hard on pumps. Also, those pumps pull from the bottom. You want to position the pump so that it is _not_ sucking undissolved kalk sludge off of the bottom of the reservoir.

I love Kalkwasser. That's all I used for many years, and at this point, I've returned to it, since my tank is immature, and not yet demanding much in the way of calcium or alkalinity. Keeps your pH up (where many Calc/Alk maintenance methods lower it), used with a reliable ATO system, as you are, it's almost impossible to overdose. It's an effective, simple, inexpensive method... up until you exceed it's capacity to keep up with demand.

Hunter399 · Jan 9, 2018

That’s good to hear! I plan on making a little box out of plastic egg crate to sit the pump on and hopefully that helps. I will have to find something to plug the holes.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 9, 2018

I agree, I'd just put something flat over them.

Hunter399 · Jan 10, 2018

Is it ok to mix the kalkwasser up in a small container then poor it into my ATO. Meaning I would mix five gallons worth of solution and then poor it into the container that is filled up already. Cant really fit my arm in the container to mix it up if i just add the powder.

Greybeard · Jan 10, 2018

I mix 3 tablespoons up with a few ounces of water and pour it into my reactor. Why? Reactor mouth is small, just easier that way.

I don't see any reason your premix wouldn't work.

Let it settle to clear before starting the ATO system back up.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2018

Hunter399 said:
Is it ok to mix the kalkwasser up in a small container then poor it into my ATO. Meaning I would mix five gallons worth of solution and then poor it into the container that is filled up already. Cant really fit my arm in the container to mix it up if i just add the powder.

That is fine, just a lot of work.

Can you drop a small powerhead into it?

whotzler · Jan 10, 2018

I mix mine in a 5 gal bucket then pour in my ATO reservoir. I do get a bit of sludge that continues to build up on the bottom of the reservoir, but I don't worry about it to much. It gets stirred up every time I add a bucket of fresh mix in. I turn off my ATO for 2 hours after adding to let it settle. I add BRS magnesium mix for those that dose kalk when needed, maybe a cup a month. Be sure to get the mix for kalk users and not 2 part users, it is different.

Hunter399 · Jan 11, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
That is fine, just a lot of work.

Can you drop a small powerhead into it?

I can pull one of my nano powerheads out of its tank. How long do you mix it for? I was told to limit stirring it and mixing it up due to CO2. I was thinking of mixing it in a small bucket and pooring it in and use that to top off my ATO from 4 gallons to 5 gallons with the 5 Gallons of concentration in the 1 gallon bucket. If that makes sense.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 11, 2018

Hunter399 said:
I can pull one of my nano powerheads out of its tank. How long do you mix it for? I was told to limit stirring it and mixing it up due to CO2. I was thinking of mixing it in a small bucket and pooring it in and use that to top off my ATO from 4 gallons to 5 gallons with the 5 Gallons of concentration in the 1 gallon bucket. If that makes sense.

Stir until it is mixed. Could be 10 minutes. Overnight is also not likely a problem if you close the opening behind it.

Hunter399 · Jan 12, 2018

Is it normal for it to look slightly cloudy? Also there is a little bit of precipitant or a thin layer on top. I mixed it really well but had to re prime my ato pump so i had to re open the container and shake the pump so i hope i didnt add too much CO2 etc or over mix it to cause this. It may look more dramatic in my situation due to my container being all black.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 12, 2018

Hunter399 said:
Is it normal for it to look slightly cloudy? Also there is a little bit of precipitant or a thin layer on top. I mixed it really well but had to re prime my ato pump so i had to re open the container and shake the pump so i hope i didnt add too much CO2 etc or over mix it to cause this. It may look more dramatic in my situation due to my container being all black.

Yes, it will be cloudy until it settles, which may be overnight or longer. If left open to the air it may remain cloudy as CaCO3 continues to be made.

Greybeard · Jan 12, 2018

Hunter399 said:
Is it normal for it to look slightly cloudy? Also there is a little bit of precipitant or a thin layer on top. I mixed it really well but had to re prime my ato pump so i had to re open the container and shake the pump so i hope i didnt add too much CO2 etc or over mix it to cause this. It may look more dramatic in my situation due to my container being all black.

When you reprimed the pump, you likely stirred it up a bit... There's always going to be residue on the bottom, just let it settle back out. Liquid you're dosing should be crystal clear. That 'crust' on the surface is normal, just leave it.

Hunter399 · Jan 14, 2018

After a few days of testing my levels have lowered just slightly. To increase the concentration can I add more and stir it? or do I just make a strong one gallon solution? I have a 7 gallon container i started a t 5.5 to give my self room to dilute if needed. its now at 4 or less. Could I just make a strong solution of 1-2 gallons and add it or will it mess it up?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 14, 2018

You cannot dissolve more than 2 tsp per gallon, so unless the final concentration is intended to be low, you cannot make a “strong” gallon and add it. Just add more water and solids and stir, then let it settle and use it.