POLL: Kalk vs 2 Part

[C-Reefer]

Which is your favorite and for what reasons? What do you use, and what type of tank is yours, e.g. mixed, SPS dominant, ect. I'm wondering which is the best option for differnet types of tanks.

 

[wcharon]

I think you should add an option for the people that use both as I do.

 

[pluikens]

Newer reefer here, seemed like I had more control at the beginning with two part.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Following along on this one! I also added two more options to the poll!

 

[wcharon]

In my case I started with Randy's 2 part as for me it is more economic. After a while started using Kalk in order to stabilize PH. I use them separated via a Doser.

 

[C-Reefer]

Newer reefer here, seemed like I had more control at the beginning with two part.

I want to switch to two part but the initial cost is very expensive. I've tried figuring out if I could buy my own materials instead of paying $100 at BRS for not that much, but haven't had much luck.

Following along on this one! I also added two more options to the poll!

Thanks! Trying to revive this one, I thought it would have a bit more interest.

In my case I started with Randy's 2 part as for me it is more economic. After a while started using Kalk in order to stabilize PH. I use them separated via a Doser.

I'm trying to figure this out, and think it's pretty simple but i'm having troubles finding the calcium chloride. Finding epsom salts and baking soda are very easy. I can't find any of the ones he listed at any of my home improvement stores, e.g. Lowes, HD. I can't find them online either. I was wondering if I could use either of these, but the problem is its very concentrated, and not sure if its completely pure. https://www.lowes.com/pd/50-lb-Bag-of-Calcium-Chloride-Pellets/3540820 or any on this page https://www.homedepot.com/s/?search=calcium chloride

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

The biggest problem with calcium hydroxide is the delivery method, which is almost always the ATO. Auto top-off systems are great at keeping salinity relatively stable, but they're nowhere near precise enough to dose a measured amount of fluid at the same time every day (unless you use a dosing pump to top-off and dose the same amount of freshwater every day). Additionally, because evaporation can vary based on how much your AC runs, how often you have the windows open, how dry the air is outside, etc, an ATO dosing limewater will likely never give you the exact same amount of limewater from one day to another. Plus, if you want to change how much calcium hydroxide goes into your tank, you have to dump your ATO reservoir and mix up a new batch of limewater at a different concentration.

I dose limewater using a dosing pump. Every hour on the hour my tank gets a little bit of calcium hydroxide. My ATO picks up the rest. If my calcium and alkalinity are trending too high, I back down the dose of limewater. If they're dropping, I increase the dose. The only downside to this approach is if your tank uses a lot of calcium and carbonate alkalinity, you might dose so much limewater that you outstrip your tank's need for freshwater. In such cases, the water level in your tank will rise. However, it's pretty apparent when this happens.

 

[mitch91175]

I use both kalk and 2 part (only using the alkalinity portion right now). I use kalk (via a doser sending RO/DI to a kalk stirrer) to keep my calcium levels where I want them and have a doser adding alkalinity through the day. I use my Alkatronic to measure my dKH (dosing if necessary but it's dialed in now and not doing much dosing these days; if it starts dosing then I adjust, monitor, and make any corrections from there). My dKH stays between 7-7.5 and I am getting really good growth with all of my frags that I have added to the DT. I am not even running my T5 over 3 hours and everything is encrusting. Have pretty good colors too.

Not overly concerned with trying to keep at a specific dKH, i.e 7dKH, just not feasible really. I picked a range and as long as I am in that range, I am happy and so is my tank.

 

[Midrats]

I dose limewater with a Spectrapure Litermeter. It functions as both an ATO and a precision doser. It's easy to dial in my daily evaporation and adjust the lime dosage as needed. The Litermeter doses my set amount in 150 doses over 24 hours.

 

[C-Reefer]

The biggest problem with calcium hydroxide is the delivery method, which is almost always the ATO. Auto top-off systems are great at keeping salinity relatively stable, but they're nowhere near precise enough to dose a measured amount of fluid at the same time every day (unless you use a dosing pump to top-off and dose the same amount of freshwater every day). Additionally, because evaporation can vary based on how much your AC runs, how often you have the windows open, how dry the air is outside, etc, an ATO dosing limewater will likely never give you the exact same amount of limewater from one day to another. Plus, if you want to change how much calcium hydroxide goes into your tank, you have to dump your ATO reservoir and mix up a new batch of limewater at a different concentration.

I dose limewater using a dosing pump. Every hour on the hour my tank gets a little bit of calcium hydroxide. My ATO picks up the rest. If my calcium and alkalinity are trending too high, I back down the dose of limewater. If they're dropping, I increase the dose. The only downside to this approach is if your tank uses a lot of calcium and carbonate alkalinity, you might dose so much limewater that you outstrip your tank's need for freshwater. In such cases, the water level in your tank will rise. However, it's pretty apparent when this happens.

Right now I have it in my ATO. Kalk still varys far too much for my liking - fluctuates between around 8-9/10. Would a drip line work? Like take saturated limewater, and place a cup/jug over the tank and run out the bottom an airline tube and needle valve, set to a specific amount. You could easily vary the amount of limewater. Does kalk/limewater raise both calcium and KH?

I use both kalk and 2 part (only using the alkalinity portion right now). I use kalk (via a doser sending RO/DI to a kalk stirrer) to keep my calcium levels where I want them and have a doser adding alkalinity through the day. I use my Alkatronic to measure my dKH (dosing if necessary but it's dialed in now and not doing much dosing these days; if it starts dosing then I adjust, monitor, and make any corrections from there). My dKH stays between 7-7.5 and I am getting really good growth with all of my frags that I have added to the DT. I am not even running my T5 over 3 hours and everything is encrusting. Have pretty good colors too.

Not overly concerned with trying to keep at a specific dKH, i.e 7dKH, just not feasible really. I picked a range and as long as I am in that range, I am happy and so is my tank.

Wow sounds like you've got it down. If you only dose the alk part of two part, what do you use for calc as its so important to keep equal?

 

[Lonely reefer's]

Bionic 2 parts @16ml per day
Never check ph
~75g Mix reef

 

[mitch91175]

Right now I have it in my ATO. Kalk still varys far too much for my liking - fluctuates between around 8-9/10. Would a drip line work? Like take saturated limewater, and place a cup/jug over the tank and run out the bottom an airline tube and needle valve, set to a specific amount. You could easily vary the amount of limewater. Does kalk/limewater raise both calcium and KH?



Wow sounds like you've got it down. If you only dose the alk part of two part, what do you use for calc as its so important to keep equal?

Kalk is both calcium and alkalinity. It has been staying within the range I need right now and don’t need to dose it separately. Eventually I will do so, but waiting for the Dosetronic to hit the market.