Someone gave me free Kalkwasser

[U.P.Guy]

Hey everyone, I have a 55 gallon mixed tank. A friend of mine left me with a bunch of kelkwasser and I want to use it. The problem is im not really sure what I'm getting myself into. I generally don't test my tank. I just keep up on the water changes and monitor the health of the reef and monitor salt conc. What should I be testing for while doing kalk, or do I need to test to dose kalk. As always I would prefer not to buy something but I could definitely use opinions and if I'm to cheep to buy something I need, I need to know that.
As always thank you for the input.

 

[Diesel]

Well, you need to buy some expensive test kits like Hanna.
If you not ready to test than IMO you could past the kalkwasser on to some one else.

Or if you have a ATO you dump a few TBS in there.
Again you need to test for ALK, CAL and MAG if you do any dosing in your tank.

 

[U.P.Guy]

Thank you for the info. Do I have to use a Hannah or could I use the cheaper kits that change color?

 

[Brew12]

Thank you for the info. Do I have to use a Hannah or could I use the cheaper kits that change color?

Hannah's are great but there are cheaper options. I've had good luck with the Salifert and Redsea for Alk, Calc, and Mag. You will also need to keep an eye on PO4 and NO3. Once you start dosing Alk products, nutrients become much more important to monitor. Plenty of good NO3 test kits on the market but the Hannah ultra low range phosphorus test kit is the only one I found useful for PO4.

I would caution you though, don't just dose because you have it and can. The only reason to use Kalk is if your regular water changes aren't maintaining Alk and Calc in a healthy range. I learned this the hard way. I started adding Kalk to my ATO water. My Alk went high and I didn't have high enough nutrients to support. Lost quite a few corals because of that.

 

[Diesel]

Thank you for the info. Do I have to use a Hannah or could I use the cheaper kits that change color?

Anything but API.
API is not bad though for ammonia and nitrite as you test only for that in most cases when you're in the cycle stage.
Redsea, salifert just to name two are all proven, accurate, easy to understand and reasonable in price.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The only thing you need to monitor to dose limewater (kalkwasser) is alkalinity.

But it must be added very slowly, such as dripping or slow pump.

 

[Jeff Hall]

IMO all you will need to check is Alkalinity as Kalk doses Alk and Ca+ equally. Just put a small amount in ATO to start, test alkalinity a couple days later and adjust accordingly. Really easy way to maintain levels.

 

[U.P.Guy]

Ok so I'll get a alk test kit but I do not have a ato. I usually add water to the tank every couple of days.Is it a problem to dose Kalkwasser without a ATO, I assume you can but like Randy said it needs to be a slow drip so I could set up a drip system?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Ok so I'll get a alk test kit but I do not have a ato. I usually add water to the tank every couple of days.Is it a problem to dose Kalkwasser without a ATO, I assume you can but like Randy said it needs to be a slow drip so I could set up a drip system?

What corals are you keeping?

 

[Brew12]

Ok so I'll get a alk test kit but I do not have a ato. I usually add water to the tank every couple of days.Is it a problem to dose Kalkwasser without a ATO, I assume you can but like Randy said it needs to be a slow drip so I could set up a drip system?

Yup, many people have successfully set up a drip system to dose kalk.

 

[U.P.Guy]

What corals are you keeping?

I have a few bird'snest pieces, chalice coral, two Euphyllia spp, two bubbletips, toadstool mushrooms, and a ricordia colony. All of them are small with the exception of the chalice.

 

[U.P.Guy]

I'll put up a picture when I get home for you guys.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I have a few bird'snest pieces, chalice coral, two Euphyllia spp, two bubbletips, toadstool mushrooms, and a ricordia colony. All of them are small with the exception of the chalice.

Yep, you need to test alkalinity, calcium and magnesium regularly. As well as NO3 and PO4.

Time to buy some test kits!

Also look into setting up a ATO. Stability is important with these corals.

 

[U.P.Guy]

Yep, you need to test alkalinity, calcium and magnesium regularly. As well as NO3 and PO4.

Time to buy some test kits!

Also look into setting up a ATO. Stability is important with these corals.

I'm just a curious fellow, why do you recommend the additional test kits when others say alkalinity is all I need to monitor.

 

[Sabellafella]

Thank you for the info. Do I have to use a Hannah or could I use the cheaper kits that change color?

No can go with salifert. You do need to montior alkalinity and calcium if your starting to use kalk. Just to make sure your not dosing too little or too much. You can get away with just testing alk frequently, as if you keep it stable while dosing kalk, your calcium should stay stable as well if your sg is always the same.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I'm just a curious fellow, why do you recommend the additional test kits when others say alkalinity is all I need to monitor.

Numerous reasons. The big three (calcium, alkalinity and magnesium) are very important relationship to hard coral growth and health. Nitrates and phosphates tell how much nutrients are suspended in your water.

Good read:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

 

[U.P.Guy]

Numerous reasons. The big three (calcium, alkalinity and magnesium) are very important relationship to hard coral growth and health. Nitrates and phosphates tell how much nutrients are suspended in your water.

Good read:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Thank you for the read I'll check it out. I do have a general understanding of reefs and nutrients but I am just starting to manage my tank with the different methods available.

 

[U.P.Guy]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok so I'll get a alk test kit but I do not have a ato. I usually add water to the tank every couple of days.Is it a problem to dose Kalkwasser without a ATO, I assume you can but like Randy said it needs to be a slow drip so I could set up a drip system?

Yes, many people use an IV dripper or some other slow drip or slow pump.

 

[puffster]

I have not yet anyone explain to this U.P.Guy the proper preparation of Talk before dosing into his system (other than the articles which are good). Now correct me if I am wrong, but don't you have to figure out total water volume then your current parameters, after that figure the difference you want to change, then you prepare your dose....First, you only mix enough to be added for total dose incase of an accident. You mix a certain amount of Kalk to a specified amount of water. Not sure of the formula right now, this is where Randy Holmes Farley chimes in. Once added, stir, stir and stir until thoroughly mixed. After mixing the solution, you let it set and settle out. Once this happens you siphon off the clear portion and is what you dose to your system. Things may have changed since I did it years ago but I still keep some on hand as a back-up. But from the looks of his tank, all he should have to do is just keep up with his water changes for now. U.P.Guy still has a little while until he needs to supplement. God luck and happy Reefing!

Ernie