I'm planning to switch from 2 part dosing to kalkwasser. Everything has been good with my alk between 8-11 dkh, but I dose 30ml each once a day and I would rather go with a steady drip of one additive, kalkwasser seemed like a good option.
Any advice?
While there are a hundred ways to do kalk and have it work out OK, there's really only one way I think people "should" do kalk. That's mixed with vinegar and through a simple reactor (whether DIY or retail) like the Tunze 5074 with no moving parts. The reactor makes it nicer, but you can also do well without it.
Follow these directions....I'd actually skip the reefkeeping.com article (and any other directions for dosing kalk) until later...it's good, but much less to the point in your case.
I switched to kalk about 3 years ago. It was easier for me since i already had to add top of water. I drip about 1/2 gallon each day. I make 5 gallons each week. The jug is sealed except air vent so it will last. The only draw back i have found is now my alk needs outweigh my calcium. So i am also adding a doser to compensate. But kalk drip is easier and cheaper BRS brand.
It's normal for there to be a little "overdraft" of alk when using a balanced additive, but it should be pretty minor. If it's more than that, check your Mg levels (there is none in Kalk) and make sure your test kits aren't expired.
I have been dripping kalk for 5 months now. The calcium level has stayed between 420-440 for the duration. I have to supplement alk about once or twice a week to keep it 8.3-8.6. The amount of alk that kalk will dose will be determined by how much co² is in the tank. The reaction from the hydroxide mixing with the co² results in the alk.
[...]
This is what makes dosing kalk with vinegar superior....100% reaction (into calcium acetate) prior to going in the tank. Almost couldn't be safer and lasts almost indefinitely without issues like precipitation. Dosing vinegar to the tank could possibly be considered a side-benefit. Check out the link above and try it out once.
[...]I don't worry about the issue of degradation fro air exposure because I've read that the degradation is so minimal.[...]
I plan on using kalk for a long time. When it is no longer effective, I'll add vinegar to it to supersaturate the water.[...]
The degredation due to precipitation is only a huge issue if you stir or otherwise mix your kalkwasser once everything is dissolved - then you get a constant low-grade precipitation from the new CO2 entering the water.....otherwise if the reservoir is left still, only the top several millimeters of water should be affected and may even form a crust of chalk.
This is what makes a reactor like the Tunze 5074 nice to have....the kalk chamber is totally sealed. (Less important if you're always pre-mixing with vinegar.)
Its very simple and effective. I only go through 1 gallon every 3 days. With mine I have to keep an eye on the drip and make sure its not too slow or too fast. If its fast I tighten the knot. If its slow I just squeeze the knot until I get the right drip. For this tank 1 drop every 8 seconds seems to do the trick.
Airline always collapses on itself and will never hold a reliable drip rate. Granted it's cheap to replace airline (I bought a 500' roll of airline so I'd never have to worry again) but plz do yourself a favor and spend $5 on a
pack of Topfin airline valves (my cheapie-favorite), or if you can't find those get a pack of 1/4" drip-irrigation valves. Control and consistency with a valve are so much better and the cost is tiny. There's more
in this thread.
Hope this helps!
-Matt
