Transitioning from calcium reactor to kalk stirrer

[Dave-T]

I'm running a 240 gallon tank (350 gallon system) using a calcium reactor. I have reasonably stable alk and calc, but have decided to start using kalk instead of the carx, and I'll bring the carx back online if and when my consumption exceeds what I can add each day with the kalk.

What I'm thinking I'll do is to figure out my daily evaporation rate to set as a max ceiling for the amount of kalkwasser I can add each day. Then I'll start dosing kalkwasser using a dosing pump connected to my GHL controller. I'll monitor my PH, and stop dosing if it ever gets too high at any point. What I'm not sure of is how to figure out how much kalk I should dose each day. I'd like to continue to keep my alk and calc levels steady as I transition to kalk. Should I measure my carx effluent to figure out my daily consumption? If so, should I go by the calcium, or the alkalinity level in the effluent?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm running a 240 gallon tank (350 gallon system) using a calcium reactor. I have reasonably stable alk and calc, but have decided to start using kalk instead of the carx, and I'll bring the carx back online if and when my consumption exceeds what I can add each day with the kalk.

What I'm thinking I'll do is to figure out my daily evaporation rate to set as a max ceiling for the amount of kalkwasser I can add each day. Then I'll start dosing kalkwasser using a dosing pump connected to my GHL controller. I'll monitor my PH, and stop dosing if it ever gets too high at any point. What I'm not sure of is how to figure out how much kalk I should dose each day. I'd like to continue to keep my alk and calc levels steady as I transition to kalk. Should I measure my carx effluent to figure out my daily consumption? If so, should I go by the calcium, or the alkalinity level in the effluent?

IMO, unless you set the high pH target unusually low, it will most likely just be an emergency shut off for overdose scenarios.

In order to know in advance how much to use as a starting dose, knowledge of your current dose is useful (say, in dKH per day).

Otherwise, I'd just estimate it by considering the type of reef tank. If it is SPS oriented, I'd start at full strength for all evaporation.

 

[Dave-T]

Thanks, yes - that's what I'm asking, how to figure out my current consumption based on what I'm putting in out of my calcium reactor. So I should go by the alkalinity, not the calcium, in my effluent? Is it as simple as measuring the dKh of my effluent, and then doing the math using the daily volume of my effluent dosage and my system volume?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, yes - that's what I'm asking, how to figure out my current consumption based on what I'm putting in out of my calcium reactor. So I should go by the alkalinity, not the calcium, in my effluent? Is it as simple as measuring the dKh of my effluent, and then doing the math using the daily volume of my effluent dosage and my system volume?

Yes, one way is to measure the tank and effluent alk (not calcium, it will be too noisy), take the difference, and multiply by the volume per day.

 

[Dave-T]

Thanks. Based on that, I should dose 5L of Kalkwasser per day. I’ll do that, and keep an eye on it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Track the alk. Within a couple of days you’ll get a good indication of what else may be needed, or less dosing.

 

[jmichaelh7]

I'm running a 240 gallon tank (350 gallon system) using a calcium reactor. I have reasonably stable alk and calc, but have decided to start using kalk instead of the carx, and I'll bring the carx back online if and when my consumption exceeds what I can add each day with the kalk.

What I'm thinking I'll do is to figure out my daily evaporation rate to set as a max ceiling for the amount of kalkwasser I can add each day. Then I'll start dosing kalkwasser using a dosing pump connected to my GHL controller. I'll monitor my PH, and stop dosing if it ever gets too high at any point. What I'm not sure of is how to figure out how much kalk I should dose each day. I'd like to continue to keep my alk and calc levels steady as I transition to kalk. Should I measure my carx effluent to figure out my daily consumption? If so, should I go by the calcium, or the alkalinity level in the effluent?

Why the switch ?

 

[Dave-T]

Why the switch ?

To bring my pH up, and I think I can keep alk at a more stable number with kalk.

 

[jmichaelh7]

To bring my pH up, and I think I can keep alk at a more stable number with kalk.

You can keep alk at a more stable number that a carx ? That’s interesting

I know ph hands down is a winner going that route . I’ve thought about it

 

[Vet reef]

And make sure you rest your magnesium after your kalk unit is going you will need mag supplement for the top off aswell just saying.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

And make sure you rest your magnesium after your kalk unit is going you will need mag supplement for the top off aswell just saying.

Can you explain this further? So turn mag off ? Not sure I am following.

 

[Miami Reef]

Can you explain this further? So turn mag off ? Not sure I am following.

Just say NO to magnesium testing: RMM is born

OK, this thread has been many years in the making, and I'm posting it here since folks in the chem forum are probably already tired of all the threads relating to problematic magnesium testing. I'm going to propose a method, let's call it the Randy Magnesium Method, or RMM for short. All good...

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