Water changes vs kalk vs 2 part

Jordangil · Sep 18, 2012

I am starting my tank up soon and I am trying to figure out how I want to do the whole dosing / salt thing . On my last tank I did strictly weekly water changes (14g tank) and had pretty good results . This tank is a 80g , So my question is there a salt out there thats good enough that I could do weekly water changes and not have to dose ? I hate dosing and everything about it I don't like how a drop to much can spike **** and make the coral recede . I will if I have to but I would rather get brightwell or tropic Marin salt and do water changes , I know a lot of people dose kalk but that seems way to complicated for me . If I have to dose 2 part I will but I would definitely prefer not to , same with kalk .

Downbeach · Sep 18, 2012

This is all dependent on your bio load but, for a while a good "reef" type of salt mix will probably provide enough Ca and Alk that you won't have to do any dosing with a good periodic water change schedule. Using a little kalk in your top off water (1 tsp. to a gallon of RO/DI water) will go a long way to maintain those elements between your WC's, without overdosing anything.

beaslbob · Sep 18, 2012

Gee you forgot one. calcium reactor. LOL

Anyrate I would do the diy two part mainly because of expense (or lack of) and easy of use.

But then what I actually did was:

Setting up the tank with sufficient macro's to balance and stabilize the system.

Do the initial diy 2 part balancing (calcium ~400, alk 8-10 DKH, magnisium 1350ppm)

Let it run like that.

I do add some mrs Wages picking lime (kalk) to the top off water. Which may or may not provide some benefits beyond just the calcium addition. Possibly precipating out say phosphates or something?

Jordangil · Sep 18, 2012

Kalk in top off ..... I like the sound of that . I am thinking about using brightwell neomarine salt and doing weekly water changes . The 2 part DIY wouldn't really appeal to me having to have 30 bags of stuff then mixing it lol.

Jordangil · Sep 18, 2012

I just read though that the ato thing isn't good because if for some reason it's really hot in your house or something and you get a lot of top of that day say 2 gallons it will spike levels.

beaslbob · Sep 18, 2012

Jordangil said:
I just read though that the ato thing isn't good because if for some reason it's really hot in your house or something and you get a lot of top of that day say 2 gallons it will spike levels.

Actually an ATO sound good until you consider what would happen should the overflow fail ( hob-- break siphon, any system blockage). What happens is the water in the sump lowers, the ato cuts in until the ato runs outta water. Usually meaning a display flood.

So I would prefer a drip system with perhaps kalk.

Just a thought worth .02 at most.

Downbeach · Sep 18, 2012

Although I have a good ATO, I only use it when I'm on vacation. My evaporation rate is about 2 gal./day, so I just add the two tsp of Mrs. Wages when I refill the container w/ RO/DI water, give it a good shaking, seal it and use it the next day.

ironworker · Sep 18, 2012

Jordangil said:
Kalk in top off ..... I like the sound of that . I am thinking about using brightwell neomarine salt and doing weekly water changes . The 2 part DIY wouldn't really appeal to me having to have 30 bags of stuff then mixing it lol.

why do you need 30 vbags of anything one of each should last for months, in an 80 gal system.

ironworker · Sep 18, 2012

Jordangil said:
I just read though that the ato thing isn't good because if for some reason it's really hot in your house or something and you get a lot of top of that day say 2 gallons it will spike levels.

you shouldnt see a large spike even if this does occur. my overflow failed yesterday and my ato timed out but not before dumping almost a DAYS WORTH OF LIMEWATER IN MY TANK. yes i had a spike but it wasnt much. if you dont want to dose i would look into kalk or a calcium reactor. if running kalk just makes sure your ato can time out and shut down use a valve to control the flow so it doesnt add a huge amout in case of overflow or return failures.