adding kalkk to topoff water.dumb question....

jbird69 · 12/25/2008, 11:54 PM

I have heard about adding kalkwasser to topoff water. Can someone explain this.? If this is common practice, how much are you putting in your ato water and does it replace the need to add 2 part? Sory for the dumb question but I know exactly nothing about kalkwasser.

Thanks

Jay

Hop · 12/26/2008, 12:09 AM

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

A little reading to get you going

No way someone could sum it up in a few posts IMO!

Playa-1 · 12/26/2008, 03:24 AM

I agree with Hop, That article is a must read if your thinking about going with Kalk.

nmbeg · 12/26/2008, 03:27 AM

also see this:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1333027

and this:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1333028

Sk8r · 12/26/2008, 09:59 AM

NOT a substitute for reading those threads: there ARE ways to get into trouble, but in short, yes, it handles alk and cal relatively safely and the characteristics of ro/di water and kalk powder assure the right amount will dissolve even if you mismeasure a bit.
The trouble you can get into, not an all-inclusive list:
1. kalk overdose, like a topoff accident, but turning your tank cloudy and spiking the ph. Curable and relatively damage free---keep a bottle of Schweppes Bar Soda on hand to manage ph should this happen.
2. precipitate. If you have an alk test kit expire and start trying to adjust, (I did)---you can end up with precipitate in your lines. Curable, but messy. BE VERY SURE YOUR ALK/CAL tests are up to snuff.
3. kalk does not handle the 3rd component of the alk/cal/mg triad. You must periodically test (weekly) and add mg when the mg reading starts to drop.
4. kalk does not appreciably raise alk/cal, it only maintains it. You must hand-dose alk/cal supplement to get the reading where you want it, THEN run your kalk.
5. if you spill the stuff it's worse than powdered sugar for cleanup. Be very careful of your carpet.
6. kalk is not enough for heavily coraled tanks above 100g. If you're that size, you probably need a calcium reactor.
7. a kalk reactor is not really any better than a kalk still reservoir (ATO reservoir with kalk in it). It can be less messy, but I didn't find it so.
8. DO NOT inject white kalk slurry into your tank. You want mildly filmy water. Stirring kalk once is enough. It will stay dissolved in the right amount. Do not run your topoff for about 12 hours after you have just added new kalk to your reservoir: let the extra settle out to the bottom. Likewise do not put your ATO pump on the bottom of the reservoir where all the stuff settles out: prop it up on eggcrate or a box or old jar, anything so it doesn't suck up slurry.

jefathome · 12/26/2008, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the tips. I'm thinking of trying this soon.

12/25/2008, 11:54 PM	#1
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	adding kalkk to topoff water.dumb question.... I have heard about adding kalkwasser to topoff water. Can someone explain this.? If this is common practice, how much are you putting in your ato water and does it replace the need to add 2 part? Sory for the dumb question but I know exactly nothing about kalkwasser. Thanks Jay __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

12/26/2008, 12:09 AM	#2
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm A little reading to get you going No way someone could sum it up in a few posts IMO! __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

12/26/2008, 09:59 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	NOT a substitute for reading those threads: there ARE ways to get into trouble, but in short, yes, it handles alk and cal relatively safely and the characteristics of ro/di water and kalk powder assure the right amount will dissolve even if you mismeasure a bit. The trouble you can get into, not an all-inclusive list: 1. kalk overdose, like a topoff accident, but turning your tank cloudy and spiking the ph. Curable and relatively damage free---keep a bottle of Schweppes Bar Soda on hand to manage ph should this happen. 2. precipitate. If you have an alk test kit expire and start trying to adjust, (I did)---you can end up with precipitate in your lines. Curable, but messy. BE VERY SURE YOUR ALK/CAL tests are up to snuff. 3. kalk does not handle the 3rd component of the alk/cal/mg triad. You must periodically test (weekly) and add mg when the mg reading starts to drop. 4. kalk does not appreciably raise alk/cal, it only maintains it. You must hand-dose alk/cal supplement to get the reading where you want it, THEN run your kalk. 5. if you spill the stuff it's worse than powdered sugar for cleanup. Be very careful of your carpet. 6. kalk is not enough for heavily coraled tanks above 100g. If you're that size, you probably need a calcium reactor. 7. a kalk reactor is not really any better than a kalk still reservoir (ATO reservoir with kalk in it). It can be less messy, but I didn't find it so. 8. DO NOT inject white kalk slurry into your tank. You want mildly filmy water. Stirring kalk once is enough. It will stay dissolved in the right amount. Do not run your topoff for about 12 hours after you have just added new kalk to your reservoir: let the extra settle out to the bottom. Likewise do not put your ATO pump on the bottom of the reservoir where all the stuff settles out: prop it up on eggcrate or a box or old jar, anything so it doesn't suck up slurry. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/26/2008, 10:03 AM	#6
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Thanks for the tips. I'm thinking of trying this soon. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

12/26/2008, 03:24 AM	#3
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I agree with Hop, That article is a must read if your thinking about going with Kalk.

12/26/2008, 03:27 AM	#4
nmbeg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 894	also see this: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1333027 and this: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1333028