How much Kalk?

jharding08 · 05/04/2016, 04:36 PM

I have a 33 gallon Frag tank that gets a 5 gallon water change once a week. I dont supplement any additional calcium or carbonate. I'm noticing my alk and calcium are dropping, so I figure I'll use alk to keep them stable.

The tank is 33 gallons, the sump is about 12-15 gallons and I use a 5 gallon water container for my top off reservoir. I'm thinking of mixing kalk in my top off. I use a float switch and an aqua lifter connected to my apex to top off water every half hour.

How much kalk should I start with to raise alk and ca a bit?

thegrun · 05/04/2016, 04:37 PM

1/2 teaspoon per gallon

bif24701 · 05/04/2016, 06:08 PM

Do not use Kalk for raising calcium and ALK. Use two part for that. Kalk can/will raise your PH too much. Use kalk to replace calcium and Alk equal to amount used

Aaron

ncaldwell · 05/04/2016, 06:38 PM

I used the kalk drip to slowly raise my calcium and alk to recomended levels over a week and had no ph issues, but definitely don't try and use kalk to get it right all at once like bif said.

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Brieninsac · 05/04/2016, 06:59 PM

First, you need to get your alkalinity and calcium to where you want it, then start kalkwasser. The amount depends on how many corals you have. But more then likely a tsp. per gallon will be fine.

thegrun · 05/04/2016, 08:41 PM

I'm sorry I misunderstood your question. I agree first get your parameters in order, then start with the kalkwasser. At that point since your demand is low I would start with dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of kalk per gallon of water.

jharding08 · 05/05/2016, 11:59 AM

OK, So I'll do a water change ( 5 gallons, IO salt) and see where my Alk and CA are. Then mix up some soda ash and calcium carbonate (Seperately of course) and drip them until I get my alk to 7.5 and Ca to 420 or so.

Then mix 5 tsp of kalk in my 5 gallon ATO container and let the apex and float switch take over. At the end of the 5 gallons of kalk, I'll see where my Alk and Ca are in comparison after another 5gal WC.

Sound good?

sixpackgarage · 05/05/2016, 02:14 PM

I run a TLF kalk reactor pushed by my ATO. Typically 2 heaping tablespoons a week keeps up with demand for me. Key is test your water every day. My reactor also discharges into my overflow, so the water has to travel through the drain and sump and back up so there's really good mixing before the top off water ever hits the main tank. pH does surge in the sump, but comes back down pretty quickly. I have never seen pH over 8.3 with the amount I'm using.

05/04/2016, 04:36 PM	#1
jharding08 BlueWorldAquatics.com Join Date: May 2012 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 657	How much Kalk? I have a 33 gallon Frag tank that gets a 5 gallon water change once a week. I dont supplement any additional calcium or carbonate. I'm noticing my alk and calcium are dropping, so I figure I'll use alk to keep them stable. The tank is 33 gallons, the sump is about 12-15 gallons and I use a 5 gallon water container for my top off reservoir. I'm thinking of mixing kalk in my top off. I use a float switch and an aqua lifter connected to my apex to top off water every half hour. How much kalk should I start with to raise alk and ca a bit? __________________ Stats: 180 g Mixed SPS/LPS reef tank, 30 gallon sump, live rock, GFO\Carbon, AquaMaxx AM250 in-sump skimmer, felt filter socks, cleaning crew

05/04/2016, 06:08 PM	#3
bif24701 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Florida, FWB Posts: 3,389	Do not use Kalk for raising calcium and ALK. Use two part for that. Kalk can/will raise your PH too much. Use kalk to replace calcium and Alk equal to amount used Aaron __________________ 180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant

05/04/2016, 06:59 PM	#5
Brieninsac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 782	First, you need to get your alkalinity and calcium to where you want it, then start kalkwasser. The amount depends on how many corals you have. But more then likely a tsp. per gallon will be fine. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 350 (73gal/18gal sump) / Kessil a360WE Lights

05/05/2016, 11:59 AM	#7
jharding08 BlueWorldAquatics.com Join Date: May 2012 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 657	OK, So I'll do a water change ( 5 gallons, IO salt) and see where my Alk and CA are. Then mix up some soda ash and calcium carbonate (Seperately of course) and drip them until I get my alk to 7.5 and Ca to 420 or so. Then mix 5 tsp of kalk in my 5 gallon ATO container and let the apex and float switch take over. At the end of the 5 gallons of kalk, I'll see where my Alk and Ca are in comparison after another 5gal WC. Sound good? __________________ Stats: 180 g Mixed SPS/LPS reef tank, 30 gallon sump, live rock, GFO\Carbon, AquaMaxx AM250 in-sump skimmer, felt filter socks, cleaning crew

05/05/2016, 02:14 PM	#8
sixpackgarage reef mechanic Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 819	I run a TLF kalk reactor pushed by my ATO. Typically 2 heaping tablespoons a week keeps up with demand for me. Key is test your water every day. My reactor also discharges into my overflow, so the water has to travel through the drain and sump and back up so there's really good mixing before the top off water ever hits the main tank. pH does surge in the sump, but comes back down pretty quickly. I have never seen pH over 8.3 with the amount I'm using. __________________ my build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2512689 my fuge thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2523500 Current Tank Info: DSA NEO 65G reef powered by Kessil

05/04/2016, 04:37 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	1/2 teaspoon per gallon

05/04/2016, 06:38 PM	#4
ncaldwell Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 241	I used the kalk drip to slowly raise my calcium and alk to recomended levels over a week and had no ph issues, but definitely don't try and use kalk to get it right all at once like bif said. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

05/04/2016, 08:41 PM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I'm sorry I misunderstood your question. I agree first get your parameters in order, then start with the kalkwasser. At that point since your demand is low I would start with dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of kalk per gallon of water.