kalk additions tank looking ill

jumpincactus · 06/16/2006, 01:29 PM

I finally got my calcium levels to 420 and alkalinity to 8.5 DKH all other parameters were excellent. I have been dripping kalkwasser for one week now and there is a noticable difference in the happiness of the inhabitants of the tank. Corals not expanding well some star polyps not opening at all.

I am really baffled by this as the water param are still in acceptable ranges. But there is a connection between the addition of kalk. I am doing a one drip per second, actually is not even enough to account for all my evap. I am letting my autotopoff handle the rest.

What could be causing the reactions I am seeing in my tank. Is this just a intitial phase with a new addition to my system? What should I be checking for or concerned about??

Should I stop dripping and just go back to a two part additive? My LFS told me that anyone they knew of that used limewater had nothing but problems... Is this a fact?

Please offer some detailed assitanse on this.

kevin2000 · 06/16/2006, 01:47 PM

Nothing obvious to me.

The prime issue with Kalkwasser is its tendancy to temporarily raise PH ... thats one of the reasons that people add it slowly and many only add during the nighttime when PH tends to naturally drop in the tank. Make sure you keep an eye on PH while your dripping.

bertoni · 06/16/2006, 02:54 PM

I've dripped limewater for years with no problems. So have many other people. I agree that the pH might be an issue. If the tank pH is getting too high, some vinegar might help. This article discusses dosing limewater:

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

06/16/2006, 01:29 PM	#1
jumpincactus Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 237	kalk additions tank looking ill I finally got my calcium levels to 420 and alkalinity to 8.5 DKH all other parameters were excellent. I have been dripping kalkwasser for one week now and there is a noticable difference in the happiness of the inhabitants of the tank. Corals not expanding well some star polyps not opening at all. I am really baffled by this as the water param are still in acceptable ranges. But there is a connection between the addition of kalk. I am doing a one drip per second, actually is not even enough to account for all my evap. I am letting my autotopoff handle the rest. What could be causing the reactions I am seeing in my tank. Is this just a intitial phase with a new addition to my system? What should I be checking for or concerned about?? Should I stop dripping and just go back to a two part additive? My LFS told me that anyone they knew of that used limewater had nothing but problems... Is this a fact? Please offer some detailed assitanse on this. __________________ And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Current Tank Info: 110 gal Acrylic 44 x 24 x 24 Cherry stand/canopy Sequence Dart running closed loop Ampmaster2100 running 30 gal fuge/sump. Lights 2- 250 watt Ushio 14,000k and 4 -96 watt True actinics.

06/16/2006, 02:54 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I've dripped limewater for years with no problems. So have many other people. I agree that the pH might be an issue. If the tank pH is getting too high, some vinegar might help. This article discusses dosing limewater: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/16/2006, 01:47 PM	#2
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Nothing obvious to me. The prime issue with Kalkwasser is its tendancy to temporarily raise PH ... thats one of the reasons that people add it slowly and many only add during the nighttime when PH tends to naturally drop in the tank. Make sure you keep an eye on PH while your dripping.