Dosing kalkwasser not increasing ca?

davidryder · 07/06/2007, 02:20 AM

For about 2 months I have been adding 2 teaspoons of kalkwasser to a 2-gallon top-off jug which is refilled about twice a week. The plan is to move to a 5 gallon bucket as the 2 gallon is obviously too small.

Anyway, the first time I ever tested for CA it was 350. After more than 2 months of dosing kalk it's still at 350.

L/SPS Corals:

1 frogspawn with 4 heads
1 rock with porites covering it ("x-mas tree rock")

That's it. 90 gallon tank with 15g sump/refugium and a 25g refugium.

Am I not adding enough kalk? I have increased it to 4 teaspoons per 2 gallons of topoff starting today.

Coralline growth is very impressive but do I really have enough to keep the CA steady at 350?

I'm going to eventually move to a 2-part dosing system (CA RX is out of the question) but for now kalk is all I've got

Peter Eichler · 07/06/2007, 03:51 AM

Kalkwasser is not a good way to increase calcium. In fact it's not even enough to maintain calcium on systems with a higher demand because you're limited to replacing what's lost to evaporation. I would imagine you're getting more evaportaion than 4 gallons a week so you could drip more Kalwasser. But, what I would do if I were you is bump your levels up to where you want them and then drip the kalkwasser to maintain those levels.

McCrary · 07/06/2007, 04:06 AM

Try adding 45 mL of vinegar to every gallon of kalk, it will increase the amount of kalk that is absorbed by the water.

davidryder · 07/06/2007, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TurboSnail8898
Try adding 45 mL of vinegar to every gallon of kalk, it will increase the amount of kalk that is absorbed by the water.

I will definitely try that, thanks!

reefworm · 07/06/2007, 07:00 AM

that actually does work. I read the study from an article linked here somewhere years ago that explained how the additional carbon in the vinegar would allow for more/easier combination into calcium carbonate - what our animals use to build. I can't say there wasn't some other factor at work at the time, but I noticed a visible difference in my corals growth. Peter makes an excellent point, however, that kalk drip is better at maintenance than increasing. Visit the chemistry forum for Randy's DIY two-part calcium or you can buy the Bionic if you don't mind spending the $$ to bump up your levels and drip to maintain.

07/06/2007, 02:20 AM	#1
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	Dosing kalkwasser not increasing ca? For about 2 months I have been adding 2 teaspoons of kalkwasser to a 2-gallon top-off jug which is refilled about twice a week. The plan is to move to a 5 gallon bucket as the 2 gallon is obviously too small. Anyway, the first time I ever tested for CA it was 350. After more than 2 months of dosing kalk it's still at 350. L/SPS Corals: 1 frogspawn with 4 heads 1 rock with porites covering it ("x-mas tree rock") That's it. 90 gallon tank with 15g sump/refugium and a 25g refugium. Am I not adding enough kalk? I have increased it to 4 teaspoons per 2 gallons of topoff starting today. Coralline growth is very impressive but do I really have enough to keep the CA steady at 350? I'm going to eventually move to a 2-part dosing system (CA RX is out of the question) but for now kalk is all I've got __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

07/06/2007, 03:51 AM	#2
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	Kalkwasser is not a good way to increase calcium. In fact it's not even enough to maintain calcium on systems with a higher demand because you're limited to replacing what's lost to evaporation. I would imagine you're getting more evaportaion than 4 gallons a week so you could drip more Kalwasser. But, what I would do if I were you is bump your levels up to where you want them and then drip the kalkwasser to maintain those levels. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

07/06/2007, 04:06 AM	#3
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	Try adding 45 mL of vinegar to every gallon of kalk, it will increase the amount of kalk that is absorbed by the water. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

07/06/2007, 07:00 AM	#5
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	that actually does work. I read the study from an article linked here somewhere years ago that explained how the additional carbon in the vinegar would allow for more/easier combination into calcium carbonate - what our animals use to build. I can't say there wasn't some other factor at work at the time, but I noticed a visible difference in my corals growth. Peter makes an excellent point, however, that kalk drip is better at maintenance than increasing. Visit the chemistry forum for Randy's DIY two-part calcium or you can buy the Bionic if you don't mind spending the $$ to bump up your levels and drip to maintain. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school