Adding Kalk as part of Top-off (noob)

[JoeMomma]

I have mixed a bunch of kalkwasser with my RO-DI in a container to add as water evaporates. If I get way too much evaporation from the tank do I risk overdosing kalk?

I know we're not supposed to add the top layer and the bottom sediment in the container. Do I just dump the water in the container when the level gets low?

[Tswifty]

Yes that is definitely a risk with kalk, as it carries a pH of around 12.

I mix the kalk in a seperate bucket with ro/di water, and dump it into the ATO reservoir. Then just make sure the tube or pump that adds the water to your tank is elevated off of the bottom of the container, so no sediment is sucked into it.

I make 10 gallons a week, and just add it to whatever is left in the reservoir.

[JoeMomma]

Thanks for the fast response.

I made about 4 gallons and have slowly been adding it to a 29 gallon tank over the course of the week. I'd say there is about a gallon left of very sedimentary water.

If I'm adding slowly like this am I running any risk? I guess I'd have to measure ph to make sure.

Does the remaining kalk water go in the drain or should I add RO/DI to is for next weeks top off?

[Tswifty]

wait... are you topping off with the kalkwasser by hand?

[JoeMomma]

I have no dosing device. That is how I was instructed to do by the owner of the tank (which I am babysitting)...

[Tswifty]

If you are I would recommend making a kalk drip instead. This way its addition is spread out over the course of the day. It's a very easy and cheap DIY.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/po...sode-44-a.html

Also, here's a thread I started on using kalk that has a lot of good information on it:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1453924

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by JoeMomma
I have no dosing device. That is how I was instructed to do by the owner of the tank (which I am babysitting)...

Well if you're babysitting someone's tank I would do it how they ask you to.

Honestly I think they're are better ways of doing it, but I know when I leave instructions for someone to watch my tank, I want them followed exactly. That way if something goes wrong the blame falls on me, not the person watching the tank.

However, I would leave the guy the link to the DIY kalk dripper to have a look at when he gets back.

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by JoeMomma
Does the remaining kalk water go in the drain or should I add RO/DI to is for next weeks top off?

Since you are dosing this way, I would pitch the old stuff and make a new batch.

[JoeMomma]

Well the guy is gone for a year. I will look into the DIY kalk dripper this weekend and see if I can get it created.

I will also read the other thread in its entirety.

As for mixing and pouring, if I keep doing that I'll try to make a very dilute mixture and add it many times as opposed to once for the day.

Thanks for the help Tswifty8. Reefcentral comes through once again, in lightning speed!

[fivesmallworlds]

I'll second Tswifty8's replies!

[LJA]

I use kalk in my ATO bucket (5 gallon paint bucket) and I have a small, very small powerhead inside of the bucket to constantly mix it togeather to prevent sediment on the bottom. Might help as well.

[Agu]

Didn't read all the links but you can make this kalk dripper/doser for next to nothing, it's a lot less work than adding kalk several times a day.

DIY Kalk Dripper

[HaleMoana]

So, is this in addition to your normal ATO? Do you run a normal ATO with just RO/DI... AND this DIY kalk too. Or can you just mix Kalk directly into your ATO reservoir?

My ATO resrvoir goes through about 1 gallon every 10 hours.