When was Kalkwasser not enough for you?

[DP Reef]

I was wondering when people stopped using Kalkwasser and had to supplement with either dosing frequently or a calcium reactor.

Current stats:
50g w/ 15g in sump
.5-.75 Gallon evaporation with fully saturated kalk ATO
Tank running for 1 year (Rocks going on 1.5 years)

This setup currently keeps my Alk locked in at 9.0. I have smaller SPS colonies/frags and some LPS. Any guesses on when I'll have to change my calc/alk dosing method?

[ca1ore]

I haven't relied solely on Kalk for my alkalinity in years. If memory serves, a couple of decent sized clams were the precipitating event to dose.

[danil]

It's simple when your Kalk dosing can't keep up with your tank demand. For every setup this threshold is unique and depends on your livestock and evaporation rate. You can prolong it by installing fans and add some vinegar to Kalk but with sps corals and clams you'll hit the system limit sooner or later. Few people keep using it combining with other methods but I found it over complicated. Following the KISS approach I've switched to two parts with dosing pumps.

[AcroporAddict]

I use a calcium reactor and I dose kalk.

[Bdial]

I use a kalk rx and I need to dose 45 ml of esv bionic to supplement alk. No room for ca rx or id switch.

[DP Reef]

Yea, I bought two BRS dosers and have been waiting around for that point where kalk is not enough. I probably won't go the fan method and instead move over to supplementing with 2 part. Right now its easy.

Every time I fill up my 5g ATO (once a week) I dump in 13 teaspoons of kalkwasser shake it a few times and put my the cap/tube back in it. Very minimal work.

I'm guessing as a supplement, once I set up the 2 dosers, I'll just refill the dosing containers once a month. Overall this has to be less work than a reactor (for a 50g).

Check parameters once every 1 or 2 weeks and adjust dosing as necessary. I also do 5 gallon water changes once every 1-2 weeks.

So far it works......any ways to improve?

[higorc]

Originally Posted by dennispham

Yea, I bought two BRS dosers and have been waiting around for that point where kalk is not enough. I probably won't go the fan method and instead move over to supplementing with 2 part. Right now its easy.

Every time I fill up my 5g ATO (once a week) I dump in 13 teaspoons of kalkwasser shake it a few times and put my the cap/tube back in it. Very minimal work.

I'm guessing as a supplement, once I set up the 2 dosers, I'll just refill the dosing containers once a month. Overall this has to be less work than a reactor (for a 50g).

Check parameters once every 1 or 2 weeks and adjust dosing as necessary. I also do 5 gallon water changes once every 1-2 weeks.

So far it works......any ways to improve?

Nice tank dude!

I am in the same boat as you. I have had 2 BRS 1.1ML dosers for a while now just waiting for the time Kalk won't be enough anymore. So far Alk/Calcium reading are always steady at normal levels.

I mix 21 teaspoons of Kalk + 315ML of Vinegar in my RODI 7G ATO reservoir every 4-5 days for my 120G DT.


Higor

[lokii_37]

Originally Posted by higorc

Nice tank dude!

I am in the same boat as you. I have had 2 BRS 1.1ML dosers for a while now just waiting for the time Kalk won't be enough anymore. So far Alk/Calcium reading are always steady at normal levels.

I mix 21 tea spoon of Kalk + 315ML of Vinegar in my RODI 7G ATO reservoir every 4-5 days for my 120G DT.


Higor

You dose 63ml of vinegar a day? That seems like a lot.

[lokii_37]

In regards to the OP.

I add 5 tablespoons and about 10g of RO to my ATO every week. But I still dose Alk at about 60ml/day to keep my Alk at 8.5. This is for a 110g total volume system.

[higorc]

Originally Posted by lokii_37

You dose 63ml of vinegar a day? That seems like a lot.

I am following Randy's recommendation of 3 teaspoon of Kalk + 45ML per Gallon for the ATO reservoir.

Anything over 2 teaspoon of Kalk/gallon needs the vinegar to bind correctly... Been doing this for over a year now with no issues.


I couldn't find the Randy's discussion about it, but this is similar...http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...negar+and+kalk


Higor

[Dapg8gt]

I just recently added an avast kalk reactor to my tank in hopes that it would sustain the levels for a little while on my 105g. It's close but no cigar it's been on for about 2 weeks now and I am still dropping. It's very little like 1 dkh over a week but it's still dropping. I'm going to add my dosers back on after I get another estimate of a 3 day avg. I had to add 25ml of both cal and alk last night to bump back up to my target.

My tank is relatively young but I have a lot of sps and a lot of growth so I think it was just wishfull thinking that it would keep up.. If it gets to be a hassle I'll be going back to full 2 part or break out the Shuran CA rx I have and then maybe use the kalk with it.

Recent shot

[wcharon]

Originally Posted by lokii_37

In regards to the OP.

I add 5 tablespoons and about 10g of RO to my ATO every week. But I still dose Alk at about 60ml/day to keep my Alk at 8.5. This is for a 110g total volume system.

You can bump the Kalk to 2TSP per gal and that will help you use less Kalk. I use that in my 125 and only use 30ml of Alk.

[DP Reef]

I've thought about doing vineger instead of setting up the dosers. I guess if I can find the right ratio (via ref. discussion) that might be less work than kalk+dosers. Maybe not by much once its setup but its only 1 container to fill instead of 3. However, as someone mentioned above, I'm sure this will only last me so long.....wish I could figure if its sooner or later based on planned more frags and growth.

I know it sounds silly, but every little bit I shave off on maintenance time (while keeping great parameters) I can enjoy my tank more and also convince my wife to let me upgrade in a year!

[Decadence]

Using a stirrer with a lot of kalk in it will help you maximize the possible saturation. My tank was very heavily stocked with SPS before I needed to run a calcium reactor with the kalk. Keeping low nutrients and keeping your magnesium up will also help with alkalinity drops.

[Uncle Salty 05]

I use only kalk with vinegar, but have no SPS anymore.
My alk runs 9.5-11 and my calcium is 450.

[DP Reef]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Using a stirrer with a lot of kalk in it will help you maximize the possible saturation. My tank was very heavily stocked with SPS before I needed to run a calcium reactor with the kalk. Keeping low nutrients and keeping your magnesium up will also help with alkalinity drops.

My magnesium stays around 1300. From my understanding, a stirrer only gives you more certainty of dosing a saturated solution (due to excess powder always available), it doesn't increase the saturation point which is ~2tsp/gallon. When I mix my ATO I put 13 teaspons which I think is excessive. Pretty confident I have a saturated solution and its less maintenance then another reactor. I just ultimatly waste some if when I dump the container to refill. Anyways with kalk, I'm still capped at my daily dosing amount w/o fans or vineger.

Regarding Vinegar.......do you end up getting 3 tsp/gallon w/ vinegar? So I have about 50% wiggle room on my suppliment capabilities until I need to change my basic tactic. Let's see how much of that a maxima clam does

[AcroporAddict]

Here's why I run a calcium reactor and dose Kalk.

[Uncle Salty 05]

Why do you dump the container to refill?
I only dump mine like once a year after 1" of sludge has built up.
You can put 50 teaspoons in and the water can only hold so much.
Vinegar does allow more to stay in suspension, but my main reason for adding vinegar is carbon dosing.

[Uncle Salty 05]

Acro Addict, in general I do not like BB tanks, but I must say yours is impressive.

I like the old school VHO and halides as well.

[AcroporAddict]

Originally Posted by Uncle Salty 05

Acro Addict, in general I do not like BB tanks, but I must say yours is impressive.

I like the old school VHO and halides as well.

Thanks. I set this 465 up about 16 months ago. The bottom is a hybrid type with 1/2" dark grey PVC on top and 1/2" glass on the bottom. The darker color PVC lends itself a bit better to bare bottom in the looks department vs glass. Also, I figured I would rather add substrate to a BB tank than remove it from an established reef with substrate, which is a real pain to do (done it).

Main reason I went BB is to run my MP60s at full throttle in their program cycle, because that is impossible with a substrate without blowing it around all over the place.

[Uncle Salty 05]

Very nicely done!!!

[DP Reef]

Unclesalt:

I dump the sludge weekly due to my understanding of potential heavy mineral deposits
forming. What I did not know or a have a feeling for is how much of the stuff on the buttom is undissolved kalkwasser and how much is it deposits. I currently use ESV kalkwasser.

How big is your ATO? Maybe I am just wasting leftover powder/water. I'm sure my lawn doesn't like it . The fact that you go for a long time without dumping it, maybe I'm just doing an extra unecassary step.

[Uncle Salty 05]

I you Mrs. Wages pickling lime.
Food grade calcium hydroxide at 1/4 the price.
I have 3/4" PVC pipe running the length of my 10 gallon tank with eggcrate over that so my aqualifter won't pump sludge into my tank.
I put 3 heaping tablespooons of Mrs. Wages in every two weeks and add 3-4 oz of vinegar everytime I fill it (about every 5 days).
The aqualifter is on a digital lamp timer, it runs for 10 minutes @ 2 am and 10 minutes @ 6 am.
The timing will need to be adjusted for tank size and room humidity.
At zero head a new aqualifter will pump a gallon every 8 minutes.

[JPMagyar]

Originally Posted by dennispham

I was wondering when people stopped using Kalkwasser and had to supplement with either dosing frequently or a calcium reactor.

Current stats:
50g w/ 15g in sump
.5-.75 Gallon evaporation with fully saturated kalk ATO
Tank running for 1 year (Rocks going on 1.5 years)

This setup currently keeps my Alk locked in at 9.0. I have smaller SPS colonies/frags and some LPS. Any guesses on when I'll have to change my calc/alk dosing method?

It worked for me for years,but I always had a problem with calcium carbonate buildup on my pumps and the waterline of my display tank. The pump trouble and the edge trouble stopped when I switched to pure Calcium Reactor for supplement. I used a SWAG for running my reactor for years, but then I came across this website . . .

Calcium Reactor Setup


after following the directions above I stopped needing to supplement or dose. It takes some work, but is well worth the effort if you are "in it for the long run",

My tank's most famous photo . . .

[AcroporAddict]

I also empty my reactor of any remaining sludge when I add more kalk, mainly because I do not see how the excess sludge is any good for my stirring pump's lifespan. I try to add enough kalk to the reactor to last just more than two weeks, then I empty the reactor rand start over. That way as well, the pump is only working to stir fresh kalk and not recycling useless crud.