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Kalk dosing question.


Haelstrom

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I have most of what I need to start dosing Kalk but I'm a bit worried. Kalk will raise the PH in my tank. My tank stays between 8.30 and 8.40 ph already. I'm worried that the Kalk will raise it too much. I have RKL with the PH probe. I plan to use it to make sure I don't over does kalk and raise my ph too. But this will mean that my tank will not recieve the ATO that it needs either. And if I dose kalk seperate to my ATO will I be able to dose enough Kalk to make it worth it. Any suggestions or thoughts?

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Why are you wanting to dose Kalk? Like you stated, your tank water's pH is already fairly high, so you might not be able to dose as much as you want.

 

I feel that this is a better case for using two part solution.

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Make sure to calibrate your probe with quality solutions. One at 7.0 PH and one at 10.0 PH.

 

If this has been done and it's still high then 2 part is the way to go!

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I calibrated the probe about 6 months ago so I will go ahead and make sure it's accurate.

 

I wanted to dose kalkwasser due to the ease and cost. And I don't have that much coral. And I already bought the kalkwasser stuff.

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Maybe switch to a different brand of salt that doesn't mix up to as high of a pH; then you'd be able to use more.

 

Some people use vinegar so they can add more Kalk. I get that it lowers pH, but I'm not sure what the added carbon source does; is it like dosing vodka? Maybe someone else can chime in on this point.

Likewise, one of the problems at higher pH (above, say, 8.2, but becoming progressively more problematic with each incremental rise) is the abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate, resulting in a drop in calcium and alkalinity, and the resultant clogging of heaters and pump impellers. If the aquarium's pH is 8.4 or higher (as often happens in an aquarium using limewater), then it is especially important that both the calcium and alkalinity levels be suitably maintained (that is, neither too low, inhibiting biological calcification, nor too high, causing excessive abiotic precipitation on equipment).

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php
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In my 5 gallon ato I use 1 tsp and that is more than enough to maintain my levels using reef crystals. I started with 4 tsp in the ato and it raised dkh to fast. The 1-2 tsp per gallon was WAY to much, so start there and test accordingly. I do weekly 5 gallon water changes and before dosing lime water levels at day 1 of water change would be 460 ca, 7.9 dkh, mag 1440, and ph of 8.1. By end of week my ca would be 440, dkh 6.5, mag 1390, and ph would always be stable. My issues were with dkh dropping so I needed to dose to keep dkh stable. Less is more, and 1 tsp for now keeps levels in check. I use pickling lime, very cheap and is the same as the reef specific kalkwassers sold.

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Thanks for all the info. Guess now I have to figure out if vinegar will lower the PH enough to off set what the kalk will raise it. My PH first thing in the morning is about 8.2 and creeps up to 8.38 by late evening. Which may be too high safely dose kalk even with vinegar. May have to take your suggestion seabass and use 2 part. Other than equipment is 2 part more expensive? I also dont have much coral. I currently have a torch, hammer, frog spawn, (each are about 4 inchs in diameter when out) small patch of polyps (bout 3 inch diameter patch), star polyps (about 6 inch diameter patch), couple of ricordeas, and a one 3-4 inch tall monti. All of this in a 75 gallon. Planning on more but that is all for now.

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Thanks Seabass. All in all its actually easier than kalk. Since you can't really dose kalk all at once. I'm thinking 2 part is going to be the way. Now to just slip the purchase by the wife with out her knowing.

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So I recalibrated my PH Probe and embarrassingly it was off. By a lot. My 8.2 - 8.4 was actually 8.0 - 8.2. It was a whole .2 off. So I'll be adding PH Probe calibration to a every couple of months schedule.

 

So with a PH of 8.0 to 8.2 I be able to use Kalk. But after looking into 2 part I think it would be even easier to dose and about the same cost to set up. I already have a 1.1 ML doser. Just need the start up kit from BRS for 2 part and one more doser. About $200. And a new Kalk stirrer would run me $150+.

 

Which is better? Kalk or 2 Part? I'm leaning toward 2 part now as I will never out grow it. Just increase your dosing amounts.

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"Better' is a subjective term :)

 

Kalkwasser's benefits:

 

1. Keeps pH relatively high

2. Precipitates phosphates

3. Doesn't need to be dosed separately

4. Inexpensive

5. Saturated solution is perfect for my gravity fed ATO.

6. Doesn't change the ionic balance or salinity

7. 'Balanced' cal and alk without needing separate measurements

 

Kalkwassers short comings:

 

1. Limited amounts can be satiurated in solution (likely supplementation needed in tanks heavily stocked with stony corals).

2. Dry dust is very fine and can irritate the respiratory tract, so care must be taken when mixing.

3. If ovedosed it can cause a rapid rise in pH which can be fatal

4. Can't be used to correct imbalances between cal & alk.

 

I've been using Kalkwasser exclusively for three decades with success. With either product magnesium levels should be checked periodically and adjusted, if necessary.

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Thats 1 vote kalk.

 

One question with the kalk. If I go that route I was looking at the Avast stirrer. They claim a 2 week period before needing to replace the kalk as you add a lot of kalk and let the stiring process keep the solution saturated. So with dosing full strength kalk solution to a tank that has a light need to cal and alk continuously could this cause issues? I assume fully saturated lime water will exceed my needs for cal and alk at the moment. Would it be better if I had the kalk on a timer rather than my ATO? I know I'm asking a lot but I'm trying not to add a daily chore.

 

BTW this is on a 75g tank.

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Don't get too fancy. Just mix two teaspoons per gallon of topoff and make sure not to pull water off the very bottom of the container and you'll be fine. I am able to reduce my 2 part usage by using kalc, from 115ml down to 90ml a day, but it can't really keep up with a growing tank heavily stocked with corals. Do both and be happy. :)

 

Kalk raises my PH by .05 at the most. I wish it did more because I suffer from high home co2 and therefor low PH, but it doesn't.

 

My topoff is on a timer, I have never done topoff with floats. I know everyone dose floats but for my money a timer is the way to go. I topoff every 5 minutes for 20 seconds at a time. I vary based on evaporation but once I dial it in the rise and fall of the water level is miniscule. I did this in my 40 and never had issues, in my 150 it's even easier. Do this plus Kalc and you get a very steady and slow addition that works well.

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Maybe switch to a different brand of salt that doesn't mix up to as high of a pH; then you'd be able to use more.

 

Some people use vinegar so they can add more Kalk. I get that it lowers pH, but I'm not sure what the added carbon source does; is it like dosing vodka? Maybe someone else can chime in on this point.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

 

I've never really experienced any drop in pH from Calcium Acetate and the carbon source isn't really proven one way or the other. It is possible it act as a carbon source in anoxic zones, but normally the acetate is quickly metabolized to bicarb, water, and CO2. Calcium acetate outside of the tank has a very high pH so I think that offsets the CO2 gassed off by breaking down the acetate and I have a big skimmer so that helps a lot too. If you have none of those, you can run a little bit of plain kalk in your ATO in addition to dosing calcium acetate and that will offset the CO2 given off by the acetate.

 

Using Kalk alone I wasn't able to put a dent in my 2-part dosing, but using calcium acetate I was able to cut my 2-part way, way down. Considering a gallon of vinegar is a couple bucks and a half gallon of Kalk is $12 and will supply my tank for years, I much prefer it to 2-part. However, it is much more potent than regular saturated kalk water so I only run it through a dosing pump.

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I have most of what I need to start dosing Kalk but I'm a bit worried. Kalk will raise the PH in my tank. My tank stays between 8.30 and 8.40 ph already. I'm worried that the Kalk will raise it too much. I have RKL with the PH probe. I plan to use it to make sure I don't over does kalk and raise my ph too. But this will mean that my tank will not recieve the ATO that it needs either. And if I dose kalk seperate to my ATO will I be able to dose enough Kalk to make it worth it. Any suggestions or thoughts?

 

Are your calcium and alkalinity constantly dropping in your tank?

With just a few corals and in doing regular water changes you really shouldn't have to dose anything?

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