Kat's Ol' Max

[Squared]

Thanks, I can't figure out what it could be behavior wise he's still doing fine but it just appeared out of no where. No fish have been added since April.

 

what color are the sores? how big are they? are the bulges or flat on the skin? sorry to bomb you with questions but it's a possibility my fish *might* have some sores. he is acting and eating well too, like your goby.

[ZephNYC]

I just texted you. I'm done with KALK. It's BS.

 

Dont get your bat panties in a bunch...you simply were not using enough. You need a super saturated solution of at least 3 tsp per gallon. Thats when the magic happensssss.

[kgoldy]

I hear kalk doesn't work as it's supposed to when exposed to high levels of light in the "magenta" part of the spectrum.

[metrokat]

I hear kalk doesn't work as it's supposed to when exposed to high levels of light in the "magenta" part of the spectrum.

My KALK reservoir is not pink.

 

Dont get your bat panties in a bunch...you simply were not using enough. You need a super saturated solution of at least 3 tsp per gallon. Thats when the magic happensssss.

This is you

This is me when you talk

 

Or maybe this is more appropriate

 

Or is kalk done with you?

It's possible the KALK+2 I got WAS A LEMON!

 

Why Kat ?

not working as it's supposed to.

 

what color are the sores? how big are they? are the bulges or flat on the skin? sorry to bomb you with questions but it's a possibility my fish *might* have some sores. he is acting and eating well too, like your goby.

Thanks Sq. The fishy is all better now.

Edited August 5, 2012 by metrokat

[Squared]

no i mean what did they look like???

 

gotta see if my fishy is ok

[metrokat]

no i mean what did they look like???

 

gotta see if my fishy is ok

oh. I took some closeups here http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...t&p=3975267

It was a whitish bulge, which then looked like an open sore (that wasn't really red or anything)

[Nano sapiens]

I just texted you. I'm done with KALK. It's BS.

 

Oh noes, don't give up on Kalkwasser!

 

Once you get the hang of it, it's really easy to work with (just don't breath it!) and your aquarium will love you for it

[metrokat]

Oh noes, don't give up on Kalkwasser!

 

Once you get the hang of it, it's really easy to work with (just don't breath it!) and your aquarium will love you for it

You're not supposed to breathe it?

[Nano sapiens]

You're not supposed to breathe it?

 

Don't breath the white powder! (Calcium hydroxide)

Edited August 5, 2012 by Nano sapiens

[Looselyhuman]

It's possible the KALK+2 I got WAS A LEMON!

 

Hello.

 

Re: Kalk+2 (hopefully allowed to post links from that other forum).

 

Cheers!

[Rollermonkey]

Custom ATO Reservoir!

 

 

<Jealous of your ability to bend men to your will. I'm up to 3 different people who supposedly do custom acrylic not reply to my e-mails or messages, or vanish off the face of the earth.

[jedimasterben]

<Jealous of your ability to bend men to your will. I'm up to 3 different people who supposedly do custom acrylic not reply to my e-mails or messages, or vanish off the face of the earth.

Kat's pretty much got it goin' on.

[albertthiel]

Dont get your bat panties in a bunch...you simply were not using enough. You need a super saturated solution of at least 3 tsp per gallon. Thats when the magic happensssss.

And I guess Zeph to get that high a concentration one has to use the vinegar method to get a lot more of the calcium hydroxide to dissolve.

 

I could write a set of instructions on how I do it but this is KAT's thread so I am not going to, but since you have been trying to convince her and convince her, again and again, perhaps you should post your instructions for how she has to prepare it, how long to let it stand, what liquid to draw out of the container for the auto fill or other drip method Kat is using, so she knows exactly what you recommend. That would IMO allow her to do it as you say she should so she can see the actual result of adding a highly concentrated solution.

 

Just a thought.

[metrokat]

What's going on with the tank chemistry:

 

Recent history of the tank shows I have had

High calcium (490+)

Low dKh (~7.0ish)

High Magnesium (1500+)

Undetectable Phosphates, Nitrates

So for the moment, let's take these levels as natural for my tank since I did not dose anything.

 

I had taken to adding buffer to raise the dKh and it worked (although I added it sporadically). Zeph suggested starting KALK because it works to maintain parameters, and to balance out 2 of them: Calc and Alk. My first gallon of KALK+2 didn't change the parameters in any direction. In hindsight, perhaps it was maintaining the existing parameters from fluctuating (keep in mind my tanks natural levels as mentioned above). Indeed many who read my thread and sources online suggest KALK is for people with the opposite problem: those that can't maintain calcium to appropriate levels. So I stopped KALK and went back to buffer which works for me as mentioned.

 

The trouble happened on July 27 when a 32oz of buffer solution got dumped in a 12 hour period in the tank. The dKH skyrocketed to 15 (insert image of Zeph doing a tribal dance here). At this point I started my second gallon of KALK+2. Now keep in mind, I believe what KALK does is maintain your tanks parameters. The water for my water changes was Oceanic salt, not my usual Red Sea Coral PRo.

 

While everything in the tank looked happy (and still does), both at 15dKH and now, what resulted in the next few days was that the calcium dropped to 300 (!!), and dKH has been doing a slow but steady decline as well.

 

So why didn't KALK "maintain" the levels as before? I don't know much about all this chemistry business but it is possible that such a high level of dKH precipitated or "ate" or whatever the calcium to 300. From the little I know, the 3 components of a reef tank: calcium, alk, mag have to be in balance. Everybody here can argue what the "right" balance is. For the sake of argument, and because this is my tank, the right balance for me is what I listed above.

 

Today the levels are:

Calcium 300

dKH 7.6

Magnesium 1350+

 

Plan for today: re-scape (The pink bird fell off and I've been re-thinking the scape again)

5Gallon water change using my usual Red Sea Coral Pro salt

Stop KALK and get back to buffer.

 

Goal for 2 weeks (I'm travelling again): Maintain dKH at 10.

 

(I should mention that I have also begun dosing potassium and microbacter 7 in addition to getting a skimmer online in the last 2 weeks).

 

Coral health could not be better, honestly. I even see color coming back in some of the SPS that was showing signs of browning. Not out of the woods yet but I need to fix the calcium first.

[ZephNYC]

This is me when you talk

 

 

The problem is that this is you:

 

When THIS SHOULD BE YOU!

 

This is like the zillionth time I am tellin you this, and hopefully the LAST. You say I am thick headed, but how many times have I told you to add MORE KALK!!!!! You are using 1.5 tsp / gal...I told you to use 3. You are using HALF THE DOSE and wondering why its not working. WHos banging their head against the wall now ????

WHats cute about kat is every time she F's something up she blames it on a manufacturer. Yes kat, your kak2 was a bad batch, and your dkh test kit you couldnt get results from ( scroll back several pages) was a bad batch...and that buffer you had that didnt work...yes we know...bad batch.

[metrokat]

WHats cute about kat is every time she F's something up she blames it on a manufacturer. Yes kat, your kak2 was a bad batch, and your dkh test kit you couldnt get results from ( scroll back several pages) was a bad batch...and that buffer you had that didnt work...yes we know...bad batch.

1. Everybody knows I'm cute Zeph.
   
2. My buffer has always worked great, you actually have been trying to get me to switch to your brand.
   
3. No, my KALK+2 is not a bad batch, it's doing what it's supposed to, "maintaining" my tanks parameters.
   
4. No, my dKH kit wasn't bad, you tried to convince me I was doing the test wrong
   

[ZephNYC]

1. Everybody knows I'm cute Zeph.
   

 

Yea..not bad for a Squamosa. I'll call you if I make it MA today. I may be bowling near there again.

[metrokat]

Yea..not bad for a Squamosa. I'll call you if I make it MA today. I may be bowling near there again.

Yikes, leave the CC at home. Glad I made your clams list, your highness.

I can't equate you to any animal yet. Maybe a chipmunk.

Not many experienced hobbyists can put text book information aside and focus on the issues as they present themselves specific to someone elses tank. That is what differentiates a great doctor from another person with an MD.

 

Enjoy bowling, I'm at the gym now.

[patback]

Yikes, leave the CC at home. Glad I made your clams list, your highness.

I can't equate you to any animal yet. Maybe a chipmunk.

Not many experienced hobbyists can put text book information aside and focus on the issues as they present themselves specific to someone elses tank. That is what differentiates a great doctor from another person with an MD.

 

Enjoy bowling, I'm at the gym now.

Coming from a heterosexual man, chipmunks are adorable.

 

 

Hi zef

[ZephNYC]

Not many experienced hobbyists can put text book information aside and focus on the issues as they present themselves specific to someone elses tank. That is what differentiates a great doctor from another person with an MD.

 

I agree..but you still need more Kalk. What you should do is bring calcium up to atlease 400ppm with chlorides, than use your kalk to maintain it. But you still will need 3 tsp.

 

Coming from a heterosexual man, chipmunks are adorable.

 

 

Hi zef

 

Hiya Pat

[kgoldy]

If memory from the last MR swap serves me correctly, Zeph might be the biggest man ever called a chipmunk. Ever.

 

Might I recommend National Geographic?

 

 

Edit- The possibilities are endless!

 

 

 

Edit 2- National Geographic is awesome. And sinkholes are effin scary.

 

 

 

 

In the strictly geologic use of the word, a sinkhole happens when water erodes solid bedrock, carving an underground cavity that can then collapse. Many parts of the United States are at risk for that type of event.

Edited August 5, 2012 by kgoldy

[patback]

Zef is big? I'm the worst at guessing what people look like.

[ZephNYC]

If memory from the last MR swap serves me correctly, Zeph might be the biggest man ever called a chipmunk. Ever.

 

Might I recommend National Geographic?

 

 

Edit- The possibilities are endless!

 

LOL! Little old me ??? Actually I was dieted down in May...around 240..Now Im back to my off season 260

Let me know when youre back in the city..would love some of that grape caulerpa.

Edited August 5, 2012 by ZephNYC

[kgoldy]

Zef is big? I'm the worst at guessing what people look like.

 

 

If he's the dude I'm thinking of, his biceps are the size of my head.

 

LOL! Little old me ??? Actually I was dieted down in May...around 240..Now Im back to my off season 260

Let me know when youre back in the city..would love some of that grape caulerpa.

 

 

You got it, man. I might be driving through this week or next week for a job in Jersey... Gotta check the schedule again. Got a door man I could leave a swampy bag with if it's a strange hour?

[patback]

Say whaaaa...

 

No wonder Kats always flirting with him. She likes meatheads.