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Calcium levels, how to go up?


NanoBall

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Hi Everybody,

 

I have a 20g nano that I have set up.

Water parameters are:

PH= 8.4

Alk= 1.7 meq/l

Nitrate=10 ppm

Phospahte= 0.1ppm

Calcium=200ppm

 

Okay, so my PH is perfect, probably from dosing kalk 24/7. How should I go about raising my CA and boosting my Alk?

 

Thanks in advance.

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Originally posted by holyherbiness

Well, kalk is a 2 part additive..

 

No, kalk is a calcium hydroxide and used to raise calcium. Kalk has nothing to do with alkalinity.

 

Since you obviously don't know what kalk is or does, here are a few links for you to read.

 

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/saltwa...kalkwasser.html

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/calciumca...012698addkw.htm

 

And here are a few links from Randy Holmes-Farley at RC for you NanoBall. These should answer ALL your questions.

 

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov...ov2002/chem.htm

 

Solutions to pH Problems

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ne2002/chem.htm

 

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb...eb2003/chem.htm

 

A Homemade Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Additive System

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...il2004/chem.htm

 

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov...ov2002/chem.htm

 

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb...eb2003/chem.htm

 

Purity of Calcium Chloride

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar...ar2004/chem.htm

 

Calcium and Alkalinity Balance Issues

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-...ature/index.htm

 

Calcium Carbonate as a Supplement (Aragamight; Liquid Reactor)

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ly2002/chem.htm

 

The Relationship Between Alkalinity and pH.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may...ay2002/chem.htm

 

The Chemical & Biochemical Mechanisms of Calcification in Corals

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr...pr2002/chem.htm

 

Calcium

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar...ar2002/chem.htm

 

Alkalinity

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...2/chemistry.htm

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Kalk effects both alk and calcium

 

Ca++ + 2(OH-) + 2(CO2) <==> Ca++ + 2(HCO3-)

 

 

If done properly it will raise your alkalinity and your calcium. If it is not done properly (not enough c02 in water) it can actually lower both... this might be why your alk and calcium are so low when you are dripping kalk.

 

 

Originally posted by impur

No, kalk is a calcium hydroxide and used to raise calcium. Kalk has nothing to do with alkalinity.  

 

Since you obviously don't know what kalk is or does, here are a few links for you to read.

 

 

Perhaps you should read some of your own articles and not talk down to people when you yourself haven't done your reading.

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You are now getting into using co2 to compliment the addition of calcium hydroxide. If he is to raise calcium AND alk by adding kalk he will then need additional equipment such as a calcium reactor which also needs a co2 source. This gets much more complicated for a nano than it really needs to be. As i stated, a simple 2-part additive would effectively and safely raise both alk and calcium if dosed at the recommended amounts.

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You do not need a calcium reactor for kalk to add both calcium and alkalinity nor do you need co2 injection. Kalk is calcium hydroxide... hydroxide is by definition alkalinity. When it combines with co2 that is already in your water (whether or not you inject co2) it creates bicarbonate ions... which increases your alkalinity. If you add it too fast there will not be enough co2 in the water and the hydroxide will turn into carbonate instead of bicarbonate thus lowering your calcium and alk (because it will precipitate out).

 

A way to get around this is to simply add your kalk to a little vinegar before adding the water.

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Wouldn't it be SOOOOO much easier to add 1ml of alk additive and 1ml of calcium additive once a week when you do your WC? Since we aren't all experts on how co2, alk and calcium work as well as how much vinegar to add to limewater do be certain it does not percipitate or even overdose, I am just suggesting using something like b-ionic or another 2 part additive to keep this all simple. That was the original topic. Thanks, i'm done.

 

BTW holyherbiness i see how my response came off negative, I apologize. That dancing banana always cracks me up when i see it :P

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I just realized I never posted this here

 

http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefca...kalkwasser.html

 

This article really clears up how Kalkwasser works. If you don't understand the chemistry stuff just ignore it... the guy explains it in plain english too.

 

The only thing you really have to worry about when adding vinegar is overdosing. So don't blindly add it without checking your parameters (same with anything). Adding it just prevents precipitation, by preventing precipitation it increases the potency of your kalk mix.

 

Impure: I hope I didn't come across as being a jerk... I just wanted to make sure we didn't mislead nanoball.

 

As far as B-Ionic, I think it is more of a PITA than kalk. You have to add the alk part really slow or watch your pH SPIKE, then you have to wait like 15 minutes before adding the calcium part. I like the kalk where you set a drip and forget it. Of course that is just my personal opinion... to each their own.

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blenny & the jets

I'm always surprised to hear that people with nano's use kalk. I can see if you have a tank with lots of stony's/clams that use up drastic amounts of Ca, but I've always maintained good levels with liquid Seachem supplements. I use Reef Complete and Reef Carbonate once or twice a week in my nano and my Ca stays around 410-430 and alkalinity at 12-14 dKH. Sometimes easy is good :)

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