2 part or kalk

[fetta]

been trying to read and read which is the best or easiest way to go don't have alot of sps, i do have a few. mostly have soft and 2 lps. so which is the best or easiest......please help

and as always thank you

 

[Big Dog]

Water changes ............... :twitch:

 

[jcw]

I started with kalk alone for water top off and calcium and alkalinity replacement.

Found as others have that alkalinity seems to drop somewhat faster than calc, so dosed baked baking soda as well. This did fine for just under one year of a "mixed" reef.

Finally got rid of most of the softies to concentrate on SPS and found that I needed to dose calcium and baking soda but still kept kalk going in the top off water.

 

[fetta]

nice i think another thing i need to do is switch to reef salt instead of just instant ocean

 

[fetta]

big dog you don't run anything else with all your hard corals, just water changes....dang that is awesome

 

[Big Dog]

big dog you don't run anything else with all your hard corals, just water changes....dang that is awesome

20% bi-weekly

 

[cloakerpoked]

Tswifty did a study or posted results about 2 years ago with salt and how it mixes up. Don't assume that just because it claims to be a "reef salt" that it will provide you with the minerals you're looking for. If I remember correctly, Instant Ocean mixes at a very high alkalinity but relatively low calcium and magnesium, while other salts (like Reef Crystals) try to boost those up as well. The easiest way to figure out what you need would be to buy a test kit, and measure the draw of your tank on several key minerals (I'd suggest at least Ca, Mg, and Alk). Once you can establish how much they deplete out of your system in a given period of time, you'll know whether just water changes or some sort of supplement is needed. Never just start kalk or any other kind of dosing regiment without measuring this draw first.

All that said, when I went to a very heavy SPS tank, I found that to keep things where I wanted, I had to go with 2 part and 10% weekly water changes (reefcrystals salt). But my depletion rate was very high. Also had a very bad experience with kalk (my DIY kalk reactor's fault, which is by proxy my fault) that sort of turned me off to it, and back on to manually dosing 2 part daily.

 

[fetta]

Thanks that sounds good I just got a hanna alk and looking to get others but don't make a mag would you know which is a good one

 

[Big Dog]

Tswifty did a study or posted results about 2 years ago with salt and how it mixes up. Don't assume that just because it claims to be a "reef salt" that it will provide you with the minerals you're looking for. If I remember correctly, Instant Ocean mixes at a very high alkalinity but relatively low calcium and magnesium, while other salts (like Reef Crystals) try to boost those up as well. The easiest way to figure out what you need would be to buy a test kit, and measure the draw of your tank on several key minerals (I'd suggest at least Ca, Mg, and Alk). Once you can establish how much they deplete out of your system in a given period of time, you'll know whether just water changes or some sort of supplement is needed. Never just start kalk or any other kind of dosing regiment without measuring this draw first.

All that said, when I went to a very heavy SPS tank, I found that to keep things where I wanted, I had to go with 2 part and 10% weekly water changes (reefcrystals salt). But my depletion rate was very high. Also had a very bad experience with kalk (my DIY kalk reactor's fault, which is by proxy my fault) that sort of turned me off to it, and back on to manually dosing 2 part daily.

Super advise, gotta know where to start!

 

[fetta]

tried finding that write up from tswifty but couldn't find it. if you happened to know where it is could you please post the link for me. Thank you!

 

[cloakerpoked]

Not sure how long they keep stuff archived here, it would probably be over 2 years ago now...