sailoracu2
New member
Can I add kalk with out an ato?
Thanks. Jim
Thanks. Jim
adding kalk?
- Thread starter sailoracu2
- Start date
sailoracu2
New member
LOL! I drive locally in Ohio. Thanks for the info.
MMOORE0324
Member
Dosing kalk does a few things...
1) Will help keep PH up at night when you're lights are off and your PH usually is at its lowest.
2) Will help with calcium demand. This can lead to more efficient use of ca reactor media and Co2
3) Can help bind phosphates for removal.
I have always used kalk. To me it's just one more tool that will help me keep all water parameters in line and STABLE! I have seen alot of beautiful SPS dom. tanks that don't use kalk at all. For me, I like it.
You just have to be careful when dosing it. Saturated kalkwasser has a very high PH and if added to quickly, will screw with your water chemistry. I run a kalk reactor to replace all top off water with kalk water.
1) Will help keep PH up at night when you're lights are off and your PH usually is at its lowest.
2) Will help with calcium demand. This can lead to more efficient use of ca reactor media and Co2
3) Can help bind phosphates for removal.
I have always used kalk. To me it's just one more tool that will help me keep all water parameters in line and STABLE! I have seen alot of beautiful SPS dom. tanks that don't use kalk at all. For me, I like it.
You just have to be careful when dosing it. Saturated kalkwasser has a very high PH and if added to quickly, will screw with your water chemistry. I run a kalk reactor to replace all top off water with kalk water.
MMOORE0324
Member
The nice thing about kalk is that you can play around with the dose... unless you add an extreme amount at once... it's not going to hurt anything. In general you use just 2 tsp of kalk powder per 1 gallon of RODI water. I dose 1 gallon each night into my 75g SPS tank via a DIY kalk reactor.
I'm not real familiar with the Tunze ATO but the easiest way to do it would be just just mix your normal top off water with kalk. It will then keep you topped off with nice kalk water.
About how much evap do you get /day?
I also use ESV brand kalkwasser. It's like $17 for 4lbs at Reefspecialty. You can do just bulk kalk that's cheaper but I like ESV.
I'm not real familiar with the Tunze ATO but the easiest way to do it would be just just mix your normal top off water with kalk. It will then keep you topped off with nice kalk water.
About how much evap do you get /day?
I also use ESV brand kalkwasser. It's like $17 for 4lbs at Reefspecialty. You can do just bulk kalk that's cheaper but I like ESV.
BrunstuckyJoe
Active member
You ever use pickling lime sold at Buehlers?
MMOORE0324
Member
I haven't but I know that alot of people do use pickling lime... do you use it Joe?
BrunstuckyJoe
Active member
No, but Mike(1628mna) uses it...
MMOORE0324
Member
I always get so nervous using food grade stuff in or around the tank. I know that tons of people use pickling lime but I just get worried. lol I don't even like to use white vinegar to clean PH's and stuff, even though it won’t hurt anything. Heck alot of people use vinegar instead of vodka as a carbon source.
sohal1025
Active member
I have to add a little less than a gallon/day of top off.
The Tunze kalk container is just a tube like chamber that holds the kalk and when the top off water runs through it some of the kalk is released into the water. Not quite sure if that doseage can be controlled though.
MMOORE0324
Member
Oh ok well it's pretty much like a kalk reactor then.
Just follow the directions for your ATO then... if you can't figure out how to use that extra bottle from your Tunze then I would just mix the kalk into your top off water.
