BRS Bulk Kalkwasser starter package

M

msbreton

New member
I'm starting Kalkwasser in my ATO and purchased this starter kit from BRS. I was out of my other additives so it seemed like a good time to switch over to their product.

I mixed up the Mg, Alk, and CA mixtures per their instructions in the 1g containers provided in the kit and let sit overnight.

Yesterday I tested my Mg, Alk, and CA and used the BRS online calculator to determine my dosing amounts to bring each up to the correct level (1400 8.5, and 450 respectively). My tank info is in my sig and I used 80g as the water amount assuming that would be conservative.

I was surprised to see the calculator suggest such large amounts of solution. For example, my Mg was at 1300 and I wanted to bring it up to 1400. The calculator suggest over 600ml. I called BRS and they confirmed that was correct. Still concerned, I decided to dose 1/2 as much as suggested for each and test again today. I dosed each waiting 30 minutes+ between additives.

I just tested and each is now exactly where I wanted it. 1400, 8.5, and 450. I'm VERY VERY glad I choose to only dose 1/2 of what the BRS calculator suggested but now I'm concerned over their accuracy.

Can anyone shed some light on to my situation? Should I always just dose 1/2 of what they recommend, or was I way off using 80g for my water volume? 75g dt, 20g sump (1/2 full), 10g fuge = 105g - the LR. Not sure how much to minus for that but I figured I'd be ok putting 80g in to the calculator.

Thanks!

-Mike
 
The mag portion does take quite a bit to reach desired levels. An alarming amount. Good call on dosing half. I mis-estimated my total water volume when i first started to boost magnesium and it brought it way higher than suggested in one day but nothing suffered visibly. I'd dose each one at half strength and continue to test until you reach your desired levels. Once you're there you can put a cap on those containers and stick them in the closet. You'll likely only use them for mild adjustments here and there as your livestock grows.

Once you have dialed in perfect levels I'd start with a half strength kalkwasser concentration (one teaspoon per gallon of rodi) in your ato, and make sure it's running at a drip or at fastest a hairline trickle. I honestly use an aqualifter pump and JBJ ato for my kalkwasser and have a micro ball valve attatched to the end, it shrinks the output line but i have the valve open so it is a tiny stream that adds about 10 mL each time the ato kicks on, and adds that about every 20 minutes or so, 24/7. No ph or alk spikes. No bad precipitation or calcium buildup everywhere. Works for me.

I continue to test my Ca, Alk, and Mg weekly just to make sure nothing funny happens and to track my coral consumption (I have mostly sps and lps frags that are growing so I need to make sure how much they consume). I started with one teaspoon per gallon in my rodi container. This week I noticed a stead decline in Ca and Alk over the last month so I bumped it up to 5 teaspoons in 4 gallons. I also am losing about 20 ppm of magnesium a week.

Sorry for the novel. Hope that helps. I have the exact same dosing regiment you're asking about and similar water volume so I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents.
 
The calculator is based on water volume, so you need to subtract the volume of rock and sand in the tank. That's often a lot more volume than people recognize. I'm not sure how their calculator is labeled.
 
bertoni said:
The calculator is based on water volume, so you need to subtract the volume of rock and sand in the tank. That's often a lot more volume than people recognize. I'm not sure how their calculator is labeled.
Click to expand...

Good Call Bertoni!!!
 
are we talking kalk or 2 part?

Also I too seem to dose about half from the calculator when large 100ppm+ is called for MG. I also try to spread that out over an entire day.

Then will add more the following day or two if needed. MG over all is not so tight of a spec. 1350-1550 will be ok. Just avoid the big fast swings!

Other than that the calculator is pretty spot on based off NET volume for me.
 
the BRS calculator is correct

the BRS calculator is correct

as previously mentioned, water volume (or results from the initial test levels) were not correct.

I think it's very important to note that the liquid calcium, alkalinity and magnesium supplements being discussed are NOT kalkwasser.


Kalkwasser = limewater and it's prepared with calcium hydroxide and used as replacement for evaporation.
 
Gary Majchrzak said:
I think it's very important to note that the liquid calcium, alkalinity and magnesium supplements being discussed are NOT kalkwasser.


Kalkwasser = limewater and it's prepared with calcium hydroxide and used as replacement for evaporation.
Click to expand...

Yea I assumed that but the title say Kalk..... :spin1:

Just wanted to be sure the OP wasn't making some magic chemical concoction!!:blown:
 
agreed- it's a bad title for the thread

agreed- it's a bad title for the thread

I wasn't directing my post at anyone in particular but to those that might get confused reading this thread. I see it happen a lot.
 
The brs kalkwasser starter pack comes with ingredients to make two part AND kalkwasser. You use the two part to dial in your three parameters where you want them, then at that point you start using kalkwasser as your topoff and manually dose magnesium. You'll have extra two part left over for small adjustments on occasion. After several months my alk stayed the same with kalk but calcium slowly dropped by about 30 ppm. Mind you this was very slowly over time so I just used a bit of the two part calcium portion to bring it back.
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I put Kalk in the title as I'm using elements from BRS Kalk starter kit but the message/question is about their Mg, Alk, and Ca solutions and more specifically their calculator. I am using their Kalk in my ATO to keep the levels stable but the issue I had was with how much their calculator said to use for Mg, Alk, and Ca (twice as much as it turns out I needed). Maybe my net tank volume is lower than I think but it can't be half. Any ideas how to figure aprox net tank volume based on lbs of LR in the system??

-Mike
 
There is no set figure but I usually subtract 20% and then let testing discrepancies finalize my guesstimate. I only have 110lbs of rock and ~50 lbs of sand in my system, which is substantially larger but with a minimalist aquascape. It will vary wildly depending on how wet the live rock was when weighed or if you use dry rock. Sand also displaces water and many of our standard tanks don't hold the volume they say they do. For instance my 40 breeders actually hold 47 gallons based on the inner dimensions. I would assume you were at 70-75 gallons tops. You only count half the sump since it runs half full. Then you factor in testing error and there are quite a few reasons the calculator may have been off.
 
Quick question guys. Not trying to steal the thread. It's on this subject, as I'm switching from two part dosing to the aqua medic Kalk stirrer. I just haven't been able to find it in the search engine the answer I'm looking for. This subject is very close.
I have found the calculator fairly close to what I need and it is an amazing amount just to adjust 100 ppm in my 150 gallon system. So I have questioned the calculator also.
I've always kept my alk at 8 to 9 dkh. Using two part. My question is. What DKH is recommended before starting kalkwasser? I do not want to have a major alk swing and shock my SPS anymore than I have in the past, under or over dosing alk or cal. This is the reason I'm switching to kalkwasser.
 
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