huskysglare1
New member
Should i dose Kalk in an sps tank? If so, do i do it with Cal and Alk additives or just Kalk alone or adding all 3?
Dosing Kalk in a 180g!
- Thread starter huskysglare1
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huskysglare1
New member
Will dosing kalk be ok in a 180g sps tank?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
x2
monitor Ca/alk levels.
In my 220 I use kalkwasser as makeup (for evap), liquid two parts and a calcium reactor to keep up with demands.
DO NOT MIX LIMEWATER WITH OTHER LIQUID CA/ALK SUPPLEMENTS
huskysglare1
New member
I am currently using BRS 2 Part Recipe 2. Can i dost Alk along with BRS Alk an Cal? As long as they don't touch each other while dosing then, i am fine right?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
yes
yes
you just need to monitor levels
IMO: (in a reef tank) all makeup for evap should be kalk. Work levels from there. Understand?
yes
you just need to monitor levels
IMO: (in a reef tank) all makeup for evap should be kalk. Work levels from there. Understand?
huskysglare1
New member
Sure thing. I'll just dose kalk for all evaporation and 2 part to keep the level up. right?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
basically- yes!
basically- yes!
it varies from aquarium to aquarium.
In my particular case I start with the kalkwasser addition, measure depletion while using kalk for makeup and adjust Ca reactor accordingly.
Liquid two parts are reserved for balancing or boosting levels of Ca, dKH and/or Mg.
Don't forget to keep up with regular partial water changes!
basically- yes!
it varies from aquarium to aquarium.
In my particular case I start with the kalkwasser addition, measure depletion while using kalk for makeup and adjust Ca reactor accordingly.
Liquid two parts are reserved for balancing or boosting levels of Ca, dKH and/or Mg.
Don't forget to keep up with regular partial water changes!
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
SPSEMPIRE
New member
Yes, if you want to get politically correct than it is debatable. Unless you have a large system (over 300 gallons) with large acropora colonies, kalk alone will do wonders.
Your opinion is certainly respected but I've used only a kalk reactor to for over 4 years now.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
kalkwasser helps to supplement calcium and alkalinity and boost pH regardless of the size of demand.
I'm NEVER politically correct. If I can't post my true opinions I don't post any.
I'm NEVER politically correct. If I can't post my true opinions I don't post any.
dvanacker
DID I SOUNDS SMRT??
IMO/ME Kalk will alone will not due in mature SPS tanks. A reactor or dosing pumps is needed as well. Personally I run dosing pumps/2 part and dont feel a need for kalk as my pH is not depressed by CO2 that normally a reactor can cause. Also I dont like the idea of kalk top up because humidity changes drastically in the seasons here and I get so much more evap in the winter.
SPSEMPIRE
New member
No worries here. I'm usually not politically correct either.
Yeah, I agree that a full and mature SPS tank with large colonies (200+ gallon system) will need some extra calcium and alkalinity supplements but most reefers on forums don't have as nice of a tank as you do
.
tdwright1971
New member
I run my kalk reactor via topoff when my ph is below 8.3, if it gets above It switches to normal ro water. This seems to add kalk when needed.
droth335
New member
I have been running kalc in my 210 since I set it up and I agree with much of what has been posted above (e.g. everyone is correct I say this because up until about 6 months ago kalc by it self maintained my CA at about 450 but with the explosive growth of my sps colonies, CA would drop and be at about 370 before my weekly water change. So I began adding vinegar to the limewater in my ATO. this has now brought my CA up to about 420-450 again. So far, so good.....but it feels inevitable that if my coral growth continues then kalk by itself may not be enough for my system.
I say this because up until about 6 months ago kalc by it self maintained my CA at about 450 but with the explosive growth of my sps colonies, CA would drop and be at about 370 before my weekly water change. So I began adding vinegar to the limewater in my ATO. this has now brought my CA up to about 420-450 again. So far, so good.....but it feels inevitable that if my coral growth continues then kalk by itself may not be enough for my system.
REEF SMAC
New member
Kalk is a great way to go IMO/IME. Works great and is a lot more economical than any two part. When your SPS colonies are small, and your Alk/Ca demand is low enough, Kalk will probably be all you need, especially if your evaporation rate is high enough to add a lot of saturated make up water.
However, once your Alk/Ca demand increases enough, Kalk alone will not keep up. You will need to supplement somehow.
However, once your Alk/Ca demand increases enough, Kalk alone will not keep up. You will need to supplement somehow.
markie mark
New member
I run a kalk stirrer and calcium reactor on my tank and its the best of both worlds for me...
