Dumb question about measuring kalk in the teaspoon

[Mr.Shrimps]

I am new to kalk and have recently found the powder is very fluffy. When measuring the teaspoon to gallon, do you just scoop it lightly and level off the top? Or do you scoop and press against the sides to pack it into the spoon? I only ask because when I scoop hard and it seems like there is a lot more than just lightly scooping and that can affect my tank. How do you scoop it?

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

I've always lightly scooped and has worked for me for a few years. If you're making a saturated kalk solution (2+tsp/gallon without added vinegar) than you don't need to be very precise. any extra you add will just sink to the bottom of the jug, leaving you with saturated kalk that's consistently the same strength. Only time you wouldn't want to do this is if you're not using saturated kalk, which if you don't have many hard coral, or not much coralline algea this is likely the case for you.

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

BTW, for reference, saturated kalk has ~800ppm calcium, so if you add 1% of your aquarium's water in the form of kalk for evaporation, it will raise your calcium by 8ppm. I don't remember the alkalinity added off hand. If you know your consumption rate from testing your water over a few days, you can estimate pretty closely the concentration of kalk you need.

 

[AlSimmons]

I just scoop it lightly and then use an old baseball card to level off the top.

 

[Jah2707]

The best thing I have found is a scoop that comes out of baby formula. It has a small hole in the bottom so you just have to tap the side and it will even out. It doesn't make nearly as big of a mess.

As noted if there is any extra it will just sink to the bottom.

 

[Sk8r]

I use a 32 gallon ATO barrel and don't even measure, just drop in a pound or so. ONLY 2 tsp per gallon CAN dissolve in ro/di, so there's no worry about imprecision in a teaspoon. Any residue that falls to the bottom will dissolve as more water is added to the container. It doesn't go to waste. But just FYI, for kitchen cookery, a teaspoon or any measure is understood to be packed fairly well, with the sole exception of 'sifted' flour, which actually affects its measure. You level whatever it is with the swipe of a table knife.

 

[hkgar]

What Sk8r said. You should use a measuring spoon to all your tank related measurements, not a teaspoon from the silverware drawer