How do you know if you need to dose kalk?

[silverz]

I'm starting to put quite a few corals in my 58. I have a broad range from shrooms to a new sps piece. My CA is at 460 and the ph is around 8.0 to 8.2. How will I know if I need to start using kalk?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

All reef aquaria need to be supplemented with alkalinity, and usually calcium as well unless you do a lot of water changes using a salt mix with excessive calcium in it (like Oceanic). Have you measured alkalinity?

There are many ways to supplement calcium and alkalinity, of which limewater (kalkwasser) is just one.

These articles should help:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

[silverz]

Thank you for the info. It has helped me a great deal.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.