Just kalk in big tanks!
- Thread starter elblond
- Start date
I use Kalk only in my SPS tank. DT is a 120 (20 months old) and sump system is 400 gallons for a total of 500 plus gallons. I have not seen any problems yet. Evaporation is about 30 gallons a week in the summer. I use a Kalk Reactor thru my ATO using about 4 cups a month. 2 to start out with then two weeks later add another cup, a week later another. Clean it out and start all over.
Pictures for reference.
Pictures for reference.
CUNAReefer
New member
Sweet looking tank! Is there a build thread? Would love to see pics of the sump.
James
James
I use Kalk only in my SPS tank. DT is a 120 (20 months old) and sump system is 400 gallons for a total of 500 plus gallons. I have not seen any problems yet. Evaporation is about 30 gallons a week in the summer. I use a Kalk Reactor thru my ATO using about 4 cups a month. 2 to start out with then two weeks later add another cup, a week later another. Clean it out and start all over.
Pictures for reference.
Achilles18
New member
I used kalk ato mix w/ vinegar works good for my sps tank.
here's a link might interrested reading it for kalk.
http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html
here's a link might interrested reading it for kalk.
http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html
REEF SMAC
New member
I add 3 - 5 gallons a day of saturated kalk through a Deltec stirrer for all of my ATO. It definately helps to keep my Ca/Alk levels up, keeps my PH up, but it is not nearly enough for my system demand. My Ca Rx has to run pretty hard too, along with the kalk.
If your demand is less than your kalk add/evap rate then it probably will work fine with kalk alone.
I would be worried about adding that much vinegar to my kalk to increase its efficiency. I would think I would OD my tank with vinegar.
It would be way too much carbon dosing at the same time wouldn't it?
If your demand is less than your kalk add/evap rate then it probably will work fine with kalk alone.
I would be worried about adding that much vinegar to my kalk to increase its efficiency. I would think I would OD my tank with vinegar.
It would be way too much carbon dosing at the same time wouldn't it?
What are the negative effects of kalk? I'm just rebuilding my 220 after catastrophe, four year old son contaminated it so had to start over. I have the new rock in there with cleanup crew spread across the bottom. Ill stack it in a few months. Currently just running a mrc calcium reactor. What I want is the most autopilot I can get. Should I be adding a kalk reactor and run them both dialed back instead of just one or the other?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
Last edited:
REEF SMAC
New member
My DT is 350 gallons. My entire system is 600. I use a lot of kalk and I've had pretty good results with it. I like the way it counters the lower PH my Ca Rx puts out. I add all my ATO/kalk at night to keep my PH fairly stable throughout the day and night.
So would it be the best of both worlds to employ one each calc and kalk reactors, calc day and kalk night?
gig
New member
I have a 180 DT, approx 240 total gallon system, I use Kalk only (95% SPS), I've had issues keeping my Alk at 8+ lately now that the SPS has grown out. I have a PM Kalk reactor and recently setup dosing the Kalk during the night (around 13 hours), but top off is still using fresh RODI. Even so I find that I am throwing in a dose of Kent Superbbuffer every 3 days to keep up. I think my next course of action is to top off and dose overnight and see how that goes. If that doesn't work, I might buy a second doser and start dosing 2 part with Kalk as a top off only.
question for those using Kalk only, how often do you add fresh powder to your reactor/mixer? how much do you need to add per gallonage?
question for those using Kalk only, how often do you add fresh powder to your reactor/mixer? how much do you need to add per gallonage?
gig
New member
elbond, how do you "drip"? I used to use a standard shutoff valve that you buy from a hardware store, but found it was tough to regulate (it would stop dripping, one time it even failed and was pouring kalkwasser into the tank for a few hours, luckily no il effects but precipitate).
I switched to a BRS doser, and it runs every 10 min on and every 10 off for a 13 hour period thru the nighttime, still has little effect on my ph, it tends to drop at night and I still have my fuge light on during the night hours only.
I switched to a BRS doser, and it runs every 10 min on and every 10 off for a 13 hour period thru the nighttime, still has little effect on my ph, it tends to drop at night and I still have my fuge light on during the night hours only.
I've my ATO connected to an Aqualifter pump(AW-20)and then some tubbing that came from the reservoir(kalk mix) and in the other way a tubbing to my sump and at the end of it a plastic valve similar to the one used in freshwater. Once the water level go down the ATO activates the Aqualifter and refill(dripping) with kalk + vinegar and RODi water.
