I understand that kalk water is used to replace the evaporated water. I understand that 2 part is used to keep the cal and alk adjusted. I haven't started the kalk yet. When I test the cal and alk sometimes the numbers change alot over a couple of days, then other times no change in two days. Wont the use of kalk flood the system with too much cal and alk when non got used? Secondly, why such variations in the readings over same amount of time?
Kalk and 2 part confusion
- Thread starter tent boy
- Start date
mr.maroonsalty
New member
Dosing lime water will often replace two part dosing. It takes a wee bit of research else you can easily have bad results. First, I am not comfortable doing a kalk drip without a pH monitor. Second, lime must be dripped slowly for hours. Third, care needs to be taken not to syphon the sediment from the bottom of the container. It is a very nice balanced way for dosing Alk and Ca, and you should be trying to match your tank's weekly uptake as close as posable, no matter the method. I think you should find your tank's weekly usage should remain fairly consistent.
The kalk is used to maintain Ca and Alk levels, it won't raise them. So you use the 2-part to get your tank to the correct levels, then start dosing the kalk to keep them there. All of my topoff water has kalk in it.
Not sure why you would see such variations. Try testing a couple times to make sure the results are the same. Its very easy to screw up the testing. It may also be a bad test kit, have someone bring a kit over and test as well. Or take your water to an LFS and have them test it.
Not sure why you would see such variations. Try testing a couple times to make sure the results are the same. Its very easy to screw up the testing. It may also be a bad test kit, have someone bring a kit over and test as well. Or take your water to an LFS and have them test it.
mr.maroonsalty
New member
1 gal of saturated lime water contains Ca ~.08 Alk ~.21 In a tank your size lime can raise parameters, but can easily raise your pH very high also. You will need to be very careful dosing it if you decide to go that route; unless you have a lot of stony corals, 2-part may be the better choice.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
first off I would question the test kit(s) and/or method of performing each test. Do each test 2 or 3 times in a row. Results should be the same.
After confirming that test kits are good I would strongly suspect that either your method of dosing the liquid two part or your water changes is causing your uneven swing in alkalinity and/or calcium.
To confirm this simply bump levels of calcium and alkalinity up to optimal balanced levels and then completely stop calcium/alk additions (and water changes).
You should see BOTH calcium calcium and alkalinity slowly drift downward over the course of a few days.
After confirming that test kits are good I would strongly suspect that either your method of dosing the liquid two part or your water changes is causing your uneven swing in alkalinity and/or calcium.
To confirm this simply bump levels of calcium and alkalinity up to optimal balanced levels and then completely stop calcium/alk additions (and water changes).
You should see BOTH calcium calcium and alkalinity slowly drift downward over the course of a few days.
A few thoughts:
I agree dosing or testing is off if you are seeing such variations.
Kalk( limewater) is calcium hydroxide. It can easily raise calcium and alkalinity levels, not just maintain them. There are limits on how much you can dose,however; generally, no more than 1/4 tsp of powder dissolved in freswater per 50 gallons of system water volume in any given hour. More than that will likely spike the ph and alkalinity and cause calcium carbonate to precipitate( fall out of solution).
When you dose kalk the hydroxide in calcium hydroxide(OH-) binds with CO2 in the tank and forms carbonate alkalinity. This interaction has the effect of raising the ph and alkalinity.
2 part dosing consists of dosing calcium chloride for calcium and carbonate bicarbonate for alkalinity. There is a lesser short term effect on ph with this method; generally allowing a higher dosage in the short term than with kalk. However, dosing too much alkalinity at once ,even with this method will spike alkalinity , raise ph and may also lead to precipitation.
Precipitation will result in drops in both ph and alkalinity.
Salt mix also plays a big role. Some have higher or lower alkalinity and calcium content than others.
I agree dosing or testing is off if you are seeing such variations.
Kalk( limewater) is calcium hydroxide. It can easily raise calcium and alkalinity levels, not just maintain them. There are limits on how much you can dose,however; generally, no more than 1/4 tsp of powder dissolved in freswater per 50 gallons of system water volume in any given hour. More than that will likely spike the ph and alkalinity and cause calcium carbonate to precipitate( fall out of solution).
When you dose kalk the hydroxide in calcium hydroxide(OH-) binds with CO2 in the tank and forms carbonate alkalinity. This interaction has the effect of raising the ph and alkalinity.
2 part dosing consists of dosing calcium chloride for calcium and carbonate bicarbonate for alkalinity. There is a lesser short term effect on ph with this method; generally allowing a higher dosage in the short term than with kalk. However, dosing too much alkalinity at once ,even with this method will spike alkalinity , raise ph and may also lead to precipitation.
Precipitation will result in drops in both ph and alkalinity.
Salt mix also plays a big role. Some have higher or lower alkalinity and calcium content than others.
