kalk question

[jdmcivicek9]

just wondering if there is formula to how many drips per second in a certain amount of gallon tank type of equation...my alk and calcium levels have been kinda low and seachems reefbuilder and calcium isnt doing much anymore. so im probalby going to be taking the plunge and dosing kalk but im worried i might crash my tank!!

 

[onevia_01]

It's about 1drip per second.just don't dose the solids at the bottom of your container .only dose the clear liquid .there are good articles on reef keeping magazine you should check out.

 

[rrcg50]

i dose it all shake and go and my growth is outrageous. the precipitate at the bottom is just a concerntrated form so be carefull. this is the whole theory behind kalc reactors. keep it suspended

 

[frank2926]

kalk slurry or recently mixed up Kalk will raise your PH Quickly. Do not do this without at least a ph monitor. The way a kalk reactor works is that it mixes the reactor a couple to a few times a day. It does this because you are adding way more kalk than water needed in the reactor and the reactor is constantly being topped off with fresh rodi water. The mixing happens to saturate the newly added ro water with the kalk that has settled to the bottom of the reactor.

 

[crvz]

I don't think there's a specific equation like what you're looking for. While it's a good way to help keep the tank in check, if you really do have an SPS dominated tank, I think that a calcium reactor may be a better way to go. It definitely gives you more control over the calc/alk supplementation, whereas kalk is kind of limited on flow rates and total usage (I always just hooked it up to the ATO).

 

[Tswifty]

There is no equation, as everyone's tank will draw differently depending upon how it is stocked.

However I will say this... start off with small reservoir (that is your safety net to keep from crashing your tank), and at a minimum potency (1tsp per gallon), then adjust accordingly.

limewater has a pH of about 12 I think, so you will want to watch pH closely when you start as others suggested.

I just began kalk dosing via my ATO yesterday, and am currently monitoring my tank closely.

 

[jdmcivicek9]

thanks for all the help!! and yes my tank is almost 100% sps and lps aside from the 35lb rock of GSP that are getting traded in tomorrow at my lfs for a new piece of live rock that i can add back into my tank!!my lfs told me when i make kalk to just suck out whats in the middle of the bucket, so nothing off the top and nothing off the bottom...is that correct and if so how much water do i leave in the bucket in order to not have sucked out either one an inch or two??

 

[crvz]

I'm not sure what the LFS is getting at, but you do want to make sure the kalk is in suspension when dosing. A lot of people will use a reactor to keep it saturated, but if you are making it for ATO there's specific measurement per gallons of water (1 teaspoon per gallon??, I really don't remember as I always used a reactor). If you make it per the recipe, there's no need to siphon from the middle, or top, or whatever they're implying.

 

[Tswifty]

2 tsp per gallon is the max unless you use vinegar.

I would still start out with 1tsp per gallon and move up from there.

Your LFS is sort of correct. You just want to make sure any of the sediment that settles on the bottom is not pumped into your tank. I'm using a 5g bucket right now hooked to an aqualifter pump. The tubing from the aqualifter pump extends into the bucket and stops about 2" off the bottom of the bucket.

This will allow me to utilize a large amount of water in the bucket while not pulling the crap off the bottom of the bucket. IMO if you're pulling from the middle, you are missing the purpose behind an ATO, because you will have to refill your Top Off reservoir constantly.

btw... kalk reactors pull from the top.

Just to clear something up here... what type of system are you using. A drip line, or are you just adding it to your ATO reservoir?

 

[Tswifty]

Here's a thread I started that may help you out.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1453924