kalk vs alk powder
- Thread starter saltyh20
- Start date
alk powder?
do you mean just mixing baking soda in your top off?
if so, you can do it that way if you can figure out the correct ratio of evaporation to your tanks needs. but it only adds one part. the alk. you would still need to dose Calcium daily.
Kalk delivers both CA and alk in a balanced proportion, but again, you need to know what your tank is using daily and how much it evaporates if you plan to add it in your top off.
I guess you could add premixed Kalk at the proper ratio daily but you would have to keep an eye on your ph as it has a direct affect on it dosing many times a day.
do you mean just mixing baking soda in your top off?
if so, you can do it that way if you can figure out the correct ratio of evaporation to your tanks needs. but it only adds one part. the alk. you would still need to dose Calcium daily.
Kalk delivers both CA and alk in a balanced proportion, but again, you need to know what your tank is using daily and how much it evaporates if you plan to add it in your top off.
I guess you could add premixed Kalk at the proper ratio daily but you would have to keep an eye on your ph as it has a direct affect on it dosing many times a day.
lolgranny
The DQ King
Kalk doesnt increase alk/ ca, it just maintains it at the level.
lolgranny
The DQ King
I use both becuause my demand is so high, but Kalk is much easier. Mix up 20g container for my ATO and fill it when its empty. Simple as that. If you have a large load of sps like me and fully saturated kalk cant keep up then you might have to dose to keep the levels where you would like.
cediss
New member
Lolgranny this is incorrect. Kalk can raise alk and calcium levels
cediss
New member
If you, the key with any supplement is to keep an equilibrium of the components. Too much of one or the other or improper pH will drive the equilibrium to imbalance requiring the impression that the tank has greater demand that it may actually have. The key as already stated is to measure the demand and keeping alk/Ca in appropriate balance with each other and the pH. Of course Mg play a role in this balance especially if you keep the Alk/ Ca at supersaturated levels.
lolgranny
The DQ King
My mistake, i should have said its not use to raise alk/ ca but to maintain it.
cediss
New member
No worries! Just tying to help SaltyH2o make the right decision. Kalk can raise both alk and Ca as well. Personally my tank pH tends to run high already so Kalk doesn't work well for me. IMHO, Kalk works best in a reactor and when used in conjunction with a controller so you can control pH tightly. Random additions of Kalk can be dangerous. It needs to be added slowly, titrated to pH/alk/Ca.
cediss
New member
Lolgranny, if it's working for you don't fix it. Just be careful as your ATO could vary the addition significantly from day to day. You could drive a lot of calcium and alkalinity to precipitate out. You may already know this, just want you to be wary of a known pitfall to this way of adding Kalk.
I know Mr. Saltwater TV and others recommend doing this and done carefully it can work well.
I know Mr. Saltwater TV and others recommend doing this and done carefully it can work well.
cool, thanks for the info everybody. I dose reef builder in my ATO and Calcium complete in a brs doser. works ok.
I used to drip just kalk and had pretty good results. I was thinking about switching it up and wanted to see what everyones experience was. I'll probably just let it be.
I think I might have more control dosing individual parts.
I used to drip just kalk and had pretty good results. I was thinking about switching it up and wanted to see what everyones experience was. I'll probably just let it be.
I think I might have more control dosing individual parts.
