MMOORE0324
Member
Sounds good. Ill let you know if I find out in advance that I'm going to be in Cali.
Kalkwasser and SPS
- Thread starter powertec
- Start date
mcliffy2
New member
I picked up a used Geo Kalk Reactor and run it inline with my ATO. I'd say I have at least a medium demand tank. I was running it with a CA reactor, but took the CA reactor offline because it was dropping ph. I think the main variable with kalk is how much you can evaporate. All 4 tanks in my system are open top with quite a bit of flow, so I evaporate 2.5-3g/day, and dosing this much kalk seems to be keeping up with my SPS demand so far. At some point, I'll probably need to put the CA reactor back online, but I figure no reason to do it before I need to.
Hendersonracing
Active member
My calcium is 400ppm and my alk is 9dkh. what advantage will I have dripping kalk? I run a calcium reactor now and don't want to start adding Kalk and my calcium go crazy?
60Cubed
Premium Member
It's not that we mind so much but what about if you have to be gone for a stint? Then you have to trust someone with the responsibilities of your tank. Also with an automated system you know it will be dosed on time every time consistently! Not when you get around to it. It's called piece of mind. That's what I get out of it anyway!
MMOORE0324
Member
Oh yeah, I wasn't trying to say that others are lazy or dont like doing it... I had a ca reactor for along time and had alot of issues with it. I'm a pilot so I'm gone alot.. but my wife has been "trained" lol on all the reef keeping chores.
I will probably go back to a reactor when I find a really good one. I kina like the looks of this new Aqua C Remora one. But for right now, 2 part is working really well for me with great results!
whirley
New member
I like my Calcium reactor because, you just set it, and your done for 6 month (or when ever the Co2 tank empties)
I like Kalk because it's CHEAP! $2 at Walmart for a can of pickling lime. Build a DIY Kalk reactor for $25 in parts, DONE.
I had a sps only with fish, 75 gallon and dosed only Kalk. No problems.
Just recently upgraded to a 90, bought a Calcium reactor, and never have to worry about Ca/Alk too much.
I do dose Kalk for the aspect of it binding with Phosphates.
I like Kalk because it's CHEAP! $2 at Walmart for a can of pickling lime. Build a DIY Kalk reactor for $25 in parts, DONE.
I had a sps only with fish, 75 gallon and dosed only Kalk. No problems.
Just recently upgraded to a 90, bought a Calcium reactor, and never have to worry about Ca/Alk too much.
I do dose Kalk for the aspect of it binding with Phosphates.
CleveYank
20 Years and Over
There was a post about kalk is great if Ca demand is low. And another noted Ca reactor and Kalk reactor.
Well this is
My Kalkwasser Experience.
When my system had just lil tiny frags kalk via makeup water was more than adequate.
When I had 150 frags to feed and 40 emerging mini colonies and such I ended up with 2 problems. Chasing the system with Epsom to battle MG levels and Ca demand was just not getting it with Kalk via makeup. So I was dosing more Kalkwasser on the side. End result? MG still wasn't where I needed. Ionic balance was haywire. More water changes made things rollercoaster even more. And ALK was climbing. And corals...some looked stressed and some just stopped growing.
So,
Setup Ca reactor and continued the Kalk via makeup water. More problems. ALK really high.
Finally had to ditch the Kalk additon altogether, add turbo mag to a ph controller electric solinoid dual chamber ARM and Korallith filled CA reactor setup and bring the CA up to target via Ca Cl's 1x addition.
Now, Ca is kept in 460 to 500 range, MG is high but things are good and Alk is hanging in the 8.5 to 9.0 range and the corals got their colors back to perfection and growth is good.
My other system that has very low Ca demand...still not skipping a beat with kalk via makeup water.
Well this is
My Kalkwasser Experience.
When my system had just lil tiny frags kalk via makeup water was more than adequate.
When I had 150 frags to feed and 40 emerging mini colonies and such I ended up with 2 problems. Chasing the system with Epsom to battle MG levels and Ca demand was just not getting it with Kalk via makeup. So I was dosing more Kalkwasser on the side. End result? MG still wasn't where I needed. Ionic balance was haywire. More water changes made things rollercoaster even more. And ALK was climbing. And corals...some looked stressed and some just stopped growing.
So,
Setup Ca reactor and continued the Kalk via makeup water. More problems. ALK really high.
Finally had to ditch the Kalk additon altogether, add turbo mag to a ph controller electric solinoid dual chamber ARM and Korallith filled CA reactor setup and bring the CA up to target via Ca Cl's 1x addition.
Now, Ca is kept in 460 to 500 range, MG is high but things are good and Alk is hanging in the 8.5 to 9.0 range and the corals got their colors back to perfection and growth is good.
My other system that has very low Ca demand...still not skipping a beat with kalk via makeup water.
