Kalkwasser Usage

[rcoughtrey]

I have read steps for Kent Kalkwasser and it suggests to use with water replacement caused by evaporation.

This is fine, however i will also have to reduce my b-inoc dosage.

I'm just fishing for ideas how and when people use this?

I was also told by friend that he uses it monthly but does not change his dosage of b-onic

 

[thegrun]

I use kalwasser for all my top-off water. I still occasionally need to dose calcium as I have an SPS dominated tank, but the Alk stays constant.

 

[JAustin]

Kalk is cheap and B-Ionic is expensive (waste of money).

How big is your tank and what corals are in it now?

 

[Agu]

I drip kalk daily for top off.

 

[clowndude]

I've seen people run fans across their water to create more evaporation. If your tank isn't to big you could just run kalk and up your dosage a little bit. I've see a SPS dominated tank that was 144 gallons and all she did was run Kalk, no calcium additives nothing.

 

[Salamander]

All my top off water is kalk. I use about 2.5 gallons a day. I still supplement calcium using Randy's DIY 2 part recipe.

 

[rcoughtrey]

currently running a 55g mostly sps coral and leathers and mushrooms

 

[JAustin]

currently running a 55g mostly sps coral and leathers and mushrooms

Yeah, please stop spending the money on B-Ionic. Bulkreefsupply.com is your new friend to be, lol. Check out their two part kit with the jugs and dispensing hand pumps, and check out a nice sized container of Kalkwasser powder (Calcium Hydroxide). Should last you a couple years and will have what you need to maintain Calcium, Alk, and Magnesium.
Happy Reefing
Jason

 

[rcoughtrey]

I just brought my GFO if their. I will take a look when my current buffer is all out.

 

[Sk8r]

use your 2-part dosing and magnesium adding ONLY to bring water to correct balance.
to MAINTAIN it at correct balance, stop dosing and rely solely on kalk in your topoff water. My tank evaps about 1 gallon a day, and kalk goes in.
Kalk'ed topoff water should be tightly lidded (paper towel can make a gasket) and should be allowed to settle for a number of hours after stirring before going into your tank. I stir once, as new kalk powder is added, and that's it until I add new kalk powder and more ro/di. Test your mg weekly, and dose when it looks apt to fall below 1300 by next week. Keeping a notebook of tests and dates is vital to tell the trends and rates going on in your tank.

 

[SHADYreefer]

I use kalwasser for all my top-off water. I still occasionally need to dose calcium as I have an SPS dominated tank, but the Alk stays constant.

+1 I have done this for multiple years and I have never had Alk problems.

 

[Jstdv8]

I've been told that the Mr's wages pickling lime is the exact same thing as kalk.
If that is true then THAT is a reall money saver.
You can get a huge container of teh stuff for about 5 bucks at wal-mart.
I use it for killing aiptasia.

So i have a question.... so lets say your top off water is in a 30g container and you mix the first batch of 30g with so much kalk to the desired mixture. But of course now your auto top off is taking some water out and the RODI is making more water to replace it, so how do you know how much kalk to keep adding to thie 30g tub? just figure for your regular evaporation and add that in once a day?

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Sk8r beat to it, don't dose just because you think you're supposed to. Dose because your tank needs it, as evidenced by your tests.

Jeff

 

[Sk8r]

When your corals are eating enough you're having to supplement more than you're willing to mess with---time for kalk.

don't worry about surplus kalk at the bottom of your reservoir---within sensible reason: next ro/di in will dissolve that. Just don't let your pump down there to pick it up.