Kalkwasser?

[J4Life]

Randy,

I was thinking about using this product to help maintain calcium and alkalinity in my 75 gallon RT.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4747&N=2004+113458

One of the questions I have is could I just mix this stuff per the directions and add it into my top off can that contains fresh RO water. Typically i have about 13 gallons in the can which gets added to the tank about a week and half time frame.

The instructions say to mix 1-2 teaspoons of this for every gallon. So would that mean I would mix 13 to 26 teaspoons for my 13 gallons of top of water or do I mix 75 teapsons for my total tank volume of water and add it into the fresh RO top off?

I was hoping I could use my auto top off bucket for this process rather than a doser.

Also would this be more affective than using Kent's Super buffer Dkh product? I am currenlty using that in combination with Turbo calcium, Tech CB, Part A&B, Kent Iodine.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[1SickReefer]

1-2 tsp per gallon of fresh RO water. It must be dripped in and not added in large doses.

So for your 13g of top-off water, 13 - 26 tsp would be correct

GL
1SR

 

[Billybeau1]

If your gonna replace all of your evaporation with it, start with 1 tsp per gallon and see what it does to your pH. If it doesnt raise it too much then you can bump it up some.

Most that use limewater, still have to suppliment cal and alk. Just less of it. There are other benefits to limewater as well as Randy startes here.

What your grandmother never told you about lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7857861#post7857861 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
If your gonna replace all of your evaporation with it, start with 1 tsp per gallon and see what it does to your pH. If it doesnt raise it too much then you can bump it up some.

Most that use limewater, still have to suppliment cal and alk. Just less of it. There are other benefits to limewater as well as Randy startes here.

What your grandmother never told you about lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

Thanks I really thought the whole point of using kalkwasser was so you didn't need to add the other supplements. If I will still need to add additional sups then I would rather use Randy's two part formula with the mag addition, but I am finding it in possible to find the mag and dow flake locally. Any suggestion on where to start that would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Billybeau1]

Randy lists some possible places in his new 2 -part article.

Randys new and improved 2-part
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

For what its worth, Randy replaces all of his evaporation with limewater AND uses his 2-part.

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7858041#post7858041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Randy lists some possible places in his new 2 -part article.

Randys new and improved 2-part
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

For what its worth, Randy replaces all of his evaporation with limewater AND uses his 2-part.

Thanks I will have to give that article a read. Right now I just dose weekly using the Turbo Cal, Super buffer DKH, Tech CB Part A&B. I want to eliminate the Tech CB and would like to find a cheaper alternative to the DKH and Turbo Cal. My fear is that the Super buffer could raise my PH beyond safe levels. The only area that doesn't seem to be staying stable is the Alkalinity in my tank. The PH and Cal both are right were I want them. Of course Randy suggested that I go higher on my PH I think it was around 8.5 mine currently seems to be at 8.2-8.3 and calcium stays between 400-450.

 

[Billybeau1]

You must have misunderstood him. I dont recall him ever recommend any pH over 8.3.

Natural seawater is 8.2 so I think your right on.

As far as the alk part in his recipe, all it is is arm & hammer baking soda. You can buy that at the grocery store.

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7858206#post7858206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
You must have misunderstood him. I dont recall him ever recommend any pH over 8.3.

Natural seawater is 8.2 so I think your right on.

As far as the alk part in his recipe, all it is is arm & hammer baking soda. You can buy that at the grocery store.

Nope I will find the thread where he suggested raising a bit more to me. Also his two part isn't just baking soda. It includes using dow flake and the new improved two part includes using mag flake. You might want to revisit the article for an update yourself.

Here are the links to them:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...il2004/chem.htm

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Billybeau1]

I'd be interested to read that thread.

The dow flake is for the calcium part. And the mag flake is for the magnesium part.

You dont mix them together. All you need for the alk part is baking soda.

 

[J4Life]

When I find it I will post. He simply stated that he keeps his PH higher than 8.3 I believe it was between 8.4-8.5 and I sure that is because he is using limewater for top off.

Also sorry if I didn't make myself clear. I am looking to replace the separate sups with one possible solutions to maintain cal and alk. So baking soda isn't enough. That is why I was thinking of using kalkwasser in my top off because it says that it will maintain both. I do understand that all 3 parts in Randy's improved two-part are to be mixed separate. I have read the article at least twice and plan on using that with a auto doser when I upgrade to a 225 gallon tank.

However until that time I am trying to find a simple recipe for my 75 gallon system. I don't like complexity. I prefer simplicity.

Thanks for all your help so far,
Bill

 

[mbbuna]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=880738&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

here's what he said. i think you misinterpreted him

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7731371#post7731371

 

[Billybeau1]

You made yourself perfectly clear. You said you wanted to get off the superbuffer and I provided you with a simple alternative. It doesnt get much simpiler to mix some baking soda in a gallon jar and dosing it on a regular basis. Limewater may or may not maintain your levels. Depends on tank load, types of animals etc.
Most times it is not enough alone.

Example= My tank uses .5 dkh per week. (I have a light load.) So I just put in a half tsp of baking soda in my tank per week and everything is good to go.

I like simplicity too

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7858732#post7858732 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=880738&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

here's what he said. i think you misinterpreted him

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7731371#post7731371

Yeah you're sort of correct. Here is his exact quote:

Thanks.

I recommend pH 8.2 to 8.5, with going down to 8.0 OK if the alkalinty is on the higher side. My tank usually runs 8.3 to 8.5 since I use limewater.

Seems I didn't misinterpret what he was saying. I guess it is just how you view his response.

To me it says you are fine if your PH is at high of 8.5 and or a low of 8.0. Because he uses limewater his fluctuates between 8.3-8.5. I initially said 8.4 so I was wrong there.

My personal opinion is that PH should swing that much if you can keep it from happening. I have tested my both morning and evening and it seems to be constant. The only time I have a swing is when I go more than a month to a month and a half with out doing a water change.

Sorry for any confusion and not always the best at transferring info so usually I link back to the thread or copy the statement. Oh and thanks for finding the links.

Bill

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7858769#post7858769 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
You made yourself perfectly clear. You said you wanted to get off the superbuffer and I provided you with a simple alternative. It doesnt get much simpiler to mix some baking soda in a gallon jar and dosing it on a regular basis. Limewater may or may not maintain your levels. Depends on tank load, types of animals etc.
Most times it is not enough alone.

Example= My tank uses .5 dkh per week. (I have a light load.) So I just put in a half tsp of baking soda in my tank per week and everything is good to go.

I like simplicity too

Yes super buffer and turbo calcium. I use both. Thanks for your help. I am going to explore the limewater article and more than likely I will end up using the improved two-part solution as well. Currently I am using IO for salt and as soon as its gone which should be in the next couple of water changes I am switching to Reef Crystals which seems to have a higher mag, alk, cal content with in it so hopefully I won't have to dose to much on my 75 gallon. As far as my bioload I would say it is moderate to heavy. I have 5 fish and lots of LPS and SPS with some softies.

 

[dandydan]

I cannot see you going far wrong if you use what thousands of us are using, Kalkwasser for top offs, and the 2/3 part as required.
If you find an easier method please let us know,

 

[Billybeau1]

J4 , I think thats a fine plan. I like Reef Crystals and is what I use today. Dont expect higher alk, but calcium and mag extras are definitly a plus.

And like I said before. Give that limewater article a good read. A lot of us use it.

 

[J4Life]

I will definitely read the lime water article. My concern has always been about PH getting way to high so I was in the past initially put off by lime water. The other part was due to inexperience in the hobby, but now I am feeling much more confident as the years go by.

Thanks again for everyone's help and input.

Bill

 

[Billybeau1]

:thumbsup:

 

[J4Life]

Okay I finally read through the limewater article Randy wrote. It was a very good read. So where can I get the lime? and since I am planning on dosing this using a maxijet pump with a float valve should I start out using 1 teaspon of lime and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar per gallon of water to see how it does? The article suggests that 3 teaspoons of each per gallon of water would be sufficiently safe.

Also I really was hoping that adding the limewater as my auto topoff would eliminate the use of Kent's turbo calcium and Super Buffer DKH. At least my reaction after reading the article is that it would.

Any comments on that as well?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Billybeau1]

You dont need the vinager yet. Just start out with 1 tsp per gallon like you said. The only reason for the vinager is to get more lime into solution 2 tsp of lime will dissolve completely in one gallon of water. Just make sure you dont impact your pH by more than 2 points.

Even replacing all of your topoff with limewater, you still may need to suppliment cal/alk once in awhile.