looking to switch from two-part to Kalk

[Gooli]

Hi Randy,
Sorry for all the recent questions, i have recently put a stronger focus on my parameters and i'm looking to make some changes to my calcium and alkalinity scheme.

I currently have a 90G reef and a 30g sump and i have a 3gallon RO/DI resovoir with an auto-top off setup with a maxijet pump. The evaporation rate is about 1 gallon a day - sometimes more.

I am using Bi-onic right now and i want to try kalk. I have done some reading and had some questions:

1. Is the rate of evaporation sufficient enough to switch to kalk?

2. How do i know how much kalk to dose in the RO/DI top-off water?

3. isn't kalk dosing more prone to swings than two part and does that really matter anyways?

4. not having Kalk experience at all and switching from two-part, what else should i be careful about?

5. Will my PH start to be a problem here? It has always been good at 8.1 - 8.2

thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

people usually dose 0.5 to 2.5% of the tank volume with limewater. if your tank is not SPS dominated, your evaporation may be enough.

I'd start at 1-2 tsp per gallon of fresh water.

Limewater is not more prone to parameter swing,and likely less so since it is added slowly even continuously.
The main thing to watch is the ph getting too high. Low alkalinity is a sign that you are not dosing enough.

This article has more:
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

 

[Gooli]

thanks randy
if 1-2 tbs are not enough, do simply do a larger dose or do i supplement with two-part solution?

 

[Billybeau1]

I'ts not 1-2 tablespoons, its 1-2 teaspoons. 2 tsp per gallon is at saturation. You can add more by adding about 45ml vinager but most people just suppliment the kalk at saturation with 2 part.

 

[Gooli]

thanks billy

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Use the two part in addition to the limewater is 2 teaspoons per freshwater gallon does not do the trick.

 

[Gooli]

thank you

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7561464#post7561464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Use the two part in addition to the limewater is 2 teaspoons per freshwater gallon does not do the trick.

Huh ?

Randy, read that again.....did you forget a word ?

I thought it was Boomer's job to keep an eye on you :lol:

 

[Gooli]

i think randy meant to say "if" not "is"

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, "if".

 

[Gooli]

Randy...what if i were to use a drip method? how do i know the drip rate? is there some kind of number i have to be at for a 24 hour period

hope im making sense...i plan to use those reptile drippers with a control valve which can increase or decrease drip rate.

 

[bertoni]

I would adjust the drip rate to be as low as possible while still keeping up with evaporation. I use a peristaltic pump along with a float switch for this purpose, actually. As long as the limewater is dripped into the tank, not added as a continuous stream, I think that's a good start.

Watch the pH carefully! A slower drip rate can help reduce the pH swing.