Need help (DIY) auto top off/Kalk

[shawna1972]

Ok so I have been having a heck of a time keeping my parameters on target
As of right now Im sitting at 6dkh alk and 340-350 calcium. Need to get these on target as I'm low and going through way to much Bionic.

This is what I need to know.

How much do I start with,looking my alk and calcium above? (Using mrs wages)
Id like to use a 2 gallon gravity fed ATO for top offs and kalk
Does this go in the sump or display?
How far from the bottom to keep the tube (so not to suck up any kalk on bottom)

Here's what I have to work with........Just picked up a few things today.

The other hole is for the second airline to start a syphon.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[shawna1972]

Didnt know if I would need a pump so picked one up.

 

[shawna1972]

Also Its going to be gravity fed (above tank) and got the pump because I didnt know if the Kalk needed to be mixed while in the jug?

 

[naprestsleep]

http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html

Will let you calculate what you need, and once Kalk is mixed you don't want to keep mixing it, you want it to settle for a while before use and some of it will settle to the bottom. Keeping the tube an inch or two off the bottom should be enough, as long as you clean out the jug from time to time.

Drip it slowly into the sump in an area with good water movement, and some suggest away from your pumps to avoid build up.

 

[shawna1972]

http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html

Will let you calculate what you need, and once Kalk is mixed you don't want to keep mixing it, you want it to settle for a while before use and some of it will settle to the bottom. Keeping the tube an inch or two off the bottom should be enough, as long as you clean out the jug from time to time.

Drip it slowly into the sump in an area with good water movement, and some suggest away from your pumps to avoid build up.

Anyone have an easy explanation to this graph? I dont understand these calculations Cant I just go by the 2 gallons RO top off Ill be adding to the jug, and how much to mix in daily per the 2 gallons? Or is this not the way its done?

Ok so pre-mix kalk (power head or mix slowly?) then pour into jug? then wait......How long would be good? A few hours?

Drip.......How often 1 drip per second ? Minute?

Sorry for all the questions. TY

 

[naprestsleep]

See the explanation it gives you on the right side. It will tell you how many gallons of Kalk you need to hit your desired levels. You will need to divide this over several days.

You add about 2 tsp of kalk per gallon of water.

I rotate two top off buckets, so I mix one and let it set a day or two, sealed, then use it. It important to keep the container closed after you mix it, but the amount of time to wait to use it is just until it settles and the water is clear and the extra has settled to the bottom.

If your trying to dose as your top off then your drip rate needs to match your evaporation. It may take some experimenting to get it right. I use a top off sensor and a pump and end up dosing from 1-1.5 gallons a day (140ish gallon total system) depending on the season.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Shawna-

You don't want to use kalk to raise your calcium and alkalinity levels; you use it to maintain them.

To get things where you want them, you need to add calcium and alkalinity supplements. Bulk Reef Supply is what I use.

Using the calculator that naprestsleep linked to, enter your total system volume in the field at the top. Choose the method you're using to supplement (either calcium or alkalinity), your current level and desired level. Click on the Calcium (or Alkalinity) button and it will tell you how much you need to add to hit your target.

That calculator looks a bit confusing since it's an "all in one" calculator for Ca, Alk, and Mg. You only calculate one at a time.

Once you get your levels where you want them, I would mix a few teaspoons of kalk with some RO/DI water in your jug, and then drip it overnight into your sump.

I hope this helps!

 

[shawna1972]

lol now I'm more confused! It states 16.7 gallons for calcium and 4.47 gallons for alk ? Now divide ummmmm
How do I manage that with one product? Ahhhh Feel so dumb hahaha

Ok Seeing as I may have to speed up the drip to match the evaporation doing it fast will cause a ph spike correct?

I have 2 of those blue containers so that will work

Again thanks for the help

 

[shawna1972]

Shawna-

You don't want to use kalk to raise your calcium and alkalinity levels; you use it to maintain them.

To get things where you want them, you need to add calcium and alkalinity supplements. Bulk Reef Supply is what I use.

Using the calculator that naprestsleep linked to, enter your total system volume in the field at the top. Choose the method you're using to supplement (either calcium or alkalinity), your current level and desired level. Click on the Calcium (or Alkalinity) button and it will tell you how much you need to add to hit your target.

That calculator looks a bit confusing since it's an "all in one" calculator for Ca, Alk, and Mg. You only calculate one at a time.

Once you get your levels where you want them, I would mix a few teaspoons of kalk with some RO/DI water in your jug, and then drip it overnight into your sump.

I hope this helps!

Thanks yeah it does a little lol And yes that calculator is confusing! For me especially Not good with numbers (That's an off topic post for another time)
Bionic was so much easier but more pricy and figured if I could handle doing the Diy part (which I thought would be the hardest part Id be all good) hahah yeah right!

So when I get to where I want to be then I dose nightly with everyday top offs via drip to maintain? So during this time Im also Monitoring levels of Cal,Alk,and Ph correct?

 

[toddmh]

shawna..I am no means a pro at this kalk stuff yet,but I do have a system that works pretty well for me..

as mentioned above,I mix a 5 gal container of water/kalk,two teaspoons kalk powder per 5 gallons of water..

I use a aqua lifter pump with a little ball valve on the end to control the drip,I drip about one per second..This will not keep up with total evaporation(I still need to add RO top off water..)

When dripping kalk you really need a Ph monitor and keep an eye on it..For my system 1 drip per second keeps my heavy sps tank(60 gal) right in the target area for params..

I only drip for 10 hours a day..during the night cycle..I go through about 1/2 gal of lime water a day and my evaporation a day is about a gallon..

Like stated above,I keep the line going into the kalk container about 2" from the bottom..

 

[shawna1972]

shawna..I am no means a pro at this kalk stuff yet,but I do have a system that works pretty well for me..

as mentioned above,I mix a 5 gal container of water/kalk,two teaspoons kalk powder per 5 gallons of water..

I use a aqua lifter pump with a little ball valve on the end to control the drip,I drip about one per second..This will not keep up with total evaporation(I still need to add RO top off water..)

When dripping kalk you really need a Ph monitor and keep an eye on it..For my system 1 drip per second keeps my heavy sps tank(60 gal) right in the target area for params..

I only drip for 10 hours a day..during the night cycle..I go through about 1/2 gal of lime water a day and my evaporation a day is about a gallon..

Like stated above,I keep the line going into the kalk container about 2" from the bottom..

Oh wow didnt know I needed a Ph monitor and I only have a few corals So I don't know what's eating my calcium/Alk but hmmm maybe Ill hold off then until I get one. I don't want to loose anything to a Ph spike.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

jmo

jmo

this is what I do:
thoroughly mix calcium hydroxide (pickling lime) with RO in a 30 gallon brute (or similar).

Allow kalkwasser to clear and settle out precipitate on bottom.

Poke a small hole in a clean one gallon milkjug.

Fill jug with (clear) kalk solution and let it drizzle into your system in an area of good water motion at night when pH is lowest. (I drip it into my sump).

Like Scott already posted, use kalk to maintain (or help maintain Ca, alk and pH). Instead of B-ionic use (much more inexpensive) BRS to make your own.

 

[shawna1972]

this is what I do:
thoroughly mix calcium hydroxide (pickling lime) with RO in a 30 gallon brute (or similar).

Allow kalkwasser to clear and settle out precipitate on bottom.

Poke a small hole in a clean one gallon milkjug.

Fill jug with (clear) kalk solution and let it drizzle into your system in an area of good water motion at night when pH is lowest. (I drip it into my sump).

Like Scott already posted, use kalk to maintain (or help maintain Ca, alk and pH). Instead of B-ionic use (much more inexpensive) BRS to make your own.

Thanks Gary

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I don't know if this helps you.
Personally, I'm a big fan of keeping it simple and I've never trusted ATO units.
I've designed my systems so they can go a week at a time without topoff for evap (if necessary).

 

[pascal32]

Backing up what was previously said, kalk is a balanced addative of ca and kh. Accordingly you need to use a dedicaed kh or ca solution to get the levels where you want them. The ph monitor is by no means required- it is a nice warning that you are dosing too quickly- slow is the key.

Kalk does not go bad as long as it is in a sealed container. I read a nice study on this which tested the effectiveness and discredited the need to stir daily.

I have _heard_ that lines can become congested with buildup, so keep an eye on them!

 

[shawna1972]

Backing up what was previously said, kalk is a balanced addative of ca and kh. Accordingly you need to use a dedicaed kh or ca solution to get the levels where you want them. The ph monitor is by no means required- it is a nice warning that you are dosing too quickly- slow is the key.

Kalk does not go bad as long as it is in a sealed container. I read a nice study on this which tested the effectiveness and discredited the need to stir daily.

I have _heard_ that lines can become congested with buildup, so keep an eye on them!

Thanks,Yeah the first thing Im going to do is (starting tonight) get my alk/calc up to where they need to be and dose over the next few days.
Then Ill finish off my ato get it attached to the wall ect. Do some more reading ect.....

Im not sure anyone answered this question though........How do u mix kalk?
slow hand mix or with power head?

And one more........What is saturated Kalk?

Thanks

 

[Conesus_Kid]

If you're mixing it up two gallons at a time, do it by hand. If you're doing it in a 30 gallon Brute, use a pump.

Saturated kalk means that you've dissolved all that is physically possible to dissolve. I think the maximum is around two teaspoons per gallon. If you try to mix more, it'll just drop to the bottom.

Remember when you were a kid and thought that if the Kool-Aid directions said one teaspoon per serving was good, ten teaspoons per serving must be better? Same idea here. You can't dissolve any more kalk in a saturated solution.

 

[shawna1972]

I don't know if this helps you.
Personally, I'm a big fan of keeping it simple and I've never trusted ATO units.
I've designed my systems so they can go a week at a time without topoff for evap (if necessary).

Thanks Gary,And Yes! I love to keep it simple and thought this ato was very simple to do and I usually top off every day anyways but thought this would be an easier way plus would save me the dosing also.

And Gary you just have skills I do not possess! lol :frog:

 

[pascal32]

I found this link: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php

take the calculator and figure out how much kalk to add to be equivalent to your current dosing.

 

[shawna1972]

If you're mixing it up two gallons at a time, do it by hand. If you're doing it in a 30 gallon Brute, use a pump.

Saturated kalk means that you've dissolved all that is physically possible to dissolve. I think the maximum is around two teaspoons per gallon. If you try to mix more, it'll just drop to the bottom.

Remember when you were a kid and thought that if the Kool-Aid directions said one teaspoon per serving was good, ten teaspoons per serving must be better? Same idea here. You can't dissolve any more kalk in a saturated solution.

Ahhhh TY :thumbsup:that's what I needed to know.