Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
if I run Ca reactor alone (no kalk) my reef aquarium runs at pH 7.8
for me, limewater is the answer!
Stopping Kalk
- Thread starter Randrew215
- Start date
for me, limewater is the answer!
PR_Reefers
New member
But do you suggest removing the Ca reactor also?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Would you get a Justin Bieber haircut simply because he wears his hair a certain way?
No.
The same with reef aquariums.
pH 7.8 is fine. I happen to run a calcium reactor and all makeup water is kalkwasser.
No.
The same with reef aquariums.
pH 7.8 is fine. I happen to run a calcium reactor and all makeup water is kalkwasser.
PR_Reefers
New member
No... but I would give him a haircut if it's length started to reach the shoulders!!lol
Maybe I didn't explain myself properly... my concern is the d/n ph swing... during the day 8.23 and reaches 7.75 at night.. for my taste that's a bit too close to the borderline... so that's why I started kalk.... but... my tank is only 46gal heavily stocked but I don't see the need to have both systems if the kalk will work itself. I know each has it's pros and cons... but ... since my tank is small & my reactor is huge... the co2 required to lower the ph inside the reactor is too much for my tank to dissipate at night! or at least IMO... even so I prefer the thought of dissolving aragonite to limewater since the latter requires less dosing of other minerals
Maybe I didn't explain myself properly... my concern is the d/n ph swing... during the day 8.23 and reaches 7.75 at night.. for my taste that's a bit too close to the borderline... so that's why I started kalk.... but... my tank is only 46gal heavily stocked but I don't see the need to have both systems if the kalk will work itself. I know each has it's pros and cons... but ... since my tank is small & my reactor is huge... the co2 required to lower the ph inside the reactor is too much for my tank to dissipate at night! or at least IMO... even so I prefer the thought of dissolving aragonite to limewater since the latter requires less dosing of other minerals
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
jmo
jmo
and this has been agreed upon by many experienced reefkeepers:
larger aquariums (180 gallons and up) that are heavily stocked with calcifying organisms can benefit from having a calcium reactor simply because (once the initial investment is made) the cost of supplying calcium and alkalinity is freekin' dirt cheap.
daytime pH 8.23 and pH 7.75 at night isn't a huge problem and it's close to where my reef aquarium runs.
pH suppression is one of a calcium reactor's drawbacks
the (fairly recent) availability of bulk chemicals to prepare one's own liquid two part ("B-ionic") makes this alternative extremely attractive to all reefkeepers. This method also has the benefit of boosting pH.
all of these methods of supplementation can be used together as long as you know what you're doing.
once calcium and alkalinity is balanced with one another it's difficult to get them out of whack with just kalkwasser and/or a calcium reactor.
I would say that since you already have a calcium reactor run with it
OR
you could experiment and shut it off. Try running with just kalkwasser and see what happens. A lot of times the increase in pH from just using kalk will result in a faster depletion in calcium/alkalinity (faster growing stony corals).
I grew Acropora for many years with just kalkwasser/water changes and Acropora growth rates were unbelievable!
jmo
and this has been agreed upon by many experienced reefkeepers:
larger aquariums (180 gallons and up) that are heavily stocked with calcifying organisms can benefit from having a calcium reactor simply because (once the initial investment is made) the cost of supplying calcium and alkalinity is freekin' dirt cheap.
daytime pH 8.23 and pH 7.75 at night isn't a huge problem and it's close to where my reef aquarium runs.
pH suppression is one of a calcium reactor's drawbacks
the (fairly recent) availability of bulk chemicals to prepare one's own liquid two part ("B-ionic") makes this alternative extremely attractive to all reefkeepers. This method also has the benefit of boosting pH.
all of these methods of supplementation can be used together as long as you know what you're doing.
once calcium and alkalinity is balanced with one another it's difficult to get them out of whack with just kalkwasser and/or a calcium reactor.
I would say that since you already have a calcium reactor run with it
OR
you could experiment and shut it off. Try running with just kalkwasser and see what happens. A lot of times the increase in pH from just using kalk will result in a faster depletion in calcium/alkalinity (faster growing stony corals).
I grew Acropora for many years with just kalkwasser/water changes and Acropora growth rates were unbelievable!
PR_Reefers
New member
well... faster sps growth is not a problem for me:spin2:.! I understand what you are saying... thanks
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
tip
tip
if your reef aquarium runs at the lower range of daytime pH 8.23 and pH 7.75 at night try to maintain alkalinity @ 3.0 meq/L (8.4dKH) or higher because increased alkalinity helps corals calcify at low pH
I realize this thread has sort of gotten off track but IMO/IME the use of limewater for makeup due to evaporation is a good thing in almost every situation I can think with the possible exception of a reef aquarium that runs with an extremely high pH (which is rare IME).
tip
if your reef aquarium runs at the lower range of daytime pH 8.23 and pH 7.75 at night try to maintain alkalinity @ 3.0 meq/L (8.4dKH) or higher because increased alkalinity helps corals calcify at low pH
I realize this thread has sort of gotten off track but IMO/IME the use of limewater for makeup due to evaporation is a good thing in almost every situation I can think with the possible exception of a reef aquarium that runs with an extremely high pH (which is rare IME).
PR_Reefers
New member
Lol
mr.maroonsalty
New member
My drip is simple and cheap!
I don't use any sort of float valve, just a steady .10ml drip; I know the drip rate that matches evaporation pretty well ~1drip per 2sec for 1g evaporation and any changes are slight which the drip set allows for. Its not set it and forget it, but I don't need to leave my tank to run on its own that often. I would like to upgrade the aqualifter as it tends to airlock for a day or so after I refill the reservoir. I put the proper size feed tube for the pump and that didn't help. I'm not sure where the air comes from, I think it may be a product of the solution??? Anyway, I just open the drip set, and let it purge through the line when it needs bleeding.
Limewater would likely be enough to meet the demands made by my corals, the 1/2tsp+ of A&H is for the Helmeda
I don't use any sort of float valve, just a steady .10ml drip; I know the drip rate that matches evaporation pretty well ~1drip per 2sec for 1g evaporation and any changes are slight which the drip set allows for. Its not set it and forget it, but I don't need to leave my tank to run on its own that often. I would like to upgrade the aqualifter as it tends to airlock for a day or so after I refill the reservoir. I put the proper size feed tube for the pump and that didn't help. I'm not sure where the air comes from, I think it may be a product of the solution??? Anyway, I just open the drip set, and let it purge through the line when it needs bleeding.
Limewater would likely be enough to meet the demands made by my corals, the 1/2tsp+ of A&H is for the Helmeda
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
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