To KALK or not to KALK?

[MetroKat]

I got a bad batch of reef crystals last week and they are sending me new salt now i would test the salt it seems your dkh changes a lot.

I got a 30 cube and i add 1/2 gallon of kalk a day. my old 120 got 5 gallons every 2 days. Good luck though on every thing.

The salt parameters in a fresh batch which has been mixing overnight tests pretty accurately with the advertised numbers. When it goes in my tank however, aliens take over and suck out all the good stuff.

I have been dosing 2 part, manually for the last several days and recording steady parameters (not high enough yet, but not falling like they were before.

Thanks for posting.

 

[-TS-Vash]

The salt parameters in a fresh batch which has been mixing overnight tests pretty accurately with the advertised numbers. When it goes in my tank however, aliens take over and suck out all the good stuff.

I have been dosing 2 part, manually for the last several days and recording steady parameters (not high enough yet, but not falling like they were before.

Thanks for posting.

I think two part may work better for you then it will give you more control.
The tank looks great though i hope to see it as it grows. Good luck.

 

[BFG]

Limpets in general graze on algae on the rocks. Very little is known about the Frilly limpet, also known as fleshy limpet. WetWebMedia suggests some species prey on corals but Babette (my limpet) has never done this. I've had her for about 5-6 months. She used to live in my pico and I thought she was just a yellow limpet. I messaged John Maloney of ReefCleaners who said as much.

I discovered the skirt just a few days ago!

I've noticed an area on my fake live rock was bubble algae free and noticed that there was a limpet nearby. This was a month ago. Trying to move the limpet to another spot but it wouldn't budge. Now that I know how my limpet looks like, going to try to look for one on the beach breakwater.

 

[md ca]

Brightwell Kalk+2, not regular kalkwasser

Brightwell Kalk+2, not regular kalkwasser

I have followed this very interesting thread, and your tank and fuge are beautiful. Although Kalk+2 was mentioned, as I am not familiar with this particular product, I thought you were dosing kalkwasser, ie. regular calcium hydroxide. I was in a reef store today and noticed the Kalk+2 product along with all the other Brightwell products. It looks like a very different product than kalkwasser.

 

[bertoni]

Kalk+2 is just Kalk, possibly with a bit of strontium and magnesium added. The magnesium will precipitate, so at best Kalk+2 might add a bit of strontium in addition to calcium and alkalinity.

 

[md ca]

Is there a reason to use this product rather than kalkwasser?

 

[bertoni]

In my opinion, no. There's no demonstrated need for strontium:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2003/chem.htm

 

[MetroKat]

KALK+2
Ingredients
Calcium hydroxide, Strontium hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide

The article Jonathan referenced says "Much has been written about the need for strontium in reef aquaria. Some authors have described it as an important additive, while others have described it simply as a poison."

I would have to agree with the poison opinion from MY experience with it on MY reef, which had an already high level of Strontium (as tested by Aquarium water testing service).

"Strontium is important for coral and coralline algae growth, especially among the “SPS” corals. Too much strontium can be detrimental to coral calcification
processes, and may cause coral mortality."

This is what too much strontium in the KALK+2 product did.
Before

After

I do not have a test kit for Strontium or I could add indisputable data to a visual observation of what my tank went through. Since strontium is easily removed via water changes, frequent water changes reduced much of the stress on this coral. It is no where close to it's former glory but I hope to get it thriving again.

 

[MetroKat]

Same coral on Sept 8

Edit: posted the wrong pic before.

 

[nbgen12]

you have a beautiful tank and fuge man. Trash that kalk+2 nonsense....once that 2 part is dialed in there is no sweat on the parameters.

 

[kara13]

This is good to know. I just bought some and dont' think I will use it now. Thanks.

 

[MetroKat]

you have a beautiful tank and fuge man. Trash that kalk+2 nonsense....once that 2 part is dialed in there is no sweat on the parameters.

Thank you.

ORA Green Bird

Tubbs Yellow Bird

 

[diversanders]

Really you're a girl? are those legs really yours, LOL? Thanks for the thread found some useful info (advancedaquarist.com and zones).

 

[MetroKat]

Really you're a girl? are those legs really yours, LOL? Thanks for the thread found some useful info (advancedaquarist.com and zones).

Are you saying I sound like a guy? Well that's perfectly alright, if it means my questions get taken seriously. What would the hobby come to if chicks knew what the big boys did. Oh my.

No of course those are not my legs, a lady doesn't reveal all. But you can check out my pretty glow sticks on my thread on here in the nano section called Kats fabulous max.

 

[MetroKat]

Hello again. I am a permanent member of the ALK/CALK swingers club now. Since this issue has been going on for months. I switched from Red Sea Coral Pro salt to ESV to see if the huge alk swings could be controlled by not adding a salt that was high in calcium. At one point a bucket of RSCP saltwater that has been sitting mixed for 10+ days tested 5.3 or so for ALK.

Anyway.
Riddle me this. Apex dosing, precise and controlled.

Nov 30: 10.2, 350
Dec 1: 7.8, 400
Apex Dosing online, equal parts, constant.
Dec 2: 8.0, 370
Dec 3: 8.4, 400
Dec 5: 7.3? , 400
Dec 8: water change
Dec 9: 7.0, 400 with increased dosing of Alkalinity