Top-off ..does it need to be Kalkwater ?

[Ginzo]

Just wondering, does my top-off water need to be added with Kalkwasser or can I just add RO/DI water to my sump from my top-off system ?

If I already have a calcium reactor..is the adding of kalkwasser overkill ?

 

[FishyBiz]

Also interested.....

 

[teo241]

all depends on how stable your alkalinity is, if you need to add kalk to keep it in a normal range, add it to your top off water, otherwise plain old ro/di is fine. or you could do them both separately.

 

[MIKE NY]

also depends on your PH. Most like myself add kalk topoff to boost the PH up because the cal reactor drives it down. If your in the 7.8 and over range IMO your good. Mine was going down to 7.6 at night without it.

 

[chefer]

Mike how do you does the Kalk I have the same problem you had mine goes down to 7.5 at night and I have a ca reator. Mike

 

[MIKE NY]

...are there any problems caused by the PH going that low? All my topoff water is with kalk(limewater). I use a 25 gal rubbermaid with a pump connected to a LifeReef float switch in the sump. I premix the kalk before adding it to the rubbermaid. The only problem I foresee is if the float sticks down and dumps all the limewater in, but it has been very reliable. I just keep everything clean, float, pump,etc.....my PH is now 7.9 at night and 8.1 day.

 

[javajaws]

You could always put your CO2 solenoid on a timer so that it is only on during the day. This would require readjusting your calcium reactor so that it dissolves more media during the shorter time it will be on.

 

[Sullyman]

A controler is the best way to run a reactor, Lights go on Ph rises, controler turns on the CO2, lights go out Ph falls, controler turns CO2 off.
If you've got a top off set up, why not dose Kalkwasser while you're at it? I think it helps keeps everything stable, and better growth with it, too.

 

[javajaws]

Most people use a controller to control the effluent pH so they don't have a meltdown. 2 controllers (for controlling tank and effluent pH) would be optimal but not within most people's budget.

 

[moumda]

I ran my tank with just ro water for top off for 6 monthes and it worked fine. I don't have a calcium reactor, just maintained cal with water changes. Have since switch to use all kalk for top off and like the ph in my tank much better (ro water ph 7.7 to 7.9, kalk 8.0 to 8.2).

 

[charlesgage]

Anthony Calfo just wrote a great article on this on his new forum marinedepot.com/forums http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic21343-13-1.aspx

 

[Sullyman]

I've got the probe for my controler in one of my overflows, so it reads the tank Ph. I used it to set the effluent Ph and then put it the overflow. I don't see the reason for 2 controlers, once you set the CO2, you don't have to mess with it.
But to get back on topic, topping off with Kalk is a good thing to do, with or without a reactor.