want to keep SPS?

[saltwatertanker]

I want to keep SPS, currently I have a few pieces in my LPS tank Do I really need to run some type of calcium additive? Would 2 part (c-balance) be sufficient?

I also have a leather coral. Would this cause issues?

 

[BillyC]

Are you not adding any calcium already? What kind of lighting and flow do you have?

 

[Finland]

Most likely, yes. You should be testing alk, calcium, and magnesium consumption and then add enough to keep parameters as stable as possible. 2-part is used successfully by a lot of sps tanks. The leather may cause issues, but run some carbon and you might be fine.

 

[Donkeykong]

size of tank and size of leather will dictate whether it will be a problem. Also you need to maintain a certian level of calcium alk and mag. Most cant keep the numbers up with just water changes alone so they go to eather Kalk in the top off water, 2 part dosing, calcium reactor, or some combo of the above.

 

[saltwatertanker]

75 gallon tank. 2 kessil a150 ocean blues. Tank is an odd size, so the depth is 24 inches. The kessils are mounted about 6 inches from the water line.

What is the ideal depth for SPS coral placement?

I also do manual top offs when needed. How would I add Kalk to the top off water? Just mix some in my top off gallon of water?

So its ok to use both 2 part (c balance) and kalk? What type of Kalk would you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Donkeykong]

With sps stability is really the key, so a good auto top off system is going to help with that. Yes kalk is just mixed in with the top off water. 2 tablespoons per gallon is the max, if you want to go more than that you have to start playing with vinegar and that is a pretty tricky thing for some one just starting out. You can use both but I would doubt you need to at first. Alot of people can use just kalk and water changes when irst starting out, as you get more coral and everything really starts to grow, kalk may not be enough and that is when you would either add 2 part to your system or cut the kalk out completely and just go 2 part. No matter what you go with you have to test regularly to max sure you are dosing enough and not to much.

 

[saltwatertanker]

Does 2 part and Kalk provide the same effect to water chemistry?

 

[60Cubed]

I run a Kalk reactor. Water can only absorb a certain % of Kalk so putting more than 2 tbsp per gallon won't matter. Only a waste if you throw it away. I dump a lb of Kalk into my reactor and it prolly only holds a cople gallons of water.

 

[Finland]

Does 2 part and Kalk provide the same effect to water chemistry?

Yes, they both add alkalinity and calcium. Kalk is a balance alk and ca additive. 2 part is calcium in one bottle and alk in the other. If you add kalk too fast, it can raise the pH pretty quickly and cause alk and ca to precipitate out, so it is best to go slow with it. Dosing overtime or drip method works fine. Just make sure to test so you know where your parameters are.