What does Kalk dosing cover?

[southernfish]

I'm thinking of starting to dose kalkwasser. What all does it cover such as Calcium, alkalinity, mag, strontium etc. What r the specifics and the benifits on a mixed reef 100 gal? Would in need to ever suppliment anything else? I don't supliment anything now and havnt for some time and have never had any probs and neverlost anything. I now have halides and am on a coral kick so o am increasing my load there and just want to make sure I continues my success or "good luck". I do have some Sps and plans to add more. Thanks

 

[HighlandReefer]

Randy goes into the details of kalk dosing in this article:

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

 

[southernfish]

THat article was incredibly long and really i would have preffered a simple answer. Thanks

so what are peoples experiences with it and thier bioload?

 

[redawg]

good

 

[Zire]

I'm thinking of starting to dose kalkwasser. What all does it cover such as Calcium, alkalinity, mag, strontium etc. What r the specifics and the benifits on a mixed reef 100 gal? Would in need to ever suppliment anything else? I don't supliment anything now and havnt for some time and have never had any probs and neverlost anything. I now have halides and am on a coral kick so o am increasing my load there and just want to make sure I continues my success or "good luck". I do have some Sps and plans to add more. Thanks

It covers alkalinity and calcium as far as I know, and has affects on Ph as well(raises it). It's main purpose is in maitnaining alk and calcium levels. no effects on magnesium, strontium or anything else as far as I know. Trace elements and things like magnesium are not covered by kalk dosing, so you'd need to find another way to supplement them. Benefits in a 100G mixed reef can vary, I guess you're aiming for healthier corals and faster growth? It could do that. Don't jump into this without ample research though, or your good luck is probably gonna run out fast. I'd really suggest you begin by reading that article, I've just tried to give you a broad idea.

 

[HighlandReefer]

THat article was incredibly long and really i would have preffered a simple answer. Thanks

so what are peoples experiences with it and thier bioload?

Saturated kalk water (2 teaspoons kalk per 1 gal. rodi) has a pH of about 12.4, an alkalinity of about 120 dKH and a calcium level of about 800 ppm. So it will meet the demand for most average tanks.

The high pH of kalk water can cause problems if overdosed. So one will need to take precautions when dosing it. It should be dripped with a dosing pump and in many cases a timer. This high pH will be benefitial if your tank pH is on the low side.

Kalk water is the cheapest method for maintaining your alk and calcium demand.

When mixing kalk water, you will allow the solids to drop to the bottom of your mixing container and dose the clearer liquid only. The solids on the bottom contain unwanted contaminates, so using kalk water will add the least amount of heavy metals (copper) to your tank of the different methods for maintain alk and calcium.

 

[HighlandReefer]

As stated in the above posts, kalk water will not add much magnesium. Most salt mixes have a high level of magnesium in them, therefore mag supplemention should not be necessary until your demand becomes high with lots of sps coral. This is provided you mix your salt water to around 1.0264 (sea water level).

Strontium should not be necessary to dose in most reef tanks as well as other micro-nutrients.

 

[Patow]

For clarification, is it 2 teaspoons kalk per 1 gal. rodi, or 2 tablespoons kalk per 1 gal. rodi?

I've now read both on RC.

Cheers,

Dave

 

[jeepguy242]

2 teaspoons

 

[Mr.Monkey]

Also increase in coraline algae growth Make those live rock nice and purple

 

[nanojg]

THat article was incredibly long and really i would have preffered a simple answer. Thanks

so what are peoples experiences with it and thier bioload?

You really should read the article if you want to understand how limewater works. The more knowledge you have the easier it will be to both not run into problems in the first place and fix problems should they happen.

 

[Chris27]

Kalk is the greatest thing since sliced bread - cheap - easy - raises pH - can get it at wallyworld - etc...

Read the article, ask some more questions. Good Luck

 

[tmz]

I rely on limewater for the bulk of calcium and alkalinity needs for my sps dominated system. I rarely add a little extra baking soda to tweak up alkalinity. Since I use salt mix high in calcium and magnesium these are never an issue. Nor are trace elements since there are plenty of these in the salt mix and they are supplied via regular water changes.

Kalk provides calcium hydroxide. The hydroxide forms carbonate alkalinity(CO3) as it joins with CO2 which would otherwise form carbonic acid in the water. Much of carbonate forms bicarbonate(HCO3) using an H proton in the process. Both of these interactions boost ph.

Further, calcium hydroxide is self purifying as it precipitates out impurities. It may precipitate some inorganic phosphate too.

It must be dosed slowly and in limited amounts to avoid spiking ph via a dosing pump and still reservoir, a drip or a kalk reactor ,for example, to avoid spiking ph and alkalinity.

 

[southernfish]

I did read the article, I fell asleep numerous times haha. I did appreciate what I learned from it. I have a bunch of corals and have been adding more. I've never had a problem with growth or health and never any alarms when I test. I'm just Kinda looking to the future. Thanks everyone and I did not mean to come off rude as I read my post and thought it was a little.

But anyways so how is everyones corals benifited, before kalk and after kalk?

 

[nanojg]

I have always used it so im not sure if the corals are better, worse, or the same with our without it. But it is a very easy way to stabalize ph, and help with alk and calcium. I have mine set up through my ato so all of my top off water is saturated limewater. As long as it is added slowly it should not cause any problems.

Get Mrs. Wages Pickeling lime at the store, United should have it (they do in the Lubbock Uniteds)

 

[bertoni]

Limewater adds calcium and alkalinity, and can help raise pH. Those are its benefits. Depending on the tank, the pH boost might be very valuable. There are other ways to add calcium and alkalinity, but limewater has the biggest pH boost per unit of alkalinity added.

 

[tmz]

I find it easy to keep alkalinity steady with 24/7 kalk dosing as top off. The steadiness keeps corals, particularly sps thriving. It also helps me keep ph in the 8.2 to 8.4 range along with some vodka and vinegar dosing. 2 part dosing with dosing pumps can accomplish the same thing without a ph boost but will add a bit of chloride over time which is not a big worry.
I've used the common third option ,a calcium reactor, and find it a bit tedious and worrisome in terms of steady CO2 flow and consequent alkalinity dosage.
The chemistry articles were difficult ,at least for me, and may take several reads but they are well worth the effort in my opinion.

 

[iap]

So... I have an autotopoff unit. Can I just add my pickling lime to my storage container and just let it automatically top off my tank with it? How would I go about regulating so I'm not putting too much in at once?? If Kalk does all of this stuff why the need to top off kalk plus dose 2 part??

 

[bertoni]

First, you should check whether the topoff set can handle the limewater, which is a strong base. Next, the rate of addition is important. I used a peristaltic pump, which delivers a slow, steady stream of drops, which is the best way to dose limewater.

 

[tmz]

Slow and steady is best. If that is not possible , I wouldn't add more than what would amount to 1/4tsp of kalk powder per 50 gallons of water volume in any given hour. That would be no more than 16ozs of kalkwasser( mixed at 1/4 tsp per 16oz of water or 2tsp per gallon)per 50 gallons of system water volume.