[What happened] Switched from 2 part to Kalk = Better Growth / Color

[Rakie]

Switched from 2-part to Kalk in my ATO and saw immediate improvements in growth and coloration. Also kickstarted growth stall in Zoa's to boot, all Zoa's had new polyps starting to show within a week (coincidence?). Below is my tank and how it's run -- The only change was going from BRS 2-part to Kalkwasser I hope this is enough information to get an idea of what Kalk brought to the table that was missing from my tank (My guess is more stable PH).

Background on tank
Tank --- Biocube 29g
Light --- Radion XR15
Skim ---Aquamaxx Hob-1
Mech. Filter --- Filter Floss / Carbon

Params
Alk --- 8.2 - 8.5 (Down from 10 while learning 2-part)
Ca --- 440
Mg --- 1600 (Down from 2200, beat Bryopsis)
Sg --- 1.026
Nitrate --- 2.5 (Dosed -- Was at 0 forever)
Phos --- 0 (down from .03 before dosing Nitrate)

Dosing
Acropower --- 2ml 2-3x per month
WM Vitamin HUFA --- 3-5 drops 1-2x per month
MB7 --- 1.5ml 2-3x per month
Nitrate --- A few times total, nitrate stable at 2.5
Vodka --- .5ml 2-3x per month

Maintenance
Water Change --- 20% weekly
Filter Floss --- changed monthly (doesn't get too dirty)
Replace Carbon --- Every 2-3 weeks + clean reactor/pump

 

[Bdial]

What is your alk/cal consumption rate? What do you have livestock wise? What are you dosing for nitrates? Did you try feeding more?

A lot of people have good luck with kalk in ato. I'm glad that things are getting better in your tank. But it could be from better stability with the kalk. Also I see your dosing mb7 and vodka. Those are both supplements to increase bacteria as in carbon dosing. IMO you wasting your time dosing those only twice a month. That doesn't do anything in the tank really.

Could you post some pics so we can see how things look?

 

[Rakie]

Carbon Dosing --- Yes, you're correct about the Vodka and MB7. I used it for cycle and I typically dose after a WC and the following day as the sand bed gets stirred up a lot. At this point it's a habit, I could take it or leave it, I'll leave it now that I think about it.

Alk/Cal Consumption and Feeding --- Tank is small and only has frags growing out for now, I was using Alk @ 40 - 42ml daily, and Calcium at 20ppm every 2-3 days. Definitely stepped up feeding.

Nitrate Dosing --- Potassium Nitrate from NilocG a FW planted fert (worked fine), was lightly stocked as I'm holding out for certain fish and prefer to buy local only (Firefish & Geometric Hawk at the time, now Tanaka's Possum Wrasse added as well). I felt tank was inadequately fed but not quite starving.

I'll have to grab pics tomorrow, the only pics I have are pretty outdated. My tank is fine though, I was just wondering what Kalk is offering that my 2-part wasn't. I feel confident it's more stable and possibly the pH is also more stable.

 

[Jim Z.]

Hi,

Kalkwasser will bind to phosphate and some of this will get skimmed out. That is only one part of the equation and you also have the potassium in your nitrate additive which can also play a role in coral color too. Some nitrate is essential for coral growth and that 2.5 level seems to be where its needed for your corals...................Jim

 

[Rakie]

FTS are pretty hard to do with my phone and LED's

The only pic of my SPS that sort of turned out

Had to turn lights to 13k to even get those crappy shots!

But tank is doing relatively fine, I'm getting growth and encrusting from all my SPS. They stalled for awhile while I was fiddling with 2-part and trying to get my dosing down. Nothing died but alk swings weren't appreciated of course.