Why doesn't everybody use kalk?

vessxpress1

vessxpress1

Premium Member
Five years into this hobby, I just recently am learning the benefits of kalk. I put it off and put it off and then one day, finally bought a bottle of it. I realize it's extremely potent but to me, that's better than the alternatives.

The benefits are unbelievable. I just added a little to my tank to top it off for the day and watched the pH climb on the RK2, up past 8.4 with the lights out. Which is also raising my alk and maintaining my recently adjusted, high Ca level. Which also is maintaing a higher pH for the night and increasing protein skimming efficiency. The stuff is great!

I have a doser coming soon because I know it's better to slowly drip it than shock the tank. So far though, everything's been doing fine and Ca is staying high.
 
In response to why I, myself, do not use kalk, I will tell you why. My first reason can be summed up in a single word: "laziness". :p My second reason is because I have a small tank (20G) and would need to be very careful adding kalk to such a small system.

However, if i had a larger system (say... 180G?) I would definitely consider using kalk or a calcium reactor in my system. Those with larger systems who do not use kalk or a reactor probably could find good use for them (along with the added bonus of more time for laziness!! LoL!). :D
 
Kalk additions are limited by the amount of evaporation your tank has. While it may meet the needs of many tanks, it isn't enough for everyone.

My tank is only moderately stocked with clams and sps. To meet demand, I already find that I would need to add more kalk than my tank evaporates water.
 
To me, if you have an auto topoff, its a no brainer. You are 90% there already. Even if it cant keep up with demands, let it do what it can and use other methods such as ca reactor or 2 part to make up the difference.
 
Knowing nothing about kalk, I have a few questions.

(1) Why is it limited by evaportion? Is it dangerous to increase the concentration in the topoff water?

(2) If you add calk, does it raise both calcium and alkalinity, replacing both halves of "2 part"?

(3) Aside from the limitation in dosage, is it better or easier than a calcium reactor?
 
1) you can only mix it so strong. ~ 2 Tsp/gallon is fully saturated.

2) It raises both ca and alk in balance and also raises PH

3) Easier, yes. Better, it depends.
 
To answer your questions:

1. You can't increase the concentration of kalkwasser. Kalkwasser is water that is saturated with the kalk. Those that use saturated kalkwasser usually only add it as topoff so they don't throw things off by having to remove water to add more kalkwasser to the system. It's just a pain that way.

2. Adding calcium alone doesn't really help with alkalinity. However, calcium is usually supplied as a liquid compound. I believe I have calcium carbonate in my Kent supplement. Alkalinity is the measurement of molecules (such as calcium carbonate, which is baking soda, or calcium bicarbonate, or calcium hydroxide in kalkwasser) in the system that are capable of neutralizing acids. You need the carbonate portion of the molecules to bond with acidic solutions (which buffers your RO water that has a pH of approx. 6) and, if possible, raises your pH a bit once the buffering capacity is established (i.e. acids are neutralized in the system), as sjm817 mentioned. So the calcium gets separated from the other half of the molecule. Calcium goes to whatever needs it, and the other portion of the molecule (carbonate, bicarbonate, or hydroxide) bonds with part of the acid and keeps the pH from swinging.

Sorry if this gets a bit too into chemistry... I'm an engineer! What do you want?!

So, to sum it up, yes, adding a calcium supplement will likely raise your alkalinity, too.

3. This one I cannot answer, other than if your reactor isn't big enough to handle the calcium demand you have to dose additional kalk/calcium to the system to balance out the demands of your tank. And if your kalk dosage isn't sufficient, you'd add a reactor. But I'd guess it's easiest to simply get a reactor that's big enough for overkill (or build one, if you're able to). The media isn't overly expensive, I don't believe, and the CO2 should last you quite a while, even on larger systems.

Hope that helps! :)
 
Last edited:
Sounds like everyone should use it. Now can we hear from the calcium reactor fans?

I add about 2 gal of water per day to my 180 gal for evaporation. Will that be enough?
 
Re: Why doesn't everybody use kalk?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9470248#post9470248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vessxpress1


The benefits are unbelievable. I just added a little to my tank to top it off for the day and watched the pH climb on the RK2, up past 8.4 with the lights out. Which is also raising my alk and maintaining my recently adjusted, high Ca level. Which also is maintaing a higher pH for the night and increasing protein skimming efficiency. The stuff is great!
Click to expand...

Just be wary that raising the PH quickly with kalk can be very stressful on all tank inhabitants. It is recommended not to increase the PH quickly more than 2 tenths at any time while adding it. Personally, I use the slurry method for my needs and can only add about 1/3 teaspoon and remain within this recommendation.
 
Why do you need kalk?

How much does the local PH of the water on a reef change at night?

If you need kalk or other calcium supplementation, why have my reef aquariums always been so happy with out it?

I do run a 4" DSB, and 1.5 lbs live rock per gallon. But I add no supplements what so ever besides food for the fish/anenome/corals. I do change 10% actual sea water per week. (I live in San Diego and therefore have access to Scripts Aquarium sea water) I do not run a protein skimmer either. (I do use chemi-pure and filter floss changed monthly though)

It appears my tank has no issue with calcium as the back wall of my tank is solidly covered in pink/purple corline algae. I mean literally solid! My zenia are growing like weeds, and my LPS are all growing. My Open Brain has actually healed, when I bought it a year or so ago the flesh was seperated from the skeleton on about 20% of the base. I have had a BTA for over a year, and it recently split. So now I have two:)

Of course I have no idea how my tanks water parameters "Stack up" as the only parameter I ever check is specific gravity. Really really. It works for me.

I honestly believe that 90% of the maintenance/supplementation/technology requirements for reef aquariums is pure BS/HYPE. All based on equipment/suppliment or retail companies trying there best to grab your $$$. And they surely are in this hobby!

Of course, all that really matter is what works for you.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9470533#post9470533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
Kalk additions are limited by the amount of evaporation your tank has. While it may meet the needs of many tanks, it isn't enough for everyone.

My tank is only moderately stocked with clams and sps. To meet demand, I already find that I would need to add more kalk than my tank evaporates water.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have worded that any better!!

Sam
 
there are a range of Ca-alk-pH affecting solutions to maintaining those. depending on the tendencies of your tank chemistry, you may have to go, more or less, with or without, some solutions.

the person with high pH problems to start would not want to drip kalk. it will jack their pH through the roof.
they would be better off with a Ca reactor, which does alk and Ca but tends to drop pH

maybe you use baking soda for alk. then kalk dripping is a nice offset to the lower pH of the baking soda

and so on. so the scenarios vary. IMO, the smart money goes on understanding what your tank is doing, then treat kalk dosing as one of the tools in your toolbox. maybe you need to use it for this project, maybe not.
 
I can understand why you may not need any supplementation when you change 10% of your water per week. However there is a real need for calcium and alkalinity in reef tanks and I find I need to supplement these two to keep things happy. I use Kalk with a rare dose of iron for my plants and that works for me. I do rely on water changes to keep Mg. and other trace elements in check but I only do one every two or three weeks of 10% or less. I love Kalk as it helps my ph, helps my calcium and helps my alk.

I use to use 2 parts but have switched to kalk for all my tanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9471291#post9471291 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
My tank does not require the use of supplements.
Click to expand...

It says sps in your tag line.....are the ythe specail kind that don't consume ca.? I'm just wondering out loud how you keep you ca. and alk. and mag. up with just your salt from water changes?
 
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