dripping Kalk help!!

[realest]

Ok, I have just started to drip kalk. The way I am dripping it is dripping it by gravity (slowly) and trying to match with the evopration rate.

My question is, is there a point where I should stop dripping?

Or I can just keep dripping it forever and it is never too much?

I understand, I can't drip too much in a short period of time, but is it ok to keep dripping it forever at a very slow rate?

Thanks

[demonsp]

A 1 month tank doent really need it but doesnt hurt. You need to test for calcium and adjust by the readings.

Hate to stray off but if it is 1 month then i would worry about water quality and water changes and my water tests for awile before jumping ahead to add ons. Regular water changes will renew the system of trace elements and only after it matures and calcium load increases will it be nessescery to keep it up.

[drillsar]

Actually it's more important to check Alk then Calcium when you're dripping Kalk. You should check both Calcium and Alk,

[jdieck]

Two much Kalk and it may increase calcium and alkalinity too much. Although you can measure calcium to know if you are adding too much the change is more sensitive to alkalinity so that is what I would check for. Try your normal addition and test every 24 hours if you alkalinity keeps on increasing either slow down the drip (which may not be enough to replace evaporation) or add less powder to the solution to make it of lower strenght.

[demonsp]

Well placed advice guys.

[realest]

From my understanding, I have read about people dripping kalk with their auto top off. And if that is the case, how do they do it?

Since you guys said, check the cal and alk and adjust it?

Sorry by the way, my tank is 4 months old now and my stock is slowly building, that's why I am building add ons.

Thanks for any advice!

[drillsar]

I recommend this over Kalk, Kalk is a bigger risk, etc:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

You have to check your Calcium and Alk levels and try to find out what your tank uses up daily and then adjust but dont adjust to fast.

Be sure to get good test kits for the Calcium and Alk (Salifert Brand I only trust)

[demonsp]

DO you know your water readings? Nitrate , nitrite , ammonia , PH , Alk , calcium , phosphate , ect..

You should never add anything you havnt tested for. One golden rule in water quality and system controll.
Look herer pls.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...opmistakes.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/water4maruse.htm

[sjm817]

Kalk is a great way to add balanced ca and alk. Its is easy to use and inexpensive. I prefer a float switch to a controlled drip. With a good float switch setup, you are replacing all evaporated water with limewater. You can use up tp 2 teaspoons/gallon. Use less if your tank doesn't need as much. If your tank needs exceeds this, there are other methods such as 2 part, and ca reactors.

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

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

[realest]

My reading as of right now is:

nitrate - 0
nitrate - 0
ammonia - 0
cal - 440
alk - 11
sanity - 1.025
33 ppt

so i am guessing, i shouldnt just keep dripping this stuff. Just test and drip according to the needs right?

[demonsp]

If you dont go above the current reading your fine. The one thing that is very usefull is keeping readings steady with the least amount of fluctuatiion is very good.
Softies dont need. Its after you get some stoneys and coraline and anyother calcium needing critters it becomes more important.

[realest]

I currently have 2 stoneys (Purple birdnest and a motipora danae. Other then that, it is all softies!!

[demonsp]

Leave on a slow drip and adjust by your readings. Increase as needed.

[bertoni]

I'd also watch the pH. Limewater can spike the pH badly before affecting alkalinity or calcium very much at all.

[realest]

Thanks a lot guys, I have already being keeping watch on the ph. Before started dripping kalk, the ph was at 8.2 and 2 days after slow drip. The ph is 8.4

By the way, what range of ph is accpectable? 7.8 - 8.5?

Thanks again!

[bertoni]

That range sounds reasonable to me.