Using a kalk top off for mainting calcium

gavin123 · #1 01/03/2005, 01:36 AM

How many people are mainting their calcium with just kalk top off?

if so how much sps and hard corals do you have?

I plan to set up a 10 gallon tank, for which i can fill with Kalk. Then using an aqua lift pump, pump it into my sump. hooked up to a float switch and a timer only for use at night.

does this sound ok?

gavin

katchupoy · #2 01/03/2005, 01:57 AM

First of all, test your calc... if you can maintain your readings by using kalk, and by no means, stick with it.

I have a 40g with not so many SPS but still needs to dilute my kalk because it gives me too much calcium...

also i am using a 10gallon sump and a 10 gallon kalk reservoir.

gavin123 · #3 01/03/2005, 02:19 AM

how are you pumping the kalk into you sump?

dkh0331 · #4 01/03/2005, 06:52 AM

I've been using the aqua lifter pump to drip my kalk for about a year now. I would suggest you buy a $0.50 air valve to control the drip rate. I run a water/vinegar solution thru the pump every month and wipe the end of the air valve off whenever I empty my skimmer cup. Never had a problem.

David

katchupoy · #5 01/03/2005, 11:08 AM

If youre asking me... as you can see in the pic that it is a gravity feed connected to a $15 float valve.

pros - no electricity or timer to worry about
cons - it is dripping 24/7 as you normally would due to evap

JakStat · #6 01/03/2005, 11:26 AM

I can't maintain Ca/alk with kalk alone. I drip a 2 tsp/gal solution 24/7, maintaining compensation for evap.

My Montiporas are growing faster than my Xenias and are sucking the carbonate and Ca out like crazy. I've calculated my consumption to be around 4-5 dKH and 80-100ppm Ca per day.

And no, there's no white stuff on my heater.

I think every tank's consumption needs to be ascertained and additives adjusted accordingly.

JDT · #7 01/03/2005, 11:34 AM

I have been dripping kalk 24/7 for about 6 months now with great growth and color on my SPS. The only corals I keep in my tank are SPS and Clams.

gavin123 the only thing I would suggest to you is put a cover on that 10 gallon tank you are going to use, the strength of kalk evaporates after 24 hours if left in an open container. I would also suggest dripping 24/7 instead of only at night. If you are concerned about how much kalk you are putting into your tank play around with the dose of the powder, it is important that you do a daily test on your calcium, pH and alkalinity until your numbers stabilize.
JDT

gavin123 · #8 01/03/2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JDT
gavin123 the only thing I would suggest to you is put a cover on that 10 gallon tank you are going to use, the strength of kalk evaporates after 24 hours if left in an open container. I would also suggest dripping 24/7 instead of only at night. If you are concerned about how much kalk you are putting into your tank play around with the dose of the powder, it is important that you do a daily test on your calcium, pH and alkalinity until your numbers stabilize.
JDT [/B]

Do you recomned that i cover it to make it air tight?

how stocked is you tank?

gavin

dkh0331 · #9 01/03/2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gavin123
Do you recomned that i cover it to make it air tight?

how stocked is you tank?

gavin

Here is an article by Randy that relates to this -

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm

David

gavin123 · #10 01/03/2005, 02:02 PM

the link doesn't work

manderx · #11 01/03/2005, 02:05 PM

that's an old reefer's myth that kalk degrades with time. randy has proved several times over that as long as you don't agitate it, it stays at full strength for at least up to a month. the film that forms on it keeps the co2 out.

one of the best tanks i've ever seen uses vinegar spiked kalk as it's only regular calcium/alk supplement. he (nvert) was TOTM last january with his 40, now he has a 120 that looks even better. he's full of sps, caps, and the fastest growing 10"+ derasa i've ever seen. he mixes a trashcan full once a month and uses a vario dosing pump on a timer to replace his day's evaporation at night.

dkh0331 · #12 01/03/2005, 02:08 PM

Hmm, try this -

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-0...ture/index.htm

JDT · #13 01/03/2005, 04:53 PM

gavin123,
As you are going to have an air hose or some form of tubing to get the kalk from you tank to your sump, getting it totally air tight will be difficult. I have tested kalk water that has been open to the air over a period of time and did find that it did loose some strength, not much but still enough that it is just as easy to cover you container as best as you can. I evaporate almost 8 gallons per day so I could leave the container without a cover but the way I have my setup I need the cover on my bucket.

As to how stocked I am, the top layer of rock in my tank I could not put another piece in but I still have room on the sides and bottom of the tank to fill in, I am going to let nature do the fighting when all my SPS grow out which with the growth I am getting now won't be long.
JDT