Need Help, Kalkwasser not working

[rikacarl]

Let me start by saying I have never been able to keep my Ca above 400. I just got my new tank set up and found I really need a better way to maintain my Ca level. 2 weeks after start up my Ca is only around 300. note: (this is a new aquarium, but transferred all rock and corals from older tank)

I performed very large water changes while moving the tank. (maybe 75% or more) So I think I only recently may have goofed up the Ca level while trying to add kalkwasser. I think I added too fast and/or added the pasty white film from the top and bottom of the 5 gallon bucket I was dripping.

I was going to get a dosing pump (reef filler $200) and set it to add 1 gallon a day for evaporation... but,

Now thinking I should step up to kalk reactor or Ca reactor. Anyone want to help me think this out? I don't really have the money on hand, and I have a credit at Champion Lighting so I was going to order a dsoing pump from them. I should be able to maintain correct levels if I can remember to mix a bucket of kalk once a week, right? <sigh> :roll: Anyone reading this have good long term success with only use of Kalkwasser?

TIA
-carl

 

[pardsie]

I dose kalk daily in my 125 reef. Kalkwasser has other benefits such as reducing phosphates. I was unable to maintain anything above 350 calcium and my alk had a tendency to drop over time. I now dose kalk 24/7 and supplement with ESV B-Ionic daily and am able to maintain good levels and all organisms are fine and happy. I have used both the reef filler and a Spectapure Litermeter. The reef filler is very noisy so I opted for the litermeter. Very quiet and the only thing I need to do periodically is clean out the end of the dosing tube and remove the built up calcium deposits.

HTH
Pardsie

 

[rikacarl]

Guess I will get the Reef filler pump. The garage is on the other side of the aquarium wall, so I think I will locate the Kalkwasser and pump there and run the supply line throught the wall. So the noise associated with the pump won't be an issue.

How far from the bottom of the bucket of kalkwasser should the water be collected? I am afraid I have been ading the concentrated white stuff in the past and hince my problem with Ca levels. Also, what about the thin scum on the top of the mixture, is that also bad?

I know this has been addressed many times on this group in the past, and so I realkly appreciate any help. I did a "search" but unable to find the details I am looking for. Also clicking on "Kalk" in the FAQ does not link to anything.

TIA
-carl

 

[pardsie]

I use a rubbermaid container. It is about 12 gallons. If you use that type comtainer then keep the top covered...this will keep the mixture from crusting on the surface. If you keep the end of the pick up tube about say 2" off the bottom then you shouldn't get any of the kalk which did not dissolve. I throw in 12 gallons of RO/DI water and 12 tbsp of kalk....I then put a RIO 2100 into the bin turn the pump on for 1/2 hour...remove the pump place the cover back on the container and start dosing. I do this for a month and then I completely rinse and clean out the container.

HTH
Pardsie

 

[REEFDAZE]

Hello Pardsie I am curious to know how dosing kalk can reduce phosphates,I am assuming you mean po4 out of your tank,and not out of the water you are feeding the doser,an explanation of the processes involved would be very helpful thanks Darryl.

 

[pardsie]

I believe that is correct. I use nothing but RO/DI water with kalkwasser added as all my makeup water. It is said that kalwasser helps to reduce phosphates in you tank. Hopefully by using RO/DI water there are no phosphates in the water used for makeup. If there were phosphates in the makeup water would not the kalkwasser help reduce that. If it can do it in your tank then it surely could do it in your makeup water. However I try to make my makeup water as pure as possible. I also use Balls pickling lime instead of store bought kalkwasser. It is cheaper while not being nearly as refined as store bought name brand kalk. If it is good enough for human consumption then it is good enough for my fish. The water in my rubbermaid does appear to be more murky using pickling lime, but the savings offset that IMHO. Before someone uses kalk though they should do some research. Saturated kalkwasser has a PH reading of 12.4 so it needs to be added very slowly. Some only dose at night after lights out...I choose to dose 24/7 with no adverse affects. There has to be hundreds of threads regarding kalkwasser and I encourage those that are contemplating using it to read all they can instead of taking one person's advice.

Pardsie

 

[pardsie]

You might also refer to anything Randy Holmes Farley has written on the subject. I am not a chemist, but he is and very knowledgable on the subject.

Limewater (kalkwasser) produces a calcium surface that attracts and binds phosphates. It appears that the slow replacement of evaporated water with limewater (kalkwasser) is one of the best means of supporting PH...alkalinity...and calcium while bonding phosphates. I also very much like the fact that it is a proven method which has been used for years. Hell I have been using it since 1988. Don't ask how old I was at that time please.

Pardsie

 

[Anonymous]

RikaCarl - What is your ALK level? If it is too high you will never be able to raise you Ca level. Onother (more rare) proplem is Magnesium depletion. Dosing with B-Ionic or just a simple water change can usually alleviate that problem.

 

[REEFDAZE]

Pardsie thanks for the reply I am familiar with kalk addition and the benefits there of, just wasn't sure about the p04 binding to the kalk solution, I will do a little research on the subject, thanks for the replies.

 

[pardsie]

My pleasure!

Pardsie

 

[rikacarl]

Yes, thanks everyone.

I have been doing quite a bit of research now. The goal with the new tank is to get the Ca and alk levels at optimum levels.

Found some interesting stuff. Anyone remember BReefCase?
http://www.reefs.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb ... 6&t=000096

I also really like liquid's top off system. Can't link directly to it, but if you go to his web page and click on equipment, there is an excellent discription of kalkwasser top off system.
http://liquidreef.freeservers.com/

I also wonder if my test kit is not accurate any more. Very old and using the last bits of it. Ordering new kits today. (salifert)

Wish me luck!

 

[smokin reefer]

Rikacarl, yes I remember breefcase. Learned a lot of good stuff from him. I have been using the kalk and vinegar mix for quite some time. Helps to cut down on the use of alk buffers, and turbo calcium. But I have found that the lack of magnesuim keeps the alk and calcuim levels dropping rapidly. And a lack of mag. is not that rare. I have done some tests on this, and found that after water changes (20g. water monthly, 75g tank) with instant ocean the mag. levels seem to drop about 100ppm after the water change. Therefore I have to add mag. for about a week to get levels back to normal. Yours results may vary. For this reason I have thought about going to reef crystals to see if it helped this problem, but haven't done it yet. Get a good test kit (salifert). Also try to find happy middle with the alk and calcuim. Adding just a little to much of one (alk) will lower the other (calcuim), and visa versa. Good luck.

 

[rikacarl]

Smokin reefer, btw- great user name :wink:

About Magnesium... How often (if at all) do you test for it?

I see Salifert makes a Mag. test kit, but it isn't cheap. Is this one most reefers should have and use?

I have only tested for Ca and Alk. and always used Instant ocean. And always had trouble with Ca level. coincidence?

 

[REEFDAZE]

RIKACARL Calcium, Alkalinity, and magnesium all go hand in hand, you need all three at the correct levels. It is very difficult to adjust any one properly with out the others being at there respective correct levels.Mag levels should always be tested along side alk and calc.

 

[smokin reefer]

Reefdaze is correct. I highley recommend the salifert test kits. You do not have to check the mag. levels nearly as much as the alk and calcium, so the test kit will last a lot longer than the others. Once you get the mag. to the right level it more than likely will stay stable until the next big water change. Hopefully the reefcrystles will help with this problem. I will post the results when I make the change.

By the way, no coincedense. I to had the same problem, had to dump turbo calcium, alk buffer in every day + drip the kalk vinegar mix. know I still add both (alk and calcium buffer) but not near the rate as I did before.

 

[rikacarl]

Funny, I always thought I was correcting my out of balance chemistry when I did a water change. Adding kalkwasser, turbo calcium, reef builder, buffers... I figured that I had got it so out of wack, if I did a water change, it would fix it somehow. Never thought the original make up water was the problem.

I just added Mag. test kit to my order from Champion Lighting.

With all new test kits, I plan on testing my water change water and my tank water before a change. I

>>>What do you add to raise the magnesium? Never seen any additives for this. But then again, I was never looking.

 

[smokin reefer]

Can't remember the level of the mag., just threw me kit away. Finally ran out. Time to reorder, it will tell in the instructions on the salifert test kit. I think it is 1300ppm - 1500ppm, somewhere in the middle. Don't quote me. As far as the water change you do stablize the alk and calcium levels for about three days, at least that is how it is for me. Just drops the mag. levels in my experience. Mabe someone can tell us if the reef crystals by instant ocean is better at keeping the mag. level up. Go to premium aquatics and get a gal. of the ESV mag. works good.