Kalk Dosing

[efisher]

What is everyone using to dose Kalk in their tank. which is best reactor or drip method. I want to make sure i don't over dose and kill everything.

 

[tommy818]

i use kalk reactor from precision marine.use a drip dose and adjust the rate to equal your evaporation rate.1 drop per second should be sufficent but adjust accordingly.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Is is necessary to dose if you have sufficient calcium and good ph in the tank?

 

[tommy818]

its not necessary.if what your doing is working for u continue doing what your doing.its something that has worked for me.the corals love the stuff.the main benefit for me is it maintains my levels and precipitates the phos from water whitch keep my system algae free.

 

[efisher]

What do you guys think of the aquadose from Kent. I already have enough electric running this tank.

 

[bad coffee]

I have mine hooked to my top-off litermeter. All my top off water comes through an old DI container will a bunch of kalk. When I have time I'm building a reactor.

If you have anything that uses calcium, it won't hurt to dose kalk.

B

 

[efisher]

Oh i have plenty SPS's that use calcium. Actually just trying to get the PH up a bit always hovers around 7.9-8.0

 

[tommy818]

kalk will raise your ph,corals classify better at a ph at 8.2 to 8.4.

 

[russianmd]

I have a Ca reactor, but due to CO2 use, the pH in the tank dropped from 8.3 to around 8.1 - so I would like to start using some Kalkwasser in top-off as well. The Aquadose is exactly the gadget I am thinking off...

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What do you guys think of the aquadose from Kent. I already have enough electric running this tank.

 

[efisher]

I am trying to get reviews on the aquadose. however i am trying to avoid the kalk reactor if possible. My tank already runs about 150-175 a month to run between the 3x400watt halides, chiller, heaters, etc.. Although I might just try the aquadoser for 15 bucks for the 5 gal it is worth a shot.

 

[tommy818]

the aqua dose will work.the difference is the reactor is a sealed unit and the kalk stays more saturated because theres no co2.i gravity feed my reactor from my freshwater resevoir.i use a digital timer to mix the kalk 3 times a day for 15 mins.so the initial cost of the reactor is all you will going for about 250.00.it comes with a maxi-jet 400 which uses very little power.

 

[fernandokng]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php

Save some money, i'm planning to do that same

 

[russianmd]

Yeah, I just ordered Aquadose - was actually going to do something similar to the DIY, but using a 5G salt bucket. Then got lazy, then started another project (netting over the tank).

It just never ends with this hobby! :irked:

 

[iconoclast]

I have an aqualifter pump auto-top-offing with kalk. I mix 2 5g buckets of kalk at a time.

I dose 2 part above and beyond the kalk. my ph has never been a problem.

I keep my rodi resevoir isolated from my top off water to avoid any flooding/over kalking/low salinity problems that could occur with an ATO

here's a post on RC that i started about this very subject
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1341123

 

[tommy818]

with the kalk reactor u never have to worry about overdose.its always dripped in slowly.dont agree it dosnt have to be mixed 3 to 4 times per day to keep it super saturated.

 

[iconoclast]

oh, i believe a kalk reactor is mixed since there is fresh water entering as it doses.

a kalk drip or kalk reservoir should not be mixed since the mixture should already supersaturated (or at whatever level you desire); further mixing will cause the kalk water to loose its potency into the atmosphere.

 

[tommy818]

a kalk reactor is a sealed unit theres no co2 so it cant lose its potency.thats why i prefer the reactor over a mixing container.the reactor has a small pump that mixes the kalk 3 times a day using a digital timer.

 

[iconoclast]

tommy,

a kalk reservoir, either drip or ATO, does not use a stirrer (at least those that know somewhat what they are doing).

 

[tommy818]

correct. but if air is getting into the reservoir the kalk will lose its potency

 

[iconoclast]

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/members/tommy818.htmltommy818,

I've read that literature too but read this. If in doubt make some limewater, test it, let it sit for a week and test it again. As long as the limewater is not disturbed it dosn't appreciably lose its potency.

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2...ature/index.php