Need Kalk Top Up System Suggestions

[kwirky]

Originally Posted by ron101

I do use DIY 2-part additives to make up shortfalls. As cost effective as they are I find that for my demands that they skew salinity levels more than I would like.

how does 2 part skew your salinity? you mean your specific gravity (density) reading?

[ron101]

Originally Posted by kwirky

how does 2 part skew your salinity? you mean your specific gravity (density) reading?

In the saltwater aquarium context they are more or less equivalent. Two part solutions increase salinity over time due the fact that they are made from calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. So along with the calcium and bicarbonate comes sodium and chloride ions (ie components of salt).

[Samw]

Originally Posted by ron101

Hey Sam, some questions for you:

- So is all your top up water then kalkwasser?
- Do you have to dose anything else to make up Ca/Alk shortfalls?
- What type of reactor do you have - satisfied?
- Does the osmolator make frequent small top ups or infrequent larger ones?

Hi Ron.

Yes, almost all of my top-off water goes through the kalk reactor. I've tee'd the line from the pump such that a small amount of water bypasses the reactor and goes straight into the tank (This is in case the line from the reactor gets clogged some day from the kalk, then I would still be able to get the tank topped up).

In the last 6 months, I also added Aragamight and Seachem Reef Builder to the tank. I've noticed improvements in my Acros since then.

I have the Ocean Aquatics kalk reactor. Its quite good.

The osmolator kicks in a few times a day for a couple of minutes. I have a small tank. If the tank was larger, the evap would be more and I guess it would kick in more often.

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by ron101

In the saltwater aquarium context they are more or less equivalent. Two part solutions increase salinity over time due the fact that they are made from calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. So along with the calcium and bicarbonate comes sodium and chloride ions (ie components of salt).

Never heard of this one before. Been dosing two-part for years and never noticed anything like that. But I do perform regular water changes.

I only use kalk to help stabilize pH and alk levels. Kalk alone wouldn't be able to keep up with the demands from a 165 gallon system with clams and SPS.

[Skimmerking]

what I don't get is Saw's tank here he has alot of LPS and soft corals in his tank and he has a reactor supplied with kalk and its looking like that he doesnt have alot of problems with his ALk

Saw are you having alot of problems with your alk in the tank. The reason that Im asking is i was pretty much running kalk and RO/DI thur a float switch like you but not thur a reactor when your reactor is at a constant drip right or like 1-2 drips per second. Are you getting alot of high ALk readings. Where I am getting alot from the float switch topping off the sump

Do you have a lot of coraline in the tank?
wheat is your demand for CAL and ALk?

It seems like that my alk is sitting at 9.8-10.4 as of now I need to dose 2 gallons of water with 1/2 pickling lime and drip 1drip every 2 seconds to keep it up and that is every to 2 days that i do this

Originally Posted by Samw

Hi Ron.

Yes, almost all of my top-off water goes through the kalk reactor. I've tee'd the line from the pump such that a small amount of water bypasses the reactor and goes straight into the tank (This is in case the line from the reactor gets clogged some day from the kalk, then I would still be able to get the tank topped up).

In the last 6 months, I also added Aragamight and Seachem Reef Builder to the tank. I've noticed improvements in my Acros since then.

I have the Ocean Aquatics kalk reactor. Its quite good.

The osmolator kicks in a few times a day for a couple of minutes. I have a small tank. If the tank was larger, the evap would be more and I guess it would kick in more often.

[PzReefer]

Originally Posted by ron101

Tank is 90 gallon soft and lps coral tank and will stay that way. Compared to what other reefers dose, my tank seems to have high Ca and Alk demands. Magnesium might be low and I have been meaning to measure it but Mg kits have been backordered at J&L for some time (time for a visit to a different store or mail order).

J&L now have most Elos test kits, and have plenty of Mg kits there. Salifert kits are becoming scarce of late due to a number of reasons.

[Samw]

Haha, Saw? I don't drip the kalk. It just goes in with the top off water when the pump turns on. I don't check my Alk too often. It had been in the low end I think before I started using the reef supplements (Reef Builder and Aragamight). But I believe it should be fine now though I don't test it. The acros have colored up and started to grow again so I assume they are happy.

Originally Posted by asmodeus

what I don't get is Saw's tank here he has alot of LPS and soft corals in his tank and he has a reactor supplied with kalk and its looking like that he doesnt have alot of problems with his ALk

Saw are you having alot of problems with your alk in the tank. The reason that Im asking is i was pretty much running kalk and RO/DI thur a float switch like you but not thur a reactor when your reactor is at a constant drip right or like 1-2 drips per second. Are you getting alot of high ALk readings. Where I am getting alot from the float switch topping off the sump

Do you have a lot of coraline in the tank?
wheat is your demand for CAL and ALk?

It seems like that my alk is sitting at 9.8-10.4 as of now I need to dose 2 gallons of water with 1/2 pickling lime and drip 1drip every 2 seconds to keep it up and that is every to 2 days that i do this