Automated method to balanced Alk&Calcium ratio?

[kingfish]

Assumption:

Let say I have a balanced Alk and calcium ratio and a good Ph based on daily maintenance.

Problem:

I want to maintain this balance for at least a week without have to perform maintenance while I

[scott711]

In the past I have used a medical doser (ie Kangaroo doser) to dose Kalk. Worked like a charm.

[Caribbean Jake]

Kalkwasser will provide you with a proper balance but will not supplement depleted calcium. In order to replenish calcium you will need a CA reactor (expensive).

 

Kalkwasser is a DIY thing, ask Chip he has done severals.. and you may find one or two online selling between $115 and $175 each.

[Folta]

Kalkwasser will provide you with a proper balance but will not supplement depleted calcium. In order to replenish calcium you will need a CA reactor (expensive).

 

Kalkwasser is a DIY thing, ask Chip he has done severals.. and you may find one or two online selling between $115 and $175 each.

 

 

From my understanding actually a calcium reactor isn't used so much as to dose calcium, but rather to maintain a stable alkalinity. A kalkwasser reactor will add calcium and alkalinity, as well as bring up your pH (kalkwasser has a naturally high pH value, around 12).

 

My question about calcium reactors, is 'do they make it hard to keep your alkalinity low?' I am going to try something over the next few months, if I can manage a way to keep this stable: Calcium 420, Alkalinity 7.0 dKH, pH 8.2, temp 79.0, Magnesium 1350. My intent is to try and keep these parameters at those points and as stable as possible.

[dhoch]

Kingfish,

 

THere is a variable that is missing from your information... How much are you calcium levels being depleated (or put another what do you need to do now to maintain calcium alkalinity levels).

 

Now to what everyone else has said:

 

Both kalkwasser (via Kalk or nielsen reactors) and calcium reactors provide a balanced addative of BOTH Calcium and alkalnity.

 

The different is in the delivery method and how efficiently they deliver their calcium.

 

Kalkwasser is an additive solution (i.e your are brining more water into your system when adding it)... In order to increase calcium a substatial amount a fairly large amount needs to be added. This is also complicated by the fact that kalkwasser has a very high pH which can drive up the pH in your tank if added to fast or too much. Finally it's also complicated by the fact that kalkwasser has no salt so it will drive down your salinity (which is why people use it instead of plain RO/DI as makeup water).

 

Calcium reactors are only adding minerals/gasses to your allready existing water. So you do not have to worry about salinity changes with a calcium reactor. It also can delivery the calcium/alk mixture at a much higher rate than the kalkwasser can so it is better for high demand sytems.

 

Calcium reactors are more complicated to operate than kalkwasser/nielsen reactors.

 

Finally you can also suppliment with two part which can also be added in a dosed way to maintain calcium/alkalinity.

 

Dave

[Gatortailale]

if you have a week or more before you go:

 

1) test alk and calcium levels.

2) don't add any trace additives

3) wait few days

4) test levels again.

 

- figure out consumption

 

 

Or look at what your current daily or weekly dosing is that keeps you at your balanced levels. If you aren't dosing much, you will probably be fine for a week. If you are dosing a lot daily or every few days, well then you may want to look at other options noted above or find neighbor or member in area who is willing to drop by 1-2 times to add a 2-part like b-ionic or other stuff that is simple to dose.

[kingfish]

Thank everyone for the feed back.

 

Question for Dave

 

I have a point of view as it pertains to diluuting the water salinity.

 

Tell me if I'm thinking wrong here.

If I added the Kalkwasser water (a volume of liguid) to my sump where my float valve operates my top off system. (When my sump level is low due to evaporation the auto top off comes on)

 

NOW TELL ME IF I"M WRONG HERE

The salinity should not be reduce unless

- the volume of Kalkwasser water being dispensed is greater that the volume of water being evaporated. This in turn would cause the sump to dilute the salinity of the water

- At this time, I estimate anywhere between a 1 to 1.25 gallons per a day of evaporation. I would think that 1 to 2 gallon of Kalkwasser water should last me a week.

 

If correct I am safe to conclude that I would not have to worry about the salinity of the aquarium water being reduce?

 

With being said Dave would you recommend the 2 part or Kalkwasser water.

 

Once again thanks!

 

if you have a week or more before you go:

 

1) test alk and calcium levels.

2) don't add any trace additives

3) wait few days

4) test levels again.

 

- figure out consumption

Or look at what your current daily or weekly dosing is that keeps you at your balanced levels. If you aren't dosing much, you will probably be fine for a week. If you are dosing a lot daily or every few days, well then you may want to look at other options noted above or find neighbor or member in area who is willing to drop by 1-2 times to add a 2-part like b-ionic or other stuff that is simple to dose.

 

 

I will definitely do this first. I am preparing for spring and summer vactions well in advance. My goal is to get the system self sufficent for 7 days.

[dhoch]

If I added the Kalkwasser water (a volume of liguid) to my sump where my float valve operates my top off system. (When my sump level is low due to evaporation the auto top off comes on)

 

NOW TELL ME IF I"M WRONG HERE

The salinity should not be reduce unless

- the volume of Kalkwasser water being dispensed is greater that the volume of water being evaporated. This in turn would cause the sump to dilute the salinity of the water

 

So far so good

 

- At this time, I estimate anywhere between a 1 to 1.25 gallons per a day of evaporation. I would think that 1 to 2 gallon of Kalkwasser water should last me a week.

 

I think your calculations are off if you are evaporating 1 to 1.25 gallons per day your are going to need 7-10 gallons to last you a week.

 

 

If correct I am safe to conclude that I would not have to worry about the salinity of the aquarium water being reduce?

 

As long as water = water out your are good...

 

 

With being said Dave would you recommend the 2 part or Kalkwasser water.

 

Do what craig said... you still haven't answered the quesiton of how fast calcium/alk is being depleted.

 

Dave

[Folta]

As far as kalkwasser goes, that is exactly the reason most people who dose it do so as top off water; they are replacing evaporation. Thus, your overall salinity won't change. However if you were to just take a few gallon jugs, fill them with water and kalkwasser powder, mix and put that in, then it would have an effect on your salinity levels.

 

Another thing to think about.. having someone stop over and check things out is a good thing even if you set up an automated system. Trust me, things will go wrong the moment you leave your house (top off gets stuck on, circuit breaker trips, skimmer overflows, pvc mysteriously unglues itself, etc).