Using 2 Part & Kalkwasser

[JeffG93]

Hey Folks -

 

More "new to SPS" questions for the old timers here.

 

I started my new reef using Kalk in my ATO.  My understanding was at the time that I could pre-mix it, fill my ATO with the correct solution, and then let it drip into my tank as the water evaporated and was replaced with my auto-top off.

 

-> Is this actually correct, or do I need to put a powerhead in the ATO container to keep the Kalk agitated?

 

I stopped using it for 2 reasons - 1)I felt it wasn't able to keep up with the Calc and Alk demand of my tank (which I now feel is false,) and 2) evaporation rate varies

 

Now, cut to about 9 months of using 2 part and I find I dose very little.   That said, I still like 2 part and would prefer to keep using it -  BUT - I'm having a pretty good PH problem and I feel the best solution is re-adding some kalk to my ATO to help buffer my PH.  The problem is from keeping my house shut.  I know I can run a line from my skimmer but I feel this is not a viable solution for me currently.

 

Is it acceptable to run both Kalkwasser and 2 Part?  Should I switch back?  My PH currently bounces from 7.89 to 8.04.  Should I even be concerned about this?

 

Thanks as always for your help & Advice -

 

Jeff G.

[CaptainRon]

I don't have answers to everything, but as to can you run both kalk and two-part: Absolutely! Kalk is nice and cheap and a great way to do your dosing. Kalk is also a balanced calcium and alkalinity additive. If you need to make any adjustments, you can do so with your two-part solutions or supplement with two-part if the kalk isn't keeping up with demands.

 

If you don't want to get a kalk reactor, you can just dump the right amount of kalk into your topoff water container, give it a mix and let it settle. You do NOT need to keep mixing. You want to dose the super-saturated kalk solution but not all the sludge that gets left at the bottom. I don't remember all the why's or why not's however.

 

Good luck from a kalk user

Edited August 27, 2013 by CaptainRon

[Origami]

Your pH is fine. You can supplement with both, but test. Supplementation is supposed to replenish ions consumed by the calcification process. So, if you're adding more than is being consumed, then your levels will climb.

 

You do not need to keep the kalk reservoir stirred if you pre-mix. Saturated kalkwasser is fairly consistent. It does degrade some, but the process is fairly slow.

 

Sent from my phone

 

 

[gmerek2]

After it settles and your ATO reservoir is pumped empty you just rinse out the remaining settled kalk and put in new with water right? The settling makes me nervous as well. What if some of that stuff gets in the tank every time will it start to accumulate in the tank after years?

[JeffG93]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm going to endeavour to run my skimmer intake outside - the Ph was 7.84 this morning, it's a wee bit too close to 7.80 for my liking.

 

One more quick question - is it sufficient to stir the Kalk into a bucket before adding to my ATO reservoir, or, should I through a pump in there and let it mix up for a while?

 

Thanks again -

 

Jeff

[bqq100]

I was looking into Nilsen reactors and ran across this article about Kalk.  I found it very informative.

 

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.htm

 

Sounds like less stirring/aeration is better (Figure 3), and Kalk dissolves really quickly in water (Figure 1).

[Origami]

I was looking into Nilsen reactors and ran across this article about Kalk.  I found it very informative.

 

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.htm

 

Sounds like less stirring/aeration is better (Figure 3), and Kalk dissolves really quickly in water (Figure 1).

You need to stir it to ensure that the water is saturated. It doesn't take long, but you shouldn't just dump it in or pour in a slurry and expect it to diffuse quickly. The degradation (which is what I was referring to earlier) has more to do with reaction to CO2 at the surface which might encourage the formation of calcium carbonate precipitate. The effect is, under normal conditions, is much less than you would expect because there's often undissolved kalk at in the reservoir that will supplement that lost to precipitation. Even if it weren't the case, the losses would likely be very low - that is, more academic than having any practical effect on what you should do.

 

The caution that I would add, though, about stirring is that it would put undissolved kalk in suspension which, if not allowed to settle, could be dosed into the aquarium. In this case, you're dosing more kalk than expected and in an unregulated sort of way.

 

Bottom line, make sure you've mixed and saturated the top off water by stirring, and let it settle before adding it to your tank. (Take the top-off from above the bottom of the reservoir so you're not sucking up and dosing the undissolved kalk from that settles to the bottom).

[Orion]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm going to endeavour to run my skimmer intake outside - the Ph was 7.84 this morning, it's a wee bit too close to 7.80 for my liking.

 

One more quick question - is it sufficient to stir the Kalk into a bucket before adding to my ATO reservoir, or, should I through a pump in there and let it mix up for a while?

 

Thanks again -

 

Jeff

 

My pH varies between 7.80 and 8.10, and I have a healthy tank.  Your pH is in the acceptable range.

[Orion]

After it settles and your ATO reservoir is pumped empty you just rinse out the remaining settled kalk and put in new with water right? The settling makes me nervous as well. What if some of that stuff gets in the tank every time will it start to accumulate in the tank after years?

 

Once my ATO bucket gets low I dump the remaining water down the drain, take a little RO/DI, rinse out the bucket, pour in the remaining RO/DI water into the bucket, and stir in kalk powder until it dissolves.

[JeffG93]

Ph dipped to 7.76 this morning...  I purchased a line to extend my skimmer intake out of my house but I hear say that this can be difficult in the winter.  

[Origami]

Is your probe calibrated, Jeff? I honestly don't get too hung up on pH if the tank is looking well.

[JeffG93]

Yep, probe is brand new lab-grade and calibrated.  Tank has been having lots of trouble lately, that's why I'm watching this more closely.  It's turned a corner, but I don't want it to mini-crash again...

[JeffG93]

I've lost 4 acro frags, lost more have STN.  Been a rough few weeks.