How to dose Kalk?

**Bn251** · 01-16-2011, 01:27 AM

Hello all, im thinking about starting to dose Kalk in my top off since i heard great reviews about it and wanted to give it a try. Im totally a noob at this so please someone help me out. How do i measure it out and what kinds of methods can i dose it into the tank? and ect...

I already have an Tunze ATO on the system.

Thanks!

**ddiver** · 01-16-2011, 01:29 AM

noob....

Originally Posted by Bn251

Hello all, im thinking about starting to dose Kalk in my top off since i heard great reviews about it and wanted to give it a try. Im totally a noob at this so please someone help me out. How do i measure it out and what kinds of methods can i dose it into the tank? and ect...

I already have an Tunze ATO on the system.

Thanks!

**bkv1997** · 01-16-2011, 08:18 AM

I use a geo reactor with my top off.

You however could simply pre mix it in a large trash can and then just top off from that though. The kalk will have the instructions its usually around 2 tbsp per gallon, but if you add to much it will precipitate out. So you really can't mix it to strong.

The only danger when topping off with kalk is to be careful when bagging corals, etc so you dont topo off too much of the high PH solution at one time.

Hopefully this answers a few questions

**Emoney** · 01-16-2011, 08:20 AM

Two little fishy kalk reactor ...bad news..wont work with the tunze ...call me if you need help

**mojo** · 01-16-2011, 08:31 AM

This is what I plan to use to dose Kalk.
AVAST Marine Works - K1 Kalk Stirrer - Product Details

I really like this one and the Deltec . THe deltec is about $450 this one by Avast is $189.

I will be ordering one this week to put on my 125g. I will be getting this one with a stirrer because it is very simple to use. Those with a pump require a little more work so you top off while the pump is running. The two I mentioned are great and will work well. I will be getting a CA reactor here later this year and the Kalk reactor will help maintain PH once I need the CA reactor.

**Henry C** · 01-16-2011, 09:51 AM

I use a 5 gal. food grade bucket or you could use a salt bucket. Drill a hole at least 1.5 -2 in. from the bottom(reason for this is all of the impurities will settle out in the bottom). Install a plastic flow control valve into the hole(I used aquarium sealant to lock it in place).The recommended amount of kalk is 1-2 tsp. per gallon of makeup water. I use 2 tsp. per gallon of makeup water. Fill bucket with makeup water and add kalk. Wait at least 2-4 hours before using. I drip mine into my sump in a high flow area (at the edge of the baffle that fills my return pump area). I drip mine 24/7 at the rate of 2-3 drops per minute. Hope this helps.

**reeftank21** · 01-16-2011, 09:59 AM

How would you run the kalk reactor such as the Avast with the Tunze? I have a K1 that I'm waiting to set up. I don't want all my top off water to be kalk only at night when ph drops. I might top-off 2-3 gallons each day so that seems a bit much to drip 24/7.

thanks

**subielover** · 01-16-2011, 10:17 AM

I run mine through my jbj auto top off. I use 2 tsp per gallon of ro/di, so it is added whenever my tank evaporates a little bit. Probably kicks on 20 times a day, really keeps everything stable and growth has greatly increased.

**arnaldo** · 01-16-2011, 10:36 AM

I use a 15 gal bucket and a aqualifter pump . I drip to my sump one drop per second 24/7 using a plastic valve!!!I use 2 tsp of kalk per gallon of ro/di water.inside my bucket i have a rigid plastic pipe the same size of the air line about 3 inch before toching the bottom,everytime i add water also add my kalk mix i dont clean my bucket till the sediment is almost at 3 inch . with this so far i have a good grow rate and stable parameters all the time !!!hope this help

**Murfman** · 01-16-2011, 11:10 AM

I use a huge Aqua Systems Design Kalk reactor with my top off. It can handle up to 10 gallons a day.

**Troylee** · 01-16-2011, 11:38 AM

I just fill my top off bin with 10 tablespoons of kalk powder and 10 gal of rodi water and my jbj top off with a aqualifter pump does the rest...

works like a charm....

**Bn251** · 01-16-2011, 10:38 PM

Wow... thanks so much everyone for all the info!

So since there will be sediment the Tunze ATO wont be able to handle it?

Im also dosing the BRS ALK, CAL, and MAG right now although only ALK at the moment since the other 2 are at the right levels. Can i stop dosing ALK and CAL if i use the Kalk?

Im really trying to avoid the Kalk stirrer since i dont really have room to put it anywhere

**Bn251** · 01-18-2011, 11:43 PM

bump

**Sasquatch** · 01-18-2011, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Bn251

Wow... thanks so much everyone for all the info!

So since there will be sediment the Tunze ATO wont be able to handle it?

Im also dosing the BRS ALK, CAL, and MAG right now although only ALK at the moment since the other 2 are at the right levels. Can i stop dosing ALK and CAL if i use the Kalk?

Im really trying to avoid the Kalk stirrer since i dont really have room to put it anywhere

kalk will help maintain levels, pretty hard to make it work as a substitute and may actually lower your mag levels a bit

**Bn251** · 01-19-2011, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

kalk will help maintain levels, pretty hard to make it work as a substitute and may actually lower your mag levels a bit

So i should still dose the ALK and CAL?

I was looking at the aquamedic Kalk stirrer, anyone have any experience with that? I saw it on BRS and the vid said i can use it with a Tunze ATO but im not sure how it would connect...

**mojo** · 01-19-2011, 09:40 AM

I just ordered the avast unit. its a couple bucks cheaper than the aquamedic. ill let u know how it works out

**subielover** · 01-19-2011, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Bn251

So i should still dose the ALK and CAL?

I was looking at the aquamedic Kalk stirrer, anyone have any experience with that? I saw it on BRS and the vid said i can use it with a Tunze ATO but im not sure how it would connect...

You will have to monitor your levels to know whether you still need to dose. I have been dosing kalk through my jbj ato for almost 3 months now, I have not had to dose 2 part during this entire time. I do dose Mg. every week or two, but other than that my params stay rock solid.
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

**toejam** · 01-19-2011, 10:01 AM

If I dose 5-10 gal a day from evaporation, using a setup from autotopoff dot com, will my ph go through the roof? I have a hard time keeping my ph above 8.0

**subielover** · 01-19-2011, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by toejam

If I dose 5-10 gal a day from evaporation, using a setup from autotopoff dot com, will my ph go through the roof? I have a hard time keeping my ph above 8.0

I take it you have a huge tank.