All for reef and kalk

[X-37B]

Has option for both, rated for continuous but you can calibrate it and run at intervals by ML or time. It was well priced at $110 new so we'll see how it goes, I've had good results with Kamoer dosers over the years so hopefully it won't be a bad product.

Nice! Let us know how it performs.

 

[Rocks reef]

Oh that makes more sense. I'm not super familiar with carx but those need a continuous duty doser anyway. I was just going to use a doser i had sitting on the shelf that isn't continuous duty or adjustable speed, so i'd have to do multiple doses throughout the day. I havent had a need for a fancy doser up until now!

He's using peristalic pumps though. Dosers aren't normally meant to be run 24/7 at high volumes.

 

[ArdillaLoco0422]

On my 150 running a carx I put kalk in place on a Kamoer doser at 2mlm which is about 3 liters a day.
At the same time I cut my carx effluent 50%, from 22mlm to 11mlm.
Tank did not skip a beat and night time ph increased from a low of 7.6 to 7.9. High ph went from 8.1- 8.2-3.
Growth picked up once ph was elevated to 7.9.

I will be running A4R and kalk on my new 112.

For your system reduce A4R and add the kalk 24/7. It will take a few days to come together just test often to keep in range.

Simple to adjust if alk falls increase kalk or A4R. Today alk is 7.6 and I'm running
3mlm kalk
12mlm carx

This works well on my current 150.

What powerhead or wavemaker and attachment is that? Beautiful system also

 

[X-37B]

What powerhead or wavemaker and attachment is that? Beautiful system also

I run 2 Sea Sweeps with Tunze 6255 powerheads. Best random flow going for a long time.
My new 112 I will run a Tunze ORCA. Take a look at them as they are the next step up from sweeps.
Plus 5 year warranty.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I run 2 Sea Sweeps with Tunze 6255 powerheads. Best random flow going for a long time.
My new 112 I will run a Tunze ORCA. Take a look at them as they are the next step up from sweeps.
Plus 5 year warranty.

I might have to look into one. I'm getting way more obsessed with sticks so flow is always an issue haha

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

So for now, I was going to build a kalk container out of a 5 gallon bucket. I was going to just buy a 1/4" tubing push connect union fitting or something and feed my hose through it. Everything I read says it needs a sealed container. I assume I want some sort of a vent so as not to create a vacuum but now i'm wondering if i should add a second hole, or use something less air tight? Like a grommet? To allow air to leak past it a little. Thoughts? Am I overthinking the "sealed container" warnings too much?

 

[NanoSteam]

Nice! Let us know how it performs.

Well it's smooth and can dose as low as a drip every 4 seconds. Was also very easy to calibrate with the screen.

Now for the issue, it touts quiet operation but it has a small and very loud fan on the bottom that is always on max tilt. I believe this is because it's being advertised as "Lab grade" and states it can operate in temps up to 60 degrees Celsius. Checking how much it draws, it's only 2 watts so I can't imagine this thing gets warm on it's own in a climate controlled room.

I'm going to try and disconnect the fan and take temp readings to see what happens.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So for now, I was going to build a kalk container out of a 5 gallon bucket. I was going to just buy a 1/4" tubing push connect union fitting or something and feed my hose through it. Everything I read says it needs a sealed container. I assume I want some sort of a vent so as not to create a vacuum but now i'm wondering if i should add a second hole, or use something less air tight? Like a grommet? To allow air to leak past it a little. Thoughts? Am I overthinking the "sealed container" warnings too much?

No, a sealed container is not needed for kalk delivery. A simple Brute trash can with a lid is adequate for it to be stable for the time needed for delivery.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

No, a sealed container is not needed for kalk delivery. A simple Brute trash can with a lid is adequate for it to be stable for the time needed for delivery.

Thank you sir! Appreciate it!

 

[Faria]

There's a chance that your consumption will actually increase. Mine certainly did when I started dosing kalkwasser. I've recently switched from dosing AFR 24/7 to once a day in the morning and haven't noticed much difference in alkalinity stability. I'm using a X1 PRO T2, 2L a day. My consumption is around 4dKH a day (40 gallon system)

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Anyone running AFR and kalk, is there a ratio that you'd aim for? More or less i'm wondering how much kalk I could use before I should consider the implications towards trace elements and magnesium etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Anyone running AFR and kalk, is there a ratio that you'd aim for? More or less i'm wondering how much kalk I could use before I should consider the implications towards trace elements and magnesium etc.

I’d use a trace element and mag mix if I used kalk for more than 25% of the daily alk addition. If I were to use kalk, I’d use as much as I could due to the pH boost and the lower cost.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I’d use a trace element and mag mix if I used kalk for more than 25% of the daily alk addition. If I were to use kalk, I’d use as much as I could due to the pH boost and the lower cost.

Would you suggest finding mag/trace combo and just base my dose on what my mag tests at? Is that even a thing? Or is this an icp thing where i'll dose mag, and traces, then do icp tests?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not aware of a combo trace/mag product.

If I were using kalk, I'd use magnesium and a trace mix such as Tropic Marin A and K. :)

If you are doing water changes, I'd just put the extra magnesium in the water changes. That's what I did for years.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I'm not aware of a combo trace/mag product.

If I were using kalk, I'd use magnesium and a trace mix such as Tropic Marin A and K. :)

If you are doing water changes, I'd just put the extra magnesium in the water changes. That's what I did for years.

Thanks Randy! Appreciate it! I started reading some of your articles and realized I have a lot more prep work/research ahead of me than I originally thought haha. I have a basement sump and chronic low ph issues so I think I want to move away from all for reef and look into something with more ph benefits as i'm lucky to hit 8.15ph during my daytime highs and this 1,100ml of kalk got my nighttime low up to 7.95 from 7.85ish.

 

[FlameangelLover]

I'm currently dosing all for reef. 81ml a day, in my 120g tank. I recently upgraded lights, and my tanks was already moving in a downward trend (its gone slowly down from 9.5 to 9 in a few weeks) so I was thinking once I get into the 8's I would slowly start adding kalk at night via a doser. My night time ph swings get down into the 7.85-7.9 range, and my highs never get above 8.15. I have already vented my skimmer outside but my basement sump setup seems to be an unavoidable culprit. So kalk. Anyone got any advice as I start this to avoid anything traumatic lol. I was either thinking cut back 20ml of all for reef and go a little heavier wjth the kalk, or just wait till I get a level I like and add kalk till it stabilizes. I worry the latter approach would be very passive and not improve ph much though. Any advice would be appreciated.

Newb here. What does dosing Kalk do?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Newb here. What does dosing Kalk do?

It is one of many ways of dosing alkalinity and calcium. It is among the least expensive and has a substantial pH boost.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/pros-and-cons-of-alkalinity-and-calcium-dosing-methods.1069/

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I'm not aware of a combo trace/mag product.

If I were using kalk, I'd use magnesium and a trace mix such as Tropic Marin A and K. :)

If you are doing water changes, I'd just put the extra magnesium in the water changes. That's what I did for years.

Do you think if I did consistent water changes that'd be enough trace elements for awhile? Essentially just test and supplement mag as needed, dose kalk, and maybe do a quarterly icp test if i'm worried about traces? Kinda where i'm thinking i'd start. I was dosing 81ml of AFR before I added any kalk at all. So i'd call it a medium stocked tank. No big colonies by any means(though I hope to change that haha) I kinda got by with AFR without really knowing the ins and outs of maintaining major and minor elements so it feels like a big leap i also have a full container of all for reef so I could keep dosing some of that for trace elements? Then just monitor mag and do wc's?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Foods are likely a big source of trace elements. Many folks never add them. I never did for years, aside from 1% daily water changes.

But may of those who did not and then start, find an apparent change/improvement of some sort when doing so.

 

[FlameangelLover]

Newb here. What does dosing Kalk do?

Oh I get it so A4R covers 99% of what the OP wants but the kalk helps ph but if he doses to much Kalk and A4R he will over dose Alkalinity