Best kalkwasser instructions

[gman107]

So I’m interested in dosing kalkwasser from a reservoir like I’ve seen in some you tube videos. I’m currently using the triton method on my system a90 gallon and 40 breeder connected to 40 breeder sump(160 gallons) with refugium and have had good results. One exception PH! Reverse refugium 14 hrs everything is in basement room with other animals and ph stays around 7.7-7.8 sometimes a little more sometimes less. Was originally thinking of changing to all for reef till i got a pinpoint ph meter and saw ph issue. Seems Kalk is a better solution but want to use what i have currently to dose 20 gallon brute and 4 head dosing pump also BRStv 1.1 ml doser.

 

[exnisstech]

I would use the brs with a digital timer. The regular dosers dont hold up well to kalk. I dosed kalk for a few years with one and a 20 brute. I did end up moving to a 50ml minute brs pump because the 1.1ml couldn't keep up. I was at 7200 ml a day when I moved he tank. That method worked very well using one of these timers which allows the on time to be adjusted by the second.

 

[gman107]

How can i figure out how much to dose ?? Currently dosing 30 ml triton elements. How long is a kalk mix good for? I haven’t seen anyone dosing out of reservoir for more than a few days is it good for week 2 weeks if container is large enough ??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How can i figure out how much to dose ?? Currently dosing 30 ml triton elements. How long is a kalk mix good for? I haven’t seen anyone dosing out of reservoir for more than a few days is it good for week 2 weeks if container is large enough ??

I dosed it out of a reservoir for a couple of months. Keep it closed and unstirred.

Do you know your daily alk demand?

 

[gman107]

Wow a couple of months !! No stirring at all. I don’t actually know current alk demand but i dose 60 ml of triton 3a and 3b together

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Stirring causes it to go bad faster.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If 60 mL is the total, I’d start off dosing about 3 liters of saturated kalk.

 

[gman107]

I guess i should figure out 24 hr alk demand.So just turn off alk dosing but i can leave calcium(part2) and mag(part 1) dosing. So just no alk for 24 hrs, is there a best time to check this ? After lights go out ? I dose at midnight usually.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I guess i should figure out 24 hr alk demand.So just turn off alk dosing but i can leave calcium(part2) and mag(part 1) dosing. So just no alk for 24 hrs, is there a best time to check this ? After lights go out ? I dose at midnight usually.

If what you are dosing for alk now is maintaining alk, that is the best way.

 

[alindell]

Stirring causes it to go bad faster.

How fast does it go bad. I use a kalk stirrer but I refill a couple tablespoons a week

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How fast does it go bad. I use a kalk stirrer but I refill a couple tablespoons a week

The issue is CO2 degrades it and stirring a reservoir drives in CO2. A stirrer is completely sealed to prevent that as much as possible.

 

[gman107]

I’m dosing triton right now but I’m having a low ph issue and if i could bring cost down that wouldn’t be bad.

 

[gman107]

Do you think i could lower triton dose and dose kalk on top of it to raise ph ??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you think i could lower triton dose and dose kalk on top of it to raise ph ??

Yes, or maybe just kalk if evaporation is enough.

 

[gman107]

What’s a good way to measure your daily evaporation ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What’s a good way to measure your daily evaporation ?

Just keep track of how much you add back to offset evaporation. :)

 

[bobnicaragua]

Dose saturated kalk at night to make up for most of your daily evaporation. It will fluctuate a little.

Pull from a little above the bottom of the reservoir, so you don’t pull the residue that accumulates down there. I only clean out my reservoir every 2 or 3 months. Keep the lid on your reservoir.

Your reservoir doesn’t need to be empty to top off. Just add the water you need and 2 tsp per gal kalk. Then stir with a paddle.

I dosed kalk continuously for years with a versa. When I switched to dosing the same amount overnight my 2 part consumption started rising much faster. I’ve been surprised and really happy with the difference this change made.

 

[gman107]

ok gonna measure my top off and my 24 hrs dkh loss

 

[rishma]

ok gonna measure my top off and my 24 hrs dkh loss

That’s fine but depending on your alkalinity consumption rate, two tests 24 hours apart might not be very accurate. The precision of the alkalinity test might result in under or over estimating consumption.

Better yet, as Randy suggested, if you know your current daily dose of alkalinity product, that is your answer to daily consumption as long as your alkalinity is fairly stable. That’s what I would use.

 

[waqas_01]

I would recommend a versa or I use a X1 Pro T2. Try out dosing your daily need for kalk, overnight continuously.

I recall you will only see a 20 min increase in pH if you do several small doses. Doing the continuous dose overnight, and moreover a faster dose during your low pH hours will give you nice control. I went the kamoer route - happy with it so far.