Explain to me how kalkwasser as if I’m in the 5th grade

[Zeal]

I for the life of me don’t understand how it works. Is there any benefit to me adding some in my ATO and then letting my doser dose Calc and Alk?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Kalkwasser, aka Mrs. Wages Picking Lime, aka Calcium hydroxide, contains both the calcium part and the alkalinity part, all in one. So you only need to add one ingredient to get the calcium (obviously the calcium in calcium hydroxide) and alkalinity (the hydroxide) your tank needs. Dependent on the demands of your tank, you can use your ATO to add this elixir to your DT. You can dissolve up to about 1 1/2 teaspoons per gallon of ATO water. If you have a considerable amount of hard corals and/or clams, the ATO/kalkwasser won't be able to keep up with demand. Now simply use your two part to keep the alk and calc numbers you wish to maintain.


EDIT TO ADD:

Good read from BRS:

How to use kalkwasser in your auto top off:

 

[Zeal]

Kalkwasser, aka Mrs. Wages Picking Lime, aka Calcium hydroxide, contains both the calcium part and the alkalinity part, all in one. So you only need to add one ingredient to get the calcium (obviously the calcium in calcium hydroxide) and alkalinity (the hydroxide) your tank needs. Dependent on the demands of your tank, you can use your ATO to add this elixir to your DT. You can dissolve up to about 1 1/2 teaspoons per gallon of ATO water. If you have a considerable amount of hard corals and/or clams, the ATO/kalkwasser won't be able to keep up with demand. Now simply use your two part to keep the alk and calc numbers you wish to maintain.


EDIT TO ADD:

Good read from BRS:

How to use kalkwasser in your auto top off:

Is there any benefit to having both?

Right now my new tank doesn’t have a doser set up but I have some hard corals in there. The doser comes in Friday....

 

[Easy Reefing]

If kalkwasser cant keep up with how much your corals consume Calc and Alk than you could add the doser to get to the range you want.

 

[HuduVudu]

I wouldn't advise using kalk in your ATO you are very likely to burn your pump. Put it on a doser and pull a set amount each day. Then let the ATO handle the peaks. Kalk stirrers are awesome and ensure that you get fully saturated kalk continuously.

So if your evap is 800 to 1000 mils a day set your doser for 800 and then the peaks will be taken care of with the ATO.

Using kalk even when it becomes to little to keep up with your corals helps cut down on your two part usage, this has multiple benefits. Plus the help with PH is meaningful.

 

[Zeal]

I wouldn't advise using kalk in your ATO you are very likely to burn your pump. Put it on a doser and pull a set amount each day. Then let the ATO handle the peaks. Kalk stirrers are awesome and ensure that you get fully saturated kalk continuously.

So if your evap is 800 to 1000 mils a day set your doser for 800 and then the peaks will be taken care of with the ATO.

Using kalk even when it becomes to little to keep up with your corals helps cut down on your two part usage, this has multiple benefits. Plus the help with PH is meaningful.

Well right now I’m using the RODI container that came with the tank, it’s all gravity with a little foot valve. I’m hoping the Kalk holds my parameters study till Friday

 

[HuduVudu]

Well right now I’m using the RODI container that came with the tank, it’s all gravity with a little foot valve. I’m hoping the Kalk holds my parameters study till Friday

As long as you don't have pump on it you should be good.

One thing though is that the valves are going to get hard water in them. You need to make sure that if that happens, and it will, that it doesn't flood your tank with kalk. Clean the valve regularly with vinegar. If there are no metal parts and you are impatient then you can use muartic acid to clean the valve. Warning the muartic acid burns and it stinks.

 

[Rybren]

I wouldn't advise using kalk in your ATO you are very likely to burn your pump.

Don't tell my pump that. I dosed kalk in my ATO for 12 years and the pump never missed a beat.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I for the life of me don’t understand how it works. Is there any benefit to me adding some in my ATO and then letting my doser dose Calc and Alk?

Finally someone asks the question I have wanted to ask my entire life.

 

[HuduVudu]

Don't tell my pump that. I dosed kalk in my ATO for 12 years and the pump never missed a beat.

Others have had problems.

I think it would be helpful if you state how you do it and what you are using, so that others can replicate your success

EDIT: Don't forget a picture is worth a thousand words

 

[SMSREEF]

I dosed Kalk with a doser into the return section of my all in one tank and it killed multiple return pumps. But I was not good at monthly cleaning in citric acid.

I now have an ATO and I would never put Kalk in it.

I really like Kalk because it is a cheap and easy way to keep calcium and alk stable. However, I would definitely use a doser so the dosage is spaced out (No PH spikes) and the same amount every day.

If Kalk does not keep up with your tanks consumption, then you will need to dose 2 part in addition to Kalk.

 

[Daddy-o]

Well right now I’m using the RODI container that came with the tank, it’s all gravity with a little foot valve. I’m hoping the Kalk holds my parameters study till Friday

For me, gravity=siphon. and if you dont have a siphon break you run the risk of dumping product in until it runs out

 

[Daddy-o]

I run full saturation kalk through a Toms Aqualifter and besides getting clogged with a chunk here and there, it seems to run pretty good.

 

[NitrateKillah]

I would advise against dosing pumps for kalk. It premeditated murder.

Get yourself a murlok bulkhead and a rubber seal, and let it drip. My DT is only 20 gallons, 5 gallon sump, and 5 gallon fuge.

I only have 1 2"clam, 1 stylo frag, and 1 large goni. It would not keep up with my alk for some reason, so you may still need to alk. I also have softies, do they suck up as well?

I am currently using this with a CalRX.

 

[Rybren]

I ran mine with a Tom's as well. Keeping the intake above the sediment in the bottom of the container really helps. I would run some vinegar through the pumps and lines once or twice a year.

 

[HuduVudu]

I also have softies, do they suck up as well?

Softies do not but your biological filter does.