Kalk dosing setup for SPS TANK

[Ultraman]

I’m looking to setup kalkwasser dosing setup for my roughly 600 gallon stony system. Kirk thought an Ecotech dosing pump and some type of controller would work with a reservoir with a kalkwasser slurry. Looking for feedback on what dosing pump, controller and reservoir to buy. I don’t have much space and think an 18”x18” x30” tall container on wheels might work for the reservoir.

I’d need some pointers on how much kalkwasser to add, do I run a continuous powerhead in the reservoir, etc. Thanks for any help.

 

[mjcoussens]

HMU and let’s schedule a time for you to come by my place and I’ll show you exactly how I have mine set up. I’ve been running 4% Kalk slurry for the last 18 months.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[Ultraman]

Sounds good! Kirk told me you had things down and I was hoping you’d chime in. My ph is typically 7.7-8.0 most days. Plenty of fresh air intake, but running calcium reactor and sulfur denitrator which bring my ph down. My sps growth just doesn’t happen.

 

[Ultraman]

I need a ph controller that’ll turn on/off my peristalsis pump:

Ecotech Versa Dosing Pump VX-1 | Premium Aquatics

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Here is the container that will fit in my space:

Baker's Mark 32 Gallon / 510 Cup White Flat Top Mobile Ingredient Storage Bin with Lid

For a long-lasting, dependable, and user-friendly storage solution, choose this Baker's Mark 32 gallon / 510 cup white flat top mobile ingredient storage bin with snap on lid! This heavy-duty bin has a generous 32 gallon capacity to hold large quantities of dry ingredients like grains, beans...

www.webstaurantstore.com

 

[Ernie Mccracken]

 

[Ultraman]

That looks breaking baddish

 

[michealprater]

I run this and stay right around 8.3.

ACI Aquaculture's pH Control with Kalkwasser Dosing

ACI Aquaculture has been dosing the coral farm in a very unique way! Dosing kalkwasser to stabilize pH rather than alkalinity! While risky, it seems to be paying off.

reefstable.com

 

[michealprater]

Follow up question, do you run a controller on your system?

 

[Ultraman]

No, I don’t have a controller except me. My chronically low ph I think is why I’m not seeing growth.

 

[michealprater]

No, I don’t have a controller except me. My chronically low ph I think is why I’m not seeing growth.

Undoubtedly so. PH is the most overlooked parameter in reef keeping. Do you have a line from your skimmer running outside?

 

[KStatefan]

I need a ph controller that’ll turn on/off my peristalsis pump:

Ecotech Versa Dosing Pump VX-1 | Premium Aquatics

Aquarium & Fish Supplies Superstore. Guaranteed Low Prices. Free Shipping for qualified orders. Aquarium supply for your aquarium fish, saltwater aquariums, freshwater aquariums and ponds. The best aquarium lighting, protein skimmers, aquarium chillers, calcium reactors, aquarium pumps for fish...

premiumaquatics.com

Here is the container that will fit in my space:

Baker's Mark 32 Gallon / 510 Cup White Flat Top Mobile Ingredient Storage Bin with Lid

For a long-lasting, dependable, and user-friendly storage solution, choose this Baker's Mark 32 gallon / 510 cup white flat top mobile ingredient storage bin with snap on lid! This heavy-duty bin has a generous 32 gallon capacity to hold large quantities of dry ingredients like grains, beans...

www.webstaurantstore.com

What do you plan on using to keep the solution a slurry? That seems like a big container for kalk slurry.

 

[michealprater]

any reason you are leaning towards slurry?

 

[mjcoussens]

any reason you are leaning towards slurry?

Come check out my kalk slurry rig. It's very simple to run, the material is dirt cheap, and because it is tied to maintaining a constant pH it will automatically compensate for growth.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[michealprater]

Come check out my kalk slurry rig. It's very simple to run, the material is dirt cheap, and because it is tied to maintaining a constant pH it will automatically compensate for growth.

Cheers,

Matt

I only ask because in my experience, stirring or slurry is not necessary and only leads to variable ph of the kalk. I find that simple kalk effluent water is as stable as they come, and without a controller, I would highly recommend using that in place of a slurry.

 

[bradleym]

I tried to do effluent, but I found it hard to maintain the concentration of the kalkwasser in the effluent, as the initial mix had a high concentration, but then the precipitate got harder and harder to dissolve with each stir. I frequently ended up with huge amounts of precipitate over time when I tried to do effluent only. This is why I went to to using slurry, but maybe you have a better approach?

My setup was just a kalk stirrer that slowly stirred the precipitate, but I noticed my effluent ph would drop over time, until it was basically just pouring water into my tank to maintain the set minimum ph...

 

[mjcoussens]

I only ask because in my experience, stirring or slurry is not necessary and only leads to variable ph of the kalk. I find that simple kalk effluent water is as stable as they come, and without a controller, I would highly recommend using that in place of a slu

I'm accepting of criticism. If there's a potential failure point, deficiency in my system, or error in my methods please come over and point them out to me.

What I can tell you is that with my pH pegged at 8.3, growth has taken off and my alk settles in around 9.3-7. It may rise in the winter and with a household of guests, but that hasn't affected the tank in any way that I can notice. My system is going through 1.5 gallons of 4% w/v kalk slurry in two weeks.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[michealprater]

It’s not criticism at all. If it works, the proof is in the pudding. Couple things to note, just as our aquariums PH is vunerable to co2, so is kalwasser. Two ways to counter this is to put fresh kalkwasser in a ziplock and push all the air out before sealing each time. Also keeping your kalk vessel closed will also limit exposure to co2. Kalkwasser is not 100% soluble. Even if you are stirring it or mixing it as a slurry, you are simply stirring the insoluble elements in it. With time it will become less effective. So regardless of the method, the dosing vessel will have to be cleaned out, there is no other way to remove the insolubles. The stirring and slurry is just masking what is actually there. Here is my PH chart using only effluent on a controller.

 

[michealprater]

One thing to note, I have been tinkering with it recently, so the numbers are a bit wonky.

Chris Wood from Captiva8 and Chris Meckley from ACI Aquaculture are my mentors on kalkwasser. I will find a couple good videos for you to watch.

 

[michealprater]

 

[biecacka]

@mjcoussens what do you mean “My system is going through 1.5 gallons of 4% w/v kalk slurry in two weeks.” what is 4%w/v?
I am dosing a semi slurry in my tank but thinking of moving my drip line. I use an aqualifter to deliver the kalk. I had it coming out near my drain line but I don’t think there is enough water flow from the drain. I’m not sure, so I thought about dripping it into the main tank near an mp40.
Where do you drip yours at? I have about 5 cups of kalk added to my 30 gallon brute.


Corey