Kalkwasser

[221745]

Hi all, I need some help with kalkwasser. 60 litre, 11 soft corals, 2 lps, 5 fish, tank is 14 months old.
Stopped using AFR because the ph was 7.8 and I wanted 8.2. Made 2 litres ro di with 1 tea spoon of kalkwasser. Dosing 3 times over night with 5 ml = 15 ml total. KH went up from 7.7 to 9.5. cal 475 to 500 in the first night . But ph went from 7.82 to 7.84 I didn't understand why KH and calcium went up so fast and PH was virtually the same. Thanks in advance

 

[Doctorgori]

Not a direct answer but you can combine AFR and Kalkwasser if you need the pH boost AND keep the advantage of the trace additions from AFR

 

[KStatefan]

It should take 940 ml of saturated kalkwasser to raise 60 liters of water from 7.7 to 9.5

15 ml in 60 liters is going to be undetectable

 

[221745]

It should take 940 ml of saturated kalkwasser to raise 60 liters of water from 7.7 to 9.5

15 ml in 60 liters is going to be undetectable

That is what I expected this morning. I thought I would start very slowly and build up every night. But I had a shock to see KH and Calcium jumped up so much.

 

[221745]

Not a direct answer but you can combine AFR and Kalkwasser if you need the pH boost AND keep the advantage of the trace additions from AFR

I was thinking of doing that for the trace elements, but with these test results I don't know what is going on.

 

[Garf]

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/KalkContribution.php

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi all, I need some help with kalkwasser. 60 litre, 11 soft corals, 2 lps, 5 fish, tank is 14 months old.
Stopped using AFR because the ph was 7.8 and I wanted 8.2. Made 2 litres ro di with 1 tea spoon of kalkwasser. Dosing 3 times over night with 5 ml = 15 ml total. KH went up from 7.7 to 9.5. cal 475 to 500 in the first night . But ph went from 7.82 to 7.84 I didn't understand why KH and calcium went up so fast and PH was virtually the same. Thanks in advance

The test result might be test error or residual formate from the AFR being metabolized, but it was not the kalkwasser addition.

 

[221745]

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/KalkContribution.php

Thank you for the help

 

[Garf]

Hi all, I need some help with kalkwasser. 60 litre, 11 soft corals, 2 lps, 5 fish, tank is 14 months old.
Stopped using AFR because the ph was 7.8 and I wanted 8.2. Made 2 litres ro di with 1 tea spoon of kalkwasser. Dosing 3 times over night with 5 ml = 15 ml total. KH went up from 7.7 to 9.5. cal 475 to 500 in the first night . But ph went from 7.82 to 7.84 I didn't understand why KH and calcium went up so fast and PH was virtually the same. Thanks in advance

You are dosing the clear stuff, not the sludge at the bottom I assume.

 

[221745]

The test result might be test error or residual formate from the AFR being metabolized, but it was not the kalkwasser addition.

Good point, didn't think about a test error. I am using the same dosser, pipes and container as AFR, but I did flush it out good

 

[221745]

You are dosing the clear stuff, not the sludge at the bottom I assume.

Well It has been standing still for over 24 hours now, but it still looks like watered down milk. My feed tube is about an inch from the bottom of the sealed container.

 

[Garf]

Well It has been standing still for over 24 hours now, but it still looks like watered down milk. My feed tube is about an inch from the bottom of the sealed container.

Have you used RODI water, not tapwater?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well It has been standing still for over 24 hours now, but it still looks like watered down milk. My feed tube is about an inch from the bottom of the sealed container.

given how you made it, the cloudiness should not make it extra potent.

 

[Aeb1419]

I have a 70 gal and dosing 720ml of kalkwasser a day and can only get up to 8.05. Im giving up hope on kallwasser

 

[Garf]

I have a 70 gal and dosing 720ml of kalkwasser a day and can only get up to 8.05. Im giving up hope on kallwasser

Lol, I would counter that by saying that I'm dosing 1300 mls of double strength kalk on a 60 gallon, and I love the stuff.

 

[221745]

Have you used RODI water, not tapwater?

Yes RODI

 

[Aeb1419]

Lol, I would counter that by saying that I'm dosing 1300 mls of double strength kalk on a 60 gallon, and I love the stuff.

What is double strength kalk and you do that a day? I just dont have a container big enough for that and I dont want an eye sore container next to my tank.

How high your pH gets?

 

[acropora4u]

Like kalkwasser reactor. Needs a good cleaning today.

 

[Garf]

What is double strength kalk

Adding vinegar increases the potency.

I dont want an eye sore container next to my tank.

I mix up a couple of days worth, so a smaller container (also almost eliminates the risk of dosing pump having a fit and nuking everything)

How high your pH gets

8.5

 

[221745]

My KH has always been around 8 to 10 using around 1 ml of AFR. (10 soft coral frags and 2 lps frags) 7 days ago I tested 9.9 Yesterday I tested 7.7 Today after dosing 15ml kalkwasser I tested 9.5 today. Looks like the 7.7 test was not accurate. So working it out my KH has dropped 0.4 in 7 days.??? Do you think this is the case?