Kalkwasser

[JmusicB]

I have used Kalkwasser off and on with my tank....I have noticed that when I use it consistantly, that the coraline growth is markable faster. To dose it, I fill an old gatarade botle about halfway ful of the premade solution and screw on the cap with I have poked a small pin hole in. I prop it up on my skimmer and it drips in the resivouir (spelling?) going back in the tank.....anyway, I wanted to see who used Kalk, how often, how do you dose?....I kind of rigged mine, and wanted to get some input from people wiht more experience than me.

Thanks,
Jason

I use Kalkwasser daily dripped into any of my tanks that have SPS or Clams

[MikeS]

I drip kalk as all my makeup water...

Mike

[JmusicB]

how exactly does that work.....the makeup water thing....do you mean all of the water lost to evaporation is kalk?....what mix consentration? and how much are we talking....I live in Texas, and when summer hits, evaporation is VERY significant.

[MikeS]

yes...all water lost to evaporation...

I live in Wyoming, very hot and VERY dry in the summer...I lose about 1.5-2 gallons a day from my tank...

I mix at maximum concentration...2 tsp./gallon RO/DI...I have a very high calcium usage system, even this is not enough and I must maintain my levels with more regular water changes and calcium chloride...

You can track your Ca/Alk usage levels...just stop dosing for a few days and test your Ca/Alk...you can then figure out a dosing amount...

MikeS

[JmusicB]

And you don't have a pH problem by using that much solution?....I was under the impression the soulution was very basic...and you put 1.5-2 gal per DAY?!>

[MikeS]

yeah, I drip it slowly at night or very early in the AM before the lights come on when tank pH is at its lowest anyway...very little pH swing...tank satys at a nice 8.4 almost all the time...

You are correct...full strength kalkwasser has a pH around 12...that is why it must be added slowly (dripped). Also, only drip the clear solution, make sure the precipitate at the bottom is fully settled out before dripping (I usually let mine settle out a minimum of 5-6 hours undisturbed before dripping), and don't allow any of it into the tank. This precipitate is very caustic, and thats also where most of the undesireable contaminants like metals and such are found.

MikeS

[cich1]

i fill my dripper at night and let it settle all night then start the drip when i get up in the morning

I usually mix my Kalk as Mike said about 6-10 hours before use and then drip it all during the night in an attemp to maintain as stable a Ph level as possible. Most if not all of my make up water is made up by dripping Kalkwasser into the tank as well. My Ph levels seem to stay right at the 8.4 mark. I too can tell if its been a couple of days since Kalk was lasted dripped by checking my water quality...lots of clams and SPS corals....