Dosing Kalkwasser?

Ok. i need to get my alk and ph up but have heard that you "have to know what your doing" to dose kalk. Should i be looking into getting some other supplements from Seachem or Brightwell Aquatics that can be dosed other than by a drip doser? I have some kalk but should i go the safer route with the other products since this is my first time dosing?

 

1. how dedicated are you?
2. whats your understanding of chemistry?

 

Me?
Ok 1 - reasonably 2 = basic and I had a bad experience with Kalk paste ( pop bang and run for the back door)

Crusty
its a small tank and I highly recomend Seachems Reef Builder to help increase your Alk/ DKH
follow the beginners instructions on what to dose and err on the side of caution
dont raise it more than 1 degree per day ( in fact I increased by half a degree over 2 days, when I wanted to go from 8 - 9

Steve

 

I always start out by just mixing a half dose (1 tsp per 2 gallons) into the top off water for a week or 2, then move to the full dose after that. The only other thing you need to know is to keep the supply line of the limewater an inch or so off the bottom of the container, and to clean out container every couple months.

~Will.

 

IMO liquid chemicals are much easier and less risky to work with. On such a small tank, I would just get some liquid, Seachem's Reef Complete is my favorite, and does that. It also replaces your magnesium, so it helps keep the proper ratio for keeping the calcium in the water.

On a side not: When are you going to get down south to check out the shop?

 

You shouldn't use Kalk to get your alk up. You need to get your alk and Calcium where you want them, then use Kalk to maintain your levels. Raising alk with Kalk will also raise your Calcium, which could lead to precipitation depending on how high it pushes said Calcium. You will then just chase Calcium and Alkalinity levels at that point. Depending on the evaporation rate in your tank, and the rate of consumption of Calcium and Alkalinity, Kalk may not be enough to maintain your levels. You can mix up to 60ml of vinegar per 1 1/2 teaspoons of dry kalk powder to get a stronger solution to help if you have a high consumption rate. Also, dosing Kalk will raise your pH. When I was using it, my pH went from 8.2 to 8.8. I had to resort to using 30-60ml of vinegar per gallon of kalkwater (mixed in after the kalkwater was made up) to get my pH down to 8.4. After about a month of 60ml per gallon, I got a bacteria bloom (water turned milky as the vinegar acted as a carbon source for the bacteria) and had to back down to 30ml for a while to clear the water up. This of course caused my pH to go back up to about 8.6. It just was too much of a PITA to continue using, so I just dose Calcium and Alkalinity now.

 

STILL MAKES ME LOL!

@Crusty I agree with most everyone. On such a small tank liquid supps and regular w/c's are the best, easiest and safest way to maintain levels. Inexperience with kalk can lead to burning everything down to the bare rock. If you still want to do it I would start with 1/2 tsp. per gallon of top off water and test levels daily to see what impact it has. After you have your levels where you want them that is.
Here's some good articles that may be of help.
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
The Degradation of Limewater in Air by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

And this one may help understand the use of vinegar to control pH
High pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

So the consensus is stick with BRS 2 prat?

 

thanks alot you guys. I think i am going to order some supplements from seachem. Mikejrice, do you have a shop know or something? Sorry i havent heard about it, if thats what you mean.
Anyone wanna trade for a nice unopened jug of Kalkwasser?

 

Crusty...I wouldn't throw in the towel so fast on kalk. I've been using it for over a year now on my 90G with great results.

Before using it, my alk swang so much I couldn't keep SPS. I'd kill even easy to keep SPS. Now I can't kill SPS. The stuff grows very fast in my tank.

The above advice is a great start. You want to start dosing at low concentrations and work your way up. You're wanting to see how your tank reacts and you want to make changes slowly.

I wrote about how to use Kalk safely and effectively on my blog so check it out and feel free to ask any questions you might have.