Dripping Kalk for the first time

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by Clonefarmer, Jan 15, 2011.

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  1. inwall75

    inwall75 Giant Squid

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    This is an expensive hobby folks. If you're looking to save money, ignore this thread at your own risk.
     
    inwall75, Jan 25, 2011
    inwall75, Jan 25, 2011
    #51

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  2. TBELT

    TBELT Ritteri Anemone

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    Just read the thread. I am a little confused. i have done no drips or dosing whatsoever. i do water changes every week about 30 gallons or so on my 180. All my parameters are good with calcium being a little on the low side about 400. My only fluctuations are in PH. I thought it was because my RO unit was stripping ph so I do add ph increaser once in a while. I move between 7.9 and 8.3 on PH. Is dosing Kalk an idea I should look into. All my rocks are very purple as is the back glass.Corals are growing and fish seem great. Am I lucky or am I missing something here. Great now my head hurts.

    Tony
     
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    #52
  3. inwall75

    inwall75 Giant Squid

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    It sounds like you're fine. However, if you had a 180 with a couple of clams, LPS corals, and SPS frags you would find that they would suck your Calcium and Alkalinity out of the water VERY fast. No two tanks are the same. For people who have those, Kalk is a very inexpensive way of keeping up with Calcium and Alk demand.
     
    inwall75, Jan 25, 2011
    inwall75, Jan 25, 2011
    #53
  4. Clonefarmer

    Clonefarmer Millepora

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    Depending on the salt you use and the demand of your tank the weekly water changes may be sufficient to keep the levels up.

    AFAIK RO should have a neutral ph of 7.

    What kind of ph buffer are you using? What's your alkalinity?
     
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    #54
  5. TBELT

    TBELT Ritteri Anemone

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    I have one small clam (1.5-2 inches) and about 6 SPS frags in the tank. The other corals are softies, Zoas, frogspawn, hammer and so forth. The coralline is probably my biggest consumer of calcium (I am thinking) and it is growing very fast. I do not want to hijack this thread so if I am crossing a line let me know.

    Tony
     
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    #55
  6. Clonefarmer

    Clonefarmer Millepora

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    Don't worry about hijacking :). The more information shared the better!
     
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    #56

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  7. Clonefarmer

    Clonefarmer Millepora

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    The coralline does use quite a bit of calc and alkalinity. Since there are no sps or clams in my tank yet. It has to be the main consumer besides snails, sea urchins or other creatures that use calcium carbonate for there skeletons.
     
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    #57
  8. TBELT

    TBELT Ritteri Anemone

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    Alkalinity I am not sure of however( i will have to get a test kit) DKH is at 10 consistantly. I use Red Sea reef crystals. PH right now is 8.1 and calcium is at 400. 0 phospates 0 nitrates o ammonia and 0 nitrites. I need a new kit for Magnesium I do not have enough to test right now.:-/
     
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    #58
  9. TBELT

    TBELT Ritteri Anemone

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    I have alot of snails but all are growing. Especially the mexican snails they are getting huge.
     
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    TBELT, Jan 25, 2011
    #59
  10. Clonefarmer

    Clonefarmer Millepora

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    Alkalinity = dkh. Your numbers look pretty good. Unless you see the demand increase you shouldn't need to dose. If you start having to dose in order to keep up with demand, than you may want to start dripping kalk.
     
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    Clonefarmer, Jan 25, 2011
    #60
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