- Location
- Mt Sinai, NY
Kalk in top off with an Aqualifter. Wouldn't run my tank without it!
Was thinking about starting to use Kalkwasser.
- Thread starter Paolissimo
- Start date
- Location
- Dingmans ferry PA
WOW I just checked the ph in the kalkwasser water and my ph probe couldn't even monitor it. It went above 10 then read ph error on my rkl
- Location
- port jefferson sta, NY
Me Too...SPS Love it!!!!
- Location
- Duluth, Minnesota
Pirah
When you are adding top off water from RO/DI. It's like adding 7.0 water into your tank? So in time your PH will drop.
That is not how that works. You do not need to buffer RO/DI as it will take on the buffer and pH of the tank. The reason behind Kalk is to remove the CO2 in the tank water, to raise the pH, Alk and Calcium. The top-off is a good route to do it with, rather tank dumping it in the sump or tank. Dumping it in the sump you you can get a high precip rate, causing it to leave solution. Thus, becomes self defeating.
Ca(OH)2 [kalk] ---> Ca++ + 2 OH-[Hydroxide]
CO2 + OH- ---> HCO3- a bicarbonate buffer like that in baking soda.
You add top-off for what reason ? To replace evaporated water. When that water evaporates the buffers and other ions i.e., Ca++, Mg++, HCO3- do not go with it they are left behind.
Alfredo De La Fe
All one needs to read is in that article I posted by Dr. Randy Homes-Farley.
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php
When you are adding top off water from RO/DI. It's like adding 7.0 water into your tank? So in time your PH will drop.
That is not how that works. You do not need to buffer RO/DI as it will take on the buffer and pH of the tank. The reason behind Kalk is to remove the CO2 in the tank water, to raise the pH, Alk and Calcium. The top-off is a good route to do it with, rather tank dumping it in the sump or tank. Dumping it in the sump you you can get a high precip rate, causing it to leave solution. Thus, becomes self defeating.
Ca(OH)2 [kalk] ---> Ca++ + 2 OH-[Hydroxide]
CO2 + OH- ---> HCO3- a bicarbonate buffer like that in baking soda.
You add top-off for what reason ? To replace evaporated water. When that water evaporates the buffers and other ions i.e., Ca++, Mg++, HCO3- do not go with it they are left behind.
Alfredo De La Fe
All one needs to read is in that article I posted by Dr. Randy Homes-Farley.
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
I'm confused do should u top off with kalk or dose it separately
- Location
- new jersey
You should definitely use it with ATO
- Location
- new jersey
It's how I have mine
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
So u do top off with it then
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Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
I use kalk in a 10 gal tank I use as my ato. Get a aqualifter and the pre filter. Best thing going.
The pre filter stops all the thinker particles from entering the pump. Another way to save your pump from clogging is to raise off the bottom of your contain.
The pre filter stops all the thinker particles from entering the pump. Another way to save your pump from clogging is to raise off the bottom of your contain.
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
Yeah that's how I do mine I have a 20 gallon brute that I use for my ato,I recently just started dosing kalk to the ato ,I can never get my ph above 8.0 my tank is in my living room and sump and frag tank in my basement I've been using kalk for about a week now and my ph is now 8.3 I dis have to raise my flow on my cal reactor to lower my alk a little it was at about 11 I like to keep it around 10 dkh which leaves some room for error .so when I fill up my ato container I dump the kalk in it mix it up let it settle for a few hours and plug in my ato .I hope I'm doing everything right also the tube for my ato is pulled up off the bottom of the contanier a few inches so I don't suck up the settled kalk
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Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
Oh and I use an Aqua lifted pump also I should get that prefilter for it good ideA
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Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
- Location
- Long island
Does the Aqualifter put the kalk in too fast? Won't it spike ph, I was thinking of same set up but was afraid it was too much at once.
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
No its. A small stream it uses a air line
- Location
- Long island
I know but I always read you were supposed to drip it,I thought a half gallon a day in a matter of minutes might spike ph. If it works For everyone else I'll give it a try cause my ph never gets above 8.0
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
The pump only goes on when the auto top off goes on it goes on multiple times a day for a few minutes as the water evaporates
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Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
- Location
- Rockland County
Try adding vinegar to the kalkwasser. It dissolves the power much better.
here is a good article on it
http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html
A good video on it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1yENM0VUM
here is a good article on it
http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html
A good video on it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1yENM0VUM
- Location
- Duluth, Minnesota
Charlie
The reason for Kalk, if is to be used or needed, is best added to the TOW and not dosed seperatly, unless one is using a Kalk reactor. When you mix Kalk with your TOF you are killing two birds with one stone, vs doing both seperatly.
The reason for Kalk, if is to be used or needed, is best added to the TOW and not dosed seperatly, unless one is using a Kalk reactor. When you mix Kalk with your TOF you are killing two birds with one stone, vs doing both seperatly.
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
Got u boomer thanks seam like I'm doing it right plus I'm checking my alk and adjusting the cal reactor as needed
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Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
- Location
- Duluth, Minnesota
Yah, that Kalk will help the pH issues one often gets from calcium reactors from excess CO2, where the tank pH is often lower than one wants with just reactor alone.
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