Kalk question

[DOGMAI]

I have never dosed Kalk before and dont have a way to do it slowly. I have read posts about this in the past but would like to ask if there is a way that i can just dump it into the tank? Maybe a little at a time? This is supposed to help get rid of hair algae (or so i have read).

Thanks,
Shane

 

[jandree22]

eh, err.... no. Really needs to be added slowly as with a drip. I just modified a gallon milk jug. I poked a hole through the side near the bottom and put an airline tubing adapter through there and sealed it up with super glue. Then attatched like 2' of airline tub and just tied a knot into it and you can control the drip depending on how tight the knot is. Ghetto way of doing it, but it's a very effective dripping system and is virtually free.

You're asking for pH spikes by dumping it in.

 

[tangir1]

Yeah, as mention, you can't just dump it in, since chemistry of the water dictates that it will comes out of the seawater as useless calcium carbonate if you use the lazy approach. Make sure you dose the kalk solution in a high flow area of your tank slowly to minimize the effect of pH swing.

Don't you wish some chemistry genius come up with something like a "kalk brick" that you just drop into the bottom of the tank and have this calcium issue taken care off for two weeks at a time?

 

[ScottbytheSea]

This works good in my 55,

Took a 1 gal jug (Hanovers Plastic Pretzel Container,like a little Rigid keg) poked hole 1 inch down from the lip with a solder iron (Round approx. 1/8 Rod tipped one)

I asked a Doctor Buddy to get me an I.V. Drip tubing setup,no bag (from standard issue for a bag set up) cut off the bag conector(just use the tubing and flow adjustmnet slider) and stuck it trough the hole and down to a depth off 1 inch above bottom inside container,super glue in place when your done at the end (weighted end down with rubber band and chunk of old live rock rubble,Hell glue it in there above sediment line, inch or so).

Put slider flow adjuster couple inches from the top on the outside(were you can get at it) dangle remaining end down to hieght you need to the tank in need (leave little extra til your sure) secure this end in a way you can undo it if your taking jug to mix some where else(I glued a clip to tank rim). Keep in mind jug has to be above tanks water level .

I think this would work well for the DYI guys with small tanks,

Oh yeah. get one of the small butter tubs that fit perfectly in the top openning it will sit half way down in.Great place to coil up tube when moving to mix area also seals air movemnt from the jug alowing for enough to get by for very steady drip rate.

ScottbytheSea

 

[Anonymous]

Or you can buy one of these......this is the small one:


http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... ode=Dosers
_________________
Honda CBF500

 

[DOGMAI]

Yeah that would work great but I dont think my wife would agree. She would never let me hang that thing above the tank.

Shane

 

[tangir1]

If she disagree, maybe it is time for you to look into metering pump, two parts additive (expensive in the long run), ca rxtor, etc...

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... ode=Dosers


I use this one for the time being.It sits on top of my hood and drips into my sump where there is alot of flow.I am gonna try and hide it behind the stand soon but I don't have alot of room.
_________________
BMW 2002tii

 

[DOGMAI]

I want to get a reactor but I don’t know a lot about them and I can’t find a lot of info about them. It would be nice if they were all sold with all the parts you need. I don’t know what is a good one or really anything about them. I did a search on this site but there is no real good info on how they work and what all you need when you buy one. I found one on ebay for like $80 but I don’t know what else I need to go with it. I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on one. Trying to keep it cheap. DIY would work also if I could find a good set of plans.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=20758

Shane

 

[tangir1]

Yeah, I remember you mentioned that link in one of your threads:
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=46694

I am surprised that you said you can't find a lot of info about ca rxtor. If you call up a good vendor, such as MarineDepot or Prem. Aquatics, I am sure the reps can tell you everything you need to set one up.

Maybe some people can provide you with a good link on ca rxtor, but for now, suffice to say that that ebay item won't do you any good.

 

[DOGMAI]

didnt think so.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[tangir1]

>...didnt think so.

:?

 

[tangir1]

Alright, in the library section, there are two articles about ca rxtor, one by Bingman, the other by Joshi. Read them and see if they have all the info you need. Otherwise, ask the specific question(s) on the appropriate forum (this or the DIY ). Good luck.

http://www.reefs.org/library/subject.html#EQUIPMENT

 

[DOGMAI]

That was what I was looking for thanks. Now its got me wondering if I need one. I just want to be able to grow coraline algae. I have not been able to achive this. I can grow anything else but not coraline.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[Irie Eyes]

Look up Anthony Calfo's "kalk slurry" on wetwebmedia.com or reefcentral.com. A much simpler way of dosing kalk, and perfectly safe when administered correctly. I have been using this method for a while now and the results are exactly what I was shooting for. I have said goodbye to my kalk drip, and I couldn't be happier.

Peace.

 

[Irie Eyes]

Hmmm...I just saw what you wrote about wanting to grow coralline. To sum it up, coralline will grow when your calcium and alkalinity are at sufficient, stable levels, without any other effort on your part. If coralline is not growing anywhere, I would say your levels are insufficient and/or you have an ionic imbalance in your tank. If you want to boost the coralline growth, Seachems "reef calcium" is a fantastic additive for doing so. Use it cautiously though, as it is a gluconate based calcium and can fuel nuisance algae blooms if overdosed. Make sure your alkalinity/etc. is sufficient before you dose it though, as it will not do much for coralline growth in the absence of proper biomineral content.

Kalkwasser precipitates phosphates and improves skimmer performance, so yes, it does help battle nuisance algae, as you stated.

 

[tangir1]

Coralline algae will do well in an environment with high ca and alk., not too much light. If you have too much light (MH, e.g.), they won't grow, esp. if you have snail in your tank. How much light do you have?

 

[Mikef1]

Coraline will grow under MHs and snails dont bother it either. Just thought I would clear that up. It may have different colors of purple under different lighting by coraline grows right under my MHs.

 

[Mikef1]

Oh ya check out these reactor packages. They come with everything you need.http://www.myreefcreations.com/main.html

 

[fishstick]

I just got done building a kalkwasser mixer. not that hard to build. I have a friend that has one and it works great. Mine also is my top off unit. This may not work for you and it sounds complicated but when you get down to its not. I have a 55 gal plastic drum out side my house that I fill up with ro water. I have a pump in the drum that pumps water to my kalk mixer which is located in my garage. and a line from the kalk mixer goes under my house and comes up thru the floor to my sump, connected to a float valve that you can get at online fish supply. so that the pump is not running all the time I have a float switch in the sump. This has electrical wire running out to the pump so when the sump reaches its level the pump shuts off till the water drops again. If this sounds like something you might want try I can give more detail. pic below is the mixer that I made.