Is it necessary to add Kalkwasser

[rwrvetn]

I have been told to add kalkwasser during the night phase of the reef tank on a continued basis, even though my Calcium testing indicates above 500. Should I bother to even check the calcium levels if this is true?

Thanks for your imput

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of test kit are you using?

Are you doing anything else to supplement calcium?

Dripping kalkwasser at night is a great way to supplement CA and it has the added benefit of driving phosphates out of the water and it helps keep PH from declining.

Remember to never add too much kalkwasser at once. If you do it will spike the PH (which is harmful to your animals) and it causes calcium to percipitate out of the solution (meaning your aquarium water will become milky white). That could be disasterous.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

If your CA+ level is 500, I would not add any more. CA+ has a balance with HCO3 (alkalinity). I would not add any supplements to a tank that tests above normal seawater level. I check my CA and HCO3 level weekly to adjust the balance if needed.

Kalkwasser is a great to way to supplement electrolytes if you have a strong consuming tank. Do you have a lot of CA+ consumers? A lot of coraline algae or SPS?

 

[mr_X]

yes, be careful of certain test kits. my aquarium pharm test kit says my calcium is 700 8O , while my salifert says 440.
and again- watch your ALK.
and depending on what corals are in your tank, you might not need it yet.
i noticed i need to dose CA about a day before a waterchange(i do mine weekly).