How to use kalk with 2 part

[Mattl22]

I'm getting some kalk today I'm planning on using it in my top off to keep my levels up what's the dosing amount ?
My other question is will I still need 2 part I'm using a powder 2 part from brightwell aquatics will switch to esv when this is done ?
What's the best way to use these products together ? I know there has been alot of these threads lately I'm totally new with dosing and seems I've already killed 2 of my sps frags!
If someone could explain every step
First figuring out dose amount and how often to test my levels and then how to maintain?
Thanks alot for any help
I have plans to get a cal reactor in July for my bday

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[fishman1069]

When I first started dosing, I went with half of what the manufacture recommended and tested every day. If I noticed anything dropping I would increase the dose. This is when I was using Brightwells 2 pat code a and b. I started reading about kalkwasser. I noticed that I didnt have a huge demand for calc and alk but I was spending alot of money on the 2 part. I have a 15 gal res for my ATO. I was reading that 1 gal of RO water will only dissolve 2grams of kalkwasser. So I start with 1g per gal (15 grams) and thru that into my ATO res. I made sure that it wasnt topping off the tank, and put a powerhead in to mix it up. I also made sure that the pump for the ATO was off the ground of the res( this is so it dosent pick up any of the stuff that settles on the bottom!) I let that mix for about an hour and unplug the power head and let it sit for a couple of hours. IAfter the wait I check to see my water line and top off with striaght RO water first, so it dosent dump alot of the kalk mix at one time. I then plug my ATO back in and viola, you'ree ready to go. You still have to test to make sure you are using enough of the kalk. I had to step up to 16.7 grams per 15 gallons of water. My ATO only tops of 1/3 of a gal (tops, usually less) at a time. You want to make sure that your tank isnt getting a BIG dose of the kalk water. This is to prevent any big swings in your Ph. HTH If you have anymore ?'s Lmk I'll do what I can to help.

 

[Mattl22]

Great thanks I dont have an ato at the moment because I haven't figured out hot to install one I have limited space but I topoff 3 times a day ! Did u still need the 2 part after dosing kalk


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[Mattl22]

Will weekly 10 gal water changes with kalk top off keep my levels steady with out dosing 2 part?


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[fishman1069]

I dont use the 2 part anymore. I know that your not supposed to add the kalk to quickly. You supposed to add it to adjust for evaporated water. Its pretty simple to do an ATO. One method I've seen is a 5 gal bucket, extension cord, float switch(Just google float switch-always closed. I got my switch online for like 3 bucks) and a ToM Aquatics aqualifter pump. You cut the cord and splice the switch into the cord. Hang the switch in the sump at your water level with a piece of plastic. Put the in line of pump in 5 gal bucket and the out in your sump just above water level. Plug it in and it should only go on when the switch goes off. Hope this isn't to hard to understand. I'll try to fimd a link where there are pics and a better description!

 

[fishman1069]

Heres a link to how to do it http://renegadereefers.org/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1040&p=43370&hilit=ato#p43370

 

[pweissma]

Here's some good info from Randy. Be careful with pH. +1 on adding kalk slowly. You may want to invest in a peristaltic pump, one that does about .8 gph.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

[Arati]

how do you adjust for the seasonal difference in evaporation?

I use alot more top off when the heat is on for instance.

 

[fishman1069]

I really havent gone that far lol. I also evap ALOT more in the summer! Im not sure but everything Ive read is saying to add kalk too make up for evap. So Im guessing whatever you evaporate out gets replaced with the kalk mix.

 

[Mattl22]

Can I set up a small pump on a timer and have it turn on throughout the day to replace the evaporated water I use a bout a gallon and a half a day


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[NYreefNoob]

if you have space to do that you have space to put a ato unit in. i use a aqualifter pump for my ato, i go through roughly 18g in 10-12 days, and kalk isnt in grams it is 1-2 teaspoons per gallon. and you can saturate that with vinegar for a stronger dosage. i still have to dose 50 ml of 2 part everyday on my system even with with the use of kalk, your demands will vary. kalk alone kept my system in check till i started adding more sps. coraline as it starts to take off will increase the demands as well as a clam as it gets bigger. kalk is not something to play around with and if not used properly can crash your tank. can cause huge ph swings as well. if not using with ato you can always get a 1g jug and let the kalk slow drip through the night to help maintain levels and ph, as ph drops the most at night time. btw if using kalk with ato make sure nothing can get on the float switch to cause it to run continuously, as this happened to me and cost me around 5k in a tank crash

 

[Mattl22]

Problem is my last chamber in my sump is tiny not sure how I'd get a float switch on there mike ny is hopefully stopping by next weekend maybe he can help me


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[pweissma]

... kalk is not something to play around with and if not used properly can crash your tank. can cause huge ph swings as well. if not using with ato you can always get a 1g jug and let the kalk slow drip through the night to help maintain levels and ph, as ph drops the most at night time. btw if using kalk with ato make sure nothing can get on the float switch to cause it to run continuously, as this happened to me and cost me around 5k in a tank crash

To keep my pH in check I have my ATO controller plugged into my RKL. The RKL turns off the ATO if the pH hits 8.4. This further slows down and spreads out the dosing of kalk. It also prevents a flood should the ATO fail.

 

[Mattl22]

That's a good idea I'm gonna order a rkl it's on my list


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[Mattl22]

Checked my levels when I got home my cal was 400 and my alk was 8
I was happy with this so it seems that 2 teaspoons of the a and b 2 part from brightwell a day is keeping my levels up
I think I'm gonna dose 1 teaspoon of each in the morning and 1 or each at night while I work on setting up a ato to dose the kalk


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[InfernoST]

To keep my pH in check I have my ATO controller plugged into my RKL. The RKL turns off the ATO if the pH hits 8.4. This further slows down and spreads out the dosing of kalk. It also prevents a flood should the ATO fail.

Great Idea, I didn't think of setting up that way but am going too. I'm using TLF KW 300 reactor connected to my ATO pump which so far is working great, I chose this route because I didn't want to have to pull out my 20 gal top off tank to clean it all of the time nor do I want to leave it off line for several hours so the KW has a chance to settle in the tank. With the reactor you just have to add KW when it runs out which is once every 2 weeks.

 

[Mattl22]

Can't u just run a power head in ur ato container?


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[Mattl22]

Ordered a jbj ato last night so I'm hopeing to have it by next week and hopefully I'll be topping off kalk after the ato is all set up I ordered a maxi jet 900 to run the ato will this work?
Should I follow the recommended dosage for kalk or start with half the dosage and see how it goes?
Also I plan on doing a 20 gal wc wensday I usually do 10 gal but I wanna get all my levels right so the kalk can do it job!
Please post any experience u had when first starting to dose kalk that might help me and others just getting to this point in our reefing career I feel this is a pivotal point to my sps tanks success I have put so much work into this tank I dont want to blow it
Thanks matt


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[pweissma]

Can't u just run a power head in ur ato container?


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No, the reason being that you don't want to airate the kalk. CO2 in the air causes calcium carbonate to form which precipitates and the kalk will lose effectiveness in a couple days. Left still and covered the kalk can last a few weeks. A calcium carbonate skin forms on the surface preventing further degredation. The key element of a kalk reactor is that it prevents exposure to the air.

 

[Mattl22]

I know 2 tanks that have it set up this way and look amazing I'm gonna ask the owners the specifics about how it's set up but I know for sure they dose kalk through their ato


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