Kalkawasser mix?

George771177 · 01-19-2009, 10:01 PM

I have very low calcium around 300. I have been mixing a kalkawasser solution in a 1 gal jug letting it sit for a day then siphoning out all but about half an inch trying not to get the non dissolved part. Am i doing this kalkawasser mixing right? Has anyone come up with a better way to get the water out of a one gal jug with out sucking up the non dissolved part? Who uses kalakawasser? i know it says to put it on a drip but i havent got around to that yet once i get all of my levels back to where they need to be i will worry about that. I had a mini crash when i went on vacation and the levels fluctuated on me due to the large water changes i had to do to remove alot of excess nutrients from the tank (my protein skimmer had a snail stuck in it). Drop a suggestion or some input any is appreciated.

blue_eyes53813 · 01-19-2009, 11:27 PM

HI George, You really need to get the drip container. It is so easy. There is about a 1"-2" section below the drip hose so that extra junk dont drip into the tank.. You dont have to worry. You really should dump and clean out the container daily so the sludge doesnt get to deep...

Bring your calcium up slowly with a calcium additive . I will post some links for the drip container and the calcium additive I have used in the past.

get the calcium at a good reading and use Kalk to keep it stable.. Also if your calcium drops regularly your tank might need magnesium.

Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium

Hmmm I cant find any drip containers.. i will keep looking.

George771177 · 01-20-2009, 12:53 AM

thanks.....

kospaintball · 01-20-2009, 02:33 AM

i agree the drip method is better just because it is more subtle.

DaveK · 01-20-2009, 05:55 AM

Your water is very low in calcium. I doubt if the use of kalkwasser is going to do much by itself. The amount of calcium that can be added this way is limited.

You need to take a bit more drastic action. Notice that calcium additives are not used until other factors are tested. This is important.

First check you SG and make sure that is correct. If that's off, all other readings for calcium are going to be off. For example, if the tank reads 1.020 rather than 1.025, you have 20% less calcium in the water, and it will be reflected in water tests. A refractometer is highly recommended for SG tests.

Next check the SG and calcium level of the water you are using for water changes. If you get a low reading there, you have a problem with the salt you are using. Switch to a higher quality salt. If you find this problem, then make large water changes and your problem will correct itself.

If that is not the problem, then you'll need to test for pH, alkalinity, and magnesium, in addition to calcium. Obviously the pH reading should be correct. If it's not, you'll need to fix that before worrying about calcium.

Alkalinity, magnesium and calcium are all interrelated. You need a good magnesium level in order to maintain the others. It should be about 1350 ppm. As before, also test your newly mixed SW too. Some salts are low in magnesium, and as before, if you find this, switch brands.

Now that you got that all fixed, you can use something like Kent's Turbo Calcium to boost the level. Bring the level up slowly. This process should be considered a one time boost, and should not be done on a regular basis.

If you find that adding calcium supplements does not raise the calcium level in the water, or it quickly drops back to the original level, you'll need to look into the calcium / alkalinity balance more closely.

Note that if you do have a tank loaded with SPS corals, they can remove a lot of calcium quickly. In that case, you'll need to consider using something like a calcium reactor.

George771177 · 01-20-2009, 09:00 PM

Hey dave thanks for the great info. My tank is a 55 gal with a few lps no sps so i don think that they are drawing the calcium out that fast. I have switched back to using my kent marine a and b alkaline and calcium additives and have been raising my calcium with the a calcium bottle. I think i need to just stick with it and set up a drip. I don think iam low on magnesium but should get that and my alkalinity tested to be sure that the mini crash didnt effect them. I really need to buy an alkalinity test kit but my lfs where i go to school does not have good test kits. Iam going to grab one when i get back. As of right now i know iam kind of breaking the rules but iam using the paper test strips (??litmiss paper???). Well until i can get the levels back to the norm its dosing from here on out. I will set up a kalk drip after i get it stable. Ph is fine and Specific gravity is at 1.023. Thanks for the input

rmlevasseur · 01-20-2009, 10:25 PM

Dave is spot on. I have found the best way to correct parameters is to do a few water changes. Don't make the mistake of dumping in additives. Dave is very correct that even small differances in salinity can throw your readings off. If your make-up water tests good, just go with water changes and top off with kalkwasser. If your make-up water tests low in magnesium, you can also buy magnesium sulfate, otherwise known as epsom salt, at walgreens. You can dissolve it in the same water as your kalkwasser. Its extremely hard to overdose magnesium too.

If you got a few bucks, buy a float valve for your sump and a cheap aqualifter. The aqualifter doesnt have a lot of pressure so if you run the tubing up the wall a bit and then back down into your sump you can get it to dose small amounts over long periods of time. Its a cheap top-off system and has worked excellently for me.

dionysusjg · 01-26-2009, 08:50 PM

Ok... here is how I've been doing it.
I bought a 25L 'jerrycan' with a tap at the bottom. I fill it, add 150mls of white vinegar, stir. Add 12 tablespoons of builders lime and stir thoroughly. Place the 'jerrycan' with a chock under it to make it lean backwards slightly (so the sediment settles at the back-bottom. Leave this for a couple of days.
I then obtained a medical 'drip-set' from my doctor. Drilled a small hole in a 2.5L softdrink bottle lid and a tiny airhole in the bottom. I cover the small hole with my finger and fill the bottle from the jerrycan. put the lid on, stick the pointy end of the drip-set into the hole, and invert the bottle, hang it next to my tank, and regulate the flow using the switch on the drip set.
I top off with about 4L of water every few nights (when I notice the water level dropping).
The medical drip set is a great way of regulating the flow!

01-19-2009, 10:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
George771177 Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: indiana Posts: 430 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Kalkawasser mix? I have very low calcium around 300. I have been mixing a kalkawasser solution in a 1 gal jug letting it sit for a day then siphoning out all but about half an inch trying not to get the non dissolved part. Am i doing this kalkawasser mixing right? Has anyone come up with a better way to get the water out of a one gal jug with out sucking up the non dissolved part? Who uses kalakawasser? i know it says to put it on a drip but i havent got around to that yet once i get all of my levels back to where they need to be i will worry about that. I had a mini crash when i went on vacation and the levels fluctuated on me due to the large water changes i had to do to remove alot of excess nutrients from the tank (my protein skimmer had a snail stuck in it). Drop a suggestion or some input any is appreciated.

01-19-2009, 11:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Kalkawasser mix? HI George, You really need to get the drip container. It is so easy. There is about a 1"-2" section below the drip hose so that extra junk dont drip into the tank.. You dont have to worry. You really should dump and clean out the container daily so the sludge doesnt get to deep... Bring your calcium up slowly with a calcium additive . I will post some links for the drip container and the calcium additive I have used in the past. get the calcium at a good reading and use Kalk to keep it stable.. Also if your calcium drops regularly your tank might need magnesium. Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium Hmmm I cant find any drip containers.. i will keep looking. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

01-20-2009, 12:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
George771177 Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: indiana Posts: 430 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Kalkawasser mix? thanks.....

01-20-2009, 02:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
kospaintball Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 453 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Kalkawasser mix? i agree the drip method is better just because it is more subtle. __________________ 14 gal nano 1 maroon, 1 clown goby, metalic green hairy mushroom, trumpets, Devil's hand leather, Frog spawn, kenya tree short tentacled plate, cinularis tree, zoas, clove coral

01-20-2009, 05:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
DaveK Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 1,357 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Kalkawasser mix? Your water is very low in calcium. I doubt if the use of kalkwasser is going to do much by itself. The amount of calcium that can be added this way is limited. You need to take a bit more drastic action. Notice that calcium additives are not used until other factors are tested. This is important. First check you SG and make sure that is correct. If that's off, all other readings for calcium are going to be off. For example, if the tank reads 1.020 rather than 1.025, you have 20% less calcium in the water, and it will be reflected in water tests. A refractometer is highly recommended for SG tests. Next check the SG and calcium level of the water you are using for water changes. If you get a low reading there, you have a problem with the salt you are using. Switch to a higher quality salt. If you find this problem, then make large water changes and your problem will correct itself. If that is not the problem, then you'll need to test for pH, alkalinity, and magnesium, in addition to calcium. Obviously the pH reading should be correct. If it's not, you'll need to fix that before worrying about calcium. Alkalinity, magnesium and calcium are all interrelated. You need a good magnesium level in order to maintain the others. It should be about 1350 ppm. As before, also test your newly mixed SW too. Some salts are low in magnesium, and as before, if you find this, switch brands. Now that you got that all fixed, you can use something like Kent's Turbo Calcium to boost the level. Bring the level up slowly. This process should be considered a one time boost, and should not be done on a regular basis. If you find that adding calcium supplements does not raise the calcium level in the water, or it quickly drops back to the original level, you'll need to look into the calcium / alkalinity balance more closely. Note that if you do have a tank loaded with SPS corals, they can remove a lot of calcium quickly. In that case, you'll need to consider using something like a calcium reactor.

01-20-2009, 09:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
George771177 Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: indiana Posts: 430 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Kalkawasser mix? Hey dave thanks for the great info. My tank is a 55 gal with a few lps no sps so i don think that they are drawing the calcium out that fast. I have switched back to using my kent marine a and b alkaline and calcium additives and have been raising my calcium with the a calcium bottle. I think i need to just stick with it and set up a drip. I don think iam low on magnesium but should get that and my alkalinity tested to be sure that the mini crash didnt effect them. I really need to buy an alkalinity test kit but my lfs where i go to school does not have good test kits. Iam going to grab one when i get back. As of right now i know iam kind of breaking the rules but iam using the paper test strips (??litmiss paper???). Well until i can get the levels back to the norm its dosing from here on out. I will set up a kalk drip after i get it stable. Ph is fine and Specific gravity is at 1.023. Thanks for the input

01-20-2009, 10:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Acropora Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,849 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Kalkawasser mix? Dave is spot on. I have found the best way to correct parameters is to do a few water changes. Don't make the mistake of dumping in additives. Dave is very correct that even small differances in salinity can throw your readings off. If your make-up water tests good, just go with water changes and top off with kalkwasser. If your make-up water tests low in magnesium, you can also buy magnesium sulfate, otherwise known as epsom salt, at walgreens. You can dissolve it in the same water as your kalkwasser. Its extremely hard to overdose magnesium too. If you got a few bucks, buy a float valve for your sump and a cheap aqualifter. The aqualifter doesnt have a lot of pressure so if you run the tubing up the wall a bit and then back down into your sump you can get it to dose small amounts over long periods of time. Its a cheap top-off system and has worked excellently for me. __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

01-26-2009, 08:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
dionysusjg Sea Pen Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 320 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Kalkawasser mix? Ok... here is how I've been doing it. I bought a 25L 'jerrycan' with a tap at the bottom. I fill it, add 150mls of white vinegar, stir. Add 12 tablespoons of builders lime and stir thoroughly. Place the 'jerrycan' with a chock under it to make it lean backwards slightly (so the sediment settles at the back-bottom. Leave this for a couple of days. I then obtained a medical 'drip-set' from my doctor. Drilled a small hole in a 2.5L softdrink bottle lid and a tiny airhole in the bottom. I cover the small hole with my finger and fill the bottle from the jerrycan. put the lid on, stick the pointy end of the drip-set into the hole, and invert the bottle, hang it next to my tank, and regulate the flow using the switch on the drip set. I top off with about 4L of water every few nights (when I notice the water level dropping). The medical drip set is a great way of regulating the flow!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)