Getting started with Kalkwasser

[LunaReef]

Recently, I added a small acro frag and an orange cap to the tank. The cap frag has been in there longer and is growing really well though I know they are much less fussy. The acro seems to be doing OK also but the calcium level always comes in at around 520 which is high. I dont yet have a mag or alk test but Ill be getting them tomorrow. Also, it seems the salinity is always high (1.026) no matter how perfect the top off water is. I have even tried adding lower salinity water for changes yet it never seems to come down. Does this sound like an alk or mag issue? I know the three work together.

A few months ago I mixed some Kalkwasser in a 1g jug but havent started dripping it in yet. Im not sure if it will help. Mostly Im worried about throwing the PH off. Would starting the kalk drip now help? Or should I get the mag and alk numbers first?

 

[frank180reef]

I would check all 3 of the parms at once, how are u testing your salinity? if u had lower salinity water then the salinity should or must drop.... if u have a hyrdometer, maybe rinse it out.................let us know how it goes

thanks

 

[Skeeter7424]

Also, your calcium is low not high. Definitely invest in good quality test kits. You need those if you are going to start keeping SPS, or even LPS corals.

Jordan

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[niftyjosh]

520 ca is high? Isn't 550 borderline precipitating?

 

[stingythingy45]

"calcium level always comes in at around 520"

You must have replied before your first coffee.lol
Been there,done that...
520 ppm is definitly a little high.450 ppm is best.
If I were the O.P> I'd start with 2 part and not go right to topping off with kalk.
Kalk can crash a tank pretty quickly if not done properly.

 

[Jocko]

I'd focus on that salinity issue first. Specifically, figure out the testing situation. I'd be worried that maybe there is an issue with the measurements, and I'd hate to see you making adjustments based on bad readings! So I'd not attempt to make any more adjustments and first go about figuring out if the readings are good or not. It's really good to have multiple ways to test salinity anyhow, so if you only have one, this is just the excuse you need to buy a different one! For example, I have a swing-arm, a hydrometer, a refractometer and also a conductivity probe for my controller. It's nice because if you think one is acting funny, you can use a couple others to confirm.

 

[Ruge13]

IMHO With just 2 frags in a 50+g tank I would not touch additives. Water changes should be enough. Messing with additives when your tank really doesn't need it is going to start instability swings that will be a nightmare to deal with, or impossible to deal with without test kits.

 

[Skeeter7424]

It was def before my first coffee, I read "calc at 220"...

Note to self...no posts before 9 AM...

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[LunaReef]

Thanks to all for your help with this...

frank180reef

I would check all 3 of the parms at once, how are u testing your salinity? if u had lower salinity water then the salinity should or must drop.... if u have a hyrdometer, maybe rinse it out.................let us know how it goes

thanks

Will check them tonight and post results. I will also be swapping out some more tank water for RODI tonight to try again to get that salinity down.

Also, your calcium is low not high. Definitely invest in good quality test kits. You need those if you are going to start keeping SPS, or even LPS corals.

Jordan

I'm using the API kits mostly though I do have some Salifert also...other than the issue noted, they seem to be accurate. Is there a better brand?

"calcium level always comes in at around 520"

You must have replied before your first coffee.lol
Been there,done that...
520 ppm is definitly a little high.450 ppm is best.
If I were the O.P> I'd start with 2 part and not go right to topping off with kalk.
Kalk can crash a tank pretty quickly if not done properly.

I was looking at the 2-part kits from Bulk Reef Supply...they also have really good instructions there. Just a little nervous still I guess. LOL.

I'd focus on that salinity issue first. Specifically, figure out the testing situation. I'd be worried that maybe there is an issue with the measurements, and I'd hate to see you making adjustments based on bad readings! So I'd not attempt to make any more adjustments and first go about figuring out if the readings are good or not. It's really good to have multiple ways to test salinity anyhow, so if you only have one, this is just the excuse you need to buy a different one! For example, I have a swing-arm, a hydrometer, a refractometer and also a conductivity probe for my controller. It's nice because if you think one is acting funny, you can use a couple others to confirm.

I have 3 hydrometers...though I don't know off-hand where the other 2 are. The one I have been using is the best of the three though I will see if I can locate the others for comparison. I don't have a refractometer yet or a probe. I do have a QT tank that has stable 1.024 salinity though. I do often test that tank afterward to make sure. Also, I am rinsing with fresh water after each test. I added some top-off water earlier and it has come down some but I'm going to try to take out a gallon or so of salt water and add in some RODI tonight. Maybe I just haven't taken out enough in the past...not sure. It just always seem to be on the high side.

IMHO With just 2 frags in a 50+g tank I would not touch additives. Water changes should be enough. Messing with additives when your tank really doesn't need it is going to start instability swings that will be a nightmare to deal with, or impossible to deal with without test kits.

This is exactly why I'm gun-shy about starting to dose in Kalk or 2-part additives. Also, I wondered about them getting enough minerals through water changes but since I never had an acro I wasn't sure. I am going to switch salts. I was using the Coralife salt with great results but I got a deal on a box of Instant Ocean so I switched. It just doesn't seem to sustain the tank as long. By the end of the week, the corals still look Ok but not quite as perky as the first few days after the water change. I can tell it needs a water change, whereas with the Coralife - the corals still looked great at the end of the week. I guess the IO Reef Crystals version would be much better but since I was pleased with Coralife I think that is what I will go back to. Also, I have been diligent about doing a 5g weekly water change.

 

[Ruge13]

You could even up your water change volume a bit. I made the switch from IO to Coralife as well a while back. Glad I did, and for the exact same observations you made.
Granted I don't know what the rest of your bioload is (even coraline algae and tube worms can consume a lot of Calc IMHE), but for a few frags to start I would just stick to water changes and see how it goes for a while before I started messing with 2 part or Kalk. Either way, test KH and Calc for a while and see how your system trends. If 520 is a correct reading, I don't think calc is a problem for you that needs to be solved. I'd let it come down on its own over time.

 

[KSC]

Salinity of 1.026 is perfect, not a little high.

 

[LunaReef]

You could even up your water change volume a bit. I made the switch from IO to Coralife as well a while back. Glad I did, and for the exact same observations you made.
Granted I don't know what the rest of your bioload is (even coraline algae and tube worms can consume a lot of Calc IMHE), but for a few frags to start I would just stick to water changes and see how it goes for a while before I started messing with 2 part or Kalk. Either way, test KH and Calc for a while and see how your system trends. If 520 is a correct reading, I don't think calc is a problem for you that needs to be solved. I'd let it come down on its own over time.

Yeah true, stepping up the water change volume is a good idea. Im definitey getting some more Coralife asap too. My afternoon turned/evening turned to s#*% so my plan to get the test kits and work on the tank were foiled. I'm thinking its not such a bad thing though since its almost water change day anyway. That will allow me to get back to using Coralife. Besides the two SPS corals I have just softies...rics, toadstool, cloves, GSP...your basic easy stuff. For fish just one 6-line wrasse. He is supposed to be in the QT tank so that I can run an 8 week fallow on the tank but I couldnt catch the little sucker. He doesnt have any sign at all of sickness or spots but I know there is Ick in there because I lost other fish. Oh, i guess I should add fish trap to my shopping list!

 

[LunaReef]

Salinity of 1.026 is perfect, not a little high.

Oops, I'm sorry that should read 1.028. It was just couple of lines above the ideal range. Its a little lower now that I added more RODI..not much, its still just above ideal. Ill test again tomorrow to see if it stays there. But also swap out some more water before i do the next water change.

I actually think the root of this issue is how Im topping off the sump. I dont have an auto top-off so I add approximately 1/4-1/2 gallon per day to keep the water level in the sump the same. I think Im not testing at consistent times and the evaporation is causing this swing...or even a "perceived" swing maybe. Hmm seems so obvious now as Im writing this. Kind of embarassing...looks like id better add refractometer to the ever-growing shopping list.