randy's 2-part vs. kalk

[devin mac]

So it seems like the more i learn, the more questions i come up with.

Maintaining Ca and Alk at certain levels really adds to the overall health of a system, by providing the corals and whatnot with an environment that encourages and supports growth rates that we as reefkeepers like to see, right?

Now, one way to maintain those levels (without going to reactors) is to dose via something like randy's 2-part. Another is to drip kalk, which from what i've been able to gather, does roughly the same thing as randy's (minus the mag supplementation). one shouldn't be necessary if you're doing the other, correct?

My question, then, is twofold. What is the "better" way to do it? Again, no reactors, since i think those have their time and place, and there are a lot of reefers who really just don't need the extra equipment/cost/etc... And secondly, am i missing something that makes "randy's vs. kalk" not really an appropriate comparison? (again, magnesium dosing aside)

Thanks!

 

[naturebatslast]

IME, I've used both and prefer kalk. For me, it's one stop shopping for my alk and Ca levels, and easily dosed in a homemade reactor that cost 30 bucks. But I do keep 2 part ingredeints on hand just in case.

 

[devin mac]

that's kinda th direction i'm leaning towards, actually. kalk drip with 2-part on hand for adjusting levels from time to time.

any thoughts on using a low-concentration kalk solution as topoff water?

 

[JMAC]

any thoughts on using a low-concentration kalk solution as topoff water?

I would use FULL strength kalk solution as ALL of your top off water if Kalk is the direction you go as aposed to 2-part additives. I have been doing just that for years without issue. I rarely from time to time will add a two part solution to adjust levels.

Joe

 

[dz6t]

I use both.

I dose two-parts and use saturated Kalk as top off. So far so good.

 

[waltm]

Yup, from what I understand, 2-part to get the levels balanced as Kalk is a balanced supplement. Also 2-part if you need to raise your levels considerably. Always drip a saturated Kalk solution. Some people with high Alk/Ca demands also don't evaporate enough water to get enough Kalk in to maintain levels and switch to a CO2/calcium reactor.

You can find good articles on this subject Limewater, degradation of limewater.

 

[Greg Hiller]

As was mentioned above, but worth reiterating, when dosing kalkwasser (lime water) you are limited as to how much calcium and alkalinity you are dosing due to the fact that you can add the kalkwasser only as fast as you evaporate water, or if the addition of the kalkwasser pushes the pH of your tank too high too fast (this will happen from some tanks). The two-part solutions can be used in addition to, or instead of a two-part additive.

There is an Excellent article that goes into the benefits and drawbacks of a bunch of different calcium and alkalinity supplementation methodologies:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

 

[MikeG]

I just wanted to add that if you have high evaporation and very little calcification and therfore low calcium and alkalinity demands, then you may not need saturated kalwasser as 100% of your top off. Make sure to measure initially to confirm that you are maintaining and not elevating your levels

 

[devin mac]

thanks folks. i'm gonna see what my evap looks like when i go to Mh this weekend and figure out how i wanna proceed. i see about a quarter gallon a day right now, maybe a little more, with almost a complete hood and PC lighting. I can only imagine open top with a 150w mh above the tank will up that number. that just seems like a lot of kalk (1/3 - 1/2 gallon a day) for a 10 or 15 gallon tank...

 

[devin mac]

well, yeah, to mike's point, i don't have a heavy demand... yet... i think the metal halide upgrade will likely indirectly up my demand as time goes on.

"why do all your new corals look like funny colored twigs?"

 

[JCheung]

Hey newbie question here, but how do you know when to add kalkwasser into the aquarium?

 

[naturebatslast]

Hey newbie question here, but how do you know when to add kalkwasser into the aquarium?

Most use kalk as their topoff, replacing water that has been lost to evaporation. Are you using anything to dose for alk and calcium?

 

[willray]

I use both.

I dose two-parts and use saturated Kalk as top off. So far so good.

Ditto! I use reciipe #2

 

[MikeG]

Hey newbie question here, but how do you know when to add kalkwasser into the aquarium?

When you measure your calcium and alkalinity levels and you can not maintain them through water changes. At that point there are several options including 2 part additives for calcium and alkalinity, kalkwasser which is a balanced additive, or a calcium reactor which is normally only used when there is high demand for calcium and alkalinity supplimentation.

Hope that answers your question.

Magnesium levels can also come into play since having higher magnesium around 1300-1500 can limit the formation of calcium carbonate precipitation in solution. What this means for us is that we can maintain higher calcium and alkilinity levels with out them crashing out of solution and becoming unusable for addition into calcium carbonate based coral skeletons.