[Samper]

I have been dripping limewater out of a homemade drip system, my tank evaporates about 2 litres of water a day so I mix up about 3 litres of water with a half teaspoon of wages. Mix, let settle and drip. What is the best way to dose my calcium as I don't have a reactor. I have been dripping about 1 and 3/4 litres of the limewater then taking a bottle of distilled water and putting a little over 1/16th tsp of Calcium in the bottle of water. Over about a four hour period I pour the bottle water in the tank. All the while the wages drip is going taking the majority of the night to finish. Should I be adding the calcium a different way?

Also here are my tank water parameters I am trying to figure out why my anemone has been shriveled more than usual.

Temp swings from 75 to 78
Ammonia 0
CA 420 ppm
Alkalinity....my test has three ranges, low, normal and high. When I test it comes up in the normal range
ph 8.0
Nitrite and nitrates undetectable
Salinity 27
SG 1.0195
my test kits are pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things for CA I have been using aquarium systems seatest. For the rest I use Red sea Marine lab test kit. Aquarium systems hydrometer for salinity and SG.

[Reefland]

What kind of calcium supplement are you using in addition to the kalk? Have you tried to stop using the calcium addition and just use the kalk to sustain it? Your calcium level looks fine so I wouldn't worry about trying to raise it.

[Samper]

I have been using the kent marine turbo calcium in addition to the limewater to get the levels where they are. I haven't been testing water long enough to even know how much calcium is used by what little corraline I have growing. Surely not enough to have to keep dosing the kent. Is there a way to figure out how much is used per day? How do you guys all get your levels where they need to be and maintain them? Is this something that just takes time to figure out each specific tanks needs?

Also when a new invert is added that will make use of the calcium does the whole process of figuring out the tanks needs start anew?

[Reefland]

Figuring out your tanks specific need is a trial and error process. The best way to do it is to test at night (before dosing), in the morning (after dosing) and at night again and then figure out how much of what you need to add (pretty scientific huh?).

As far as the addition of a new coral, 1 or 2 isn't going to make a big difference, adding several over time will so the process is never really finalized, just have to keep monitoring it.

[Samper]

Ok, thanks for the information.

One other thing, Since I have started to top off with the limewater I have noticed small patches of white floating islands that I'm assuming are a byproduct of the drip. I keep the surface skimmed so that proper gas exchanges can take place. Is there a way to get rid of these "floaters"? Would I be better off using some sort of reactor? I usually let my limewater sit for a few hours, maybe letting it settle longer? Is this something everyone deals with when dripping limewater?

[Reefland]

COuld you describe "white floating islands" for me in more detail? Are these in your display or just the kalk mix you are dripping?

The only thing I can see in your post that should be changed is the amount of time you have between making up the limewater and dripping it; 24 hours would be better.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Samper

I have been dripping limewater out of a homemade drip system, my tank evaporates about 2 litres of water a day so I mix up about 3 litres of water with a half teaspoon of wages. Mix, let settle and drip. What is the best way to dose my calcium as I don't have a reactor. I have been dripping about 1 and 3/4 litres of the limewater then taking a bottle of distilled water and putting a little over 1/16th tsp of Calcium in the bottle of water. Over about a four hour period I pour the bottle water in the tank. All the while the wages drip is going taking the majority of the night to finish. Should I be adding the calcium a different way?

I think I'm confused. You are dosing both limewater (Kalkwasser) AND "calcium?" Your limewater is a balanced additive containing both calcium and alkalinity buffer in the correct ratio. You really shouldn't need to add whatever it is you are adding 1/16th tsp of. Exactly what is this "1/16th tsp of Calcium?"

Also here are my tank water parameters I am trying to figure out why my anemone has been shriveled more than usual.

Salinity 27
SG 1.0195

This is extremely low for a tank that contains invertebrates. In fact, it's even too low for a fish-only system. You should gradually raise your salinity to 33-35 ppt (PSU), which would equal specific gravity (SG) of approximately 1.024-1.026.

[Samper]

The little "islands" I described have appeared since I started dripping the limewater.They look like a white film and can be as big around as a dime.The morning after I drip there are usually two or three floating around. I'm assuming it's a byproduct of not letting the wages settle enough. It's easily fixed, I just skim it off the top with a cup but I'm concerned it might have ill affects on my system.

I have stopped dosing the Calcium since my test has shown 420ppm. I was just curious how long the limewater would continue to hold the 420 mark for me. From what I gather from reefland its just something I will learn over time and that every tank is different.

The reason the salinity is low at the moment is because I had lowered it when the main got ich. I lowered it slowly over a two week period and am slowly raising it in the same way.

[Samper]

I am positive that the "floating islands" are from the limewater.

[MyLittleOcean]

Originally Posted by Samper

I am positive that the "floating islands" are from the limewater.

When you mixe the kalk water and let it settle do you siphon out the clear water into a seperate container leaving the top and bottom layers?
I seal the top of a 5 gallon bucket and let it sit overnight. The seal keeps the top scum to a minamum. Stops the CO2 exchange. The next day siphon out the limewater into my top off container. 4 days later repeat.

I would assume the film you see is calcium. Whats left after all the chemical reactions take place (left over Ca). See if this stops after quiting the Ca additions.