kalkwasser

Reefer769 · 07-01-2006, 05:43 PM

okay, i have a question about this stuff. i bought a small kent plastic dripping container, and that gets to be a real hassel mixing the kalk water, and filling this thing up almost every day. So i have a 5gal bucket of fresh ro/di water sitting next to the tank thats connected to a float switch for top-off. my question is, could i mix kalkwasser into this bucket, and just us that to add kalkwasser instead of dripping it?

**Ninong** · 07-01-2006, 05:57 PM

It is possible to do it that way but there are risks involved. For one thing, the amount of top-off water (in this case Kalkwasser) that is added at one time cannot be a lot relative to the total volume of your tank. For example, I could add one liter of Kalkwasser to my 120-gal tank at once without causing problems but adding one liter all at once to a 30-gal tank would be too much and could cause problems for some sensitive corals (especially mushrooms).

So the answer is that it's possible to do it that way provided the amount added at any one time is not very much.

The other risk is that if you have a problem with your float valve and you overdose Kalkwasser all at once, you could wipe out your tank. This has happened to lots of people. It usually happens to people who have float valve problems (or other mechanical problems) and who are running Kalkwasser reactors but it could happen with just a reservoir of Kalkwasser, too. Anything that could cause too much Kalkwasser to be added all at once could cause a disaster.

If you're going to do this, you have to be sure nothing bad can happen.

Good luck.

P.S. -- Do you have a sump? I just realized that you may not have a sump. I don't think I would want to dump the Kalkwasser directly into the tank, especially is this is still a 30-gal tank???

Reefer769 · 07-01-2006, 06:24 PM

i have a 10gal sump underneath the tank in the stand. Now i just dont know if i should just stop adding kalk all together or maybe give this idea a try, even though something bad could happen...

how important is kalkwasser to a tank with sps?

oh and i also have been battling a green hair algae problem in my 30 gal as well, and i just cant seem to find a way to get rid of it. any suggestions?

**Poseidon** · 07-01-2006, 06:35 PM

Kalk is VERY important if you don't supplement your Ca and Alk with something else. Think of Kalk as the brick AND Morter for your SPS corals to build with.

Hair algae is usually caused by to much nutrients, and not enough water changes..

Reefer769 · 07-02-2006, 01:24 PM

what exactly does to much nutrients mean? am i maybe feeding the fish to much?

**Poseidon** · 07-02-2006, 04:59 PM

07-01-2006, 05:43 PM	#1
Reefer769 Mayor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 908	kalkwasser okay, i have a question about this stuff. i bought a small kent plastic dripping container, and that gets to be a real hassel mixing the kalk water, and filling this thing up almost every day. So i have a 5gal bucket of fresh ro/di water sitting next to the tank thats connected to a float switch for top-off. my question is, could i mix kalkwasser into this bucket, and just us that to add kalkwasser instead of dripping it? __________________ “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!”

07-01-2006, 05:57 PM	#2
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	It is possible to do it that way but there are risks involved. For one thing, the amount of top-off water (in this case Kalkwasser) that is added at one time cannot be a lot relative to the total volume of your tank. For example, I could add one liter of Kalkwasser to my 120-gal tank at once without causing problems but adding one liter all at once to a 30-gal tank would be too much and could cause problems for some sensitive corals (especially mushrooms). So the answer is that it's possible to do it that way provided the amount added at any one time is not very much. The other risk is that if you have a problem with your float valve and you overdose Kalkwasser all at once, you could wipe out your tank. This has happened to lots of people. It usually happens to people who have float valve problems (or other mechanical problems) and who are running Kalkwasser reactors but it could happen with just a reservoir of Kalkwasser, too. Anything that could cause too much Kalkwasser to be added all at once could cause a disaster. If you're going to do this, you have to be sure nothing bad can happen. Good luck. P.S. -- Do you have a sump? I just realized that you may not have a sump. I don't think I would want to dump the Kalkwasser directly into the tank, especially is this is still a 30-gal tank??? __________________ Ninong

07-01-2006, 06:24 PM	#3
Reefer769 Mayor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 908	i have a 10gal sump underneath the tank in the stand. Now i just dont know if i should just stop adding kalk all together or maybe give this idea a try, even though something bad could happen... how important is kalkwasser to a tank with sps? oh and i also have been battling a green hair algae problem in my 30 gal as well, and i just cant seem to find a way to get rid of it. any suggestions? __________________ “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!”

07-01-2006, 06:35 PM	#4
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,495	Kalk is VERY important if you don't supplement your Ca and Alk with something else. Think of Kalk as the brick AND Morter for your SPS corals to build with. Hair algae is usually caused by to much nutrients, and not enough water changes.. __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

07-02-2006, 01:24 PM	#5
Reefer769 Mayor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 908	what exactly does to much nutrients mean? am i maybe feeding the fish to much? __________________ “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!”

07-02-2006, 04:59 PM	#6
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,495	Yes. __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

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