Calcium reactors and Kaukwasser

VIC · 07-03-2001, 09:50 AM

Gentlemen....
My calcium reactor recently went on the fritz and I am awaiting a new one. In the meantime, a friend told me to drip kaukwasser as a substitute and I did. The sps growth I have seen in the last week is huge! Here comes the question....Does anyone out there drip kaukwasser while using a reactor? I've heard of some hobbyists shutting down their reactors once a quarter and adding kaukwasser for a week or so. If so whats the benefit? Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Vic

reefmack · 07-03-2001, 07:45 PM

i ONLY drip kalk - about a gallon mix per night (1-2 teaspoons kalk mixed with fresh RODI water)... and everything seems to be A-OK and thriving... I can notice when I forget for a few days definitely (going away for the weekend etc.). I've been wondering the merits of a calcium reactor - are they worth it?

VIC · 07-05-2001, 10:54 AM

Reefmack,
I have been running a calc. reactor for over 2 years now and they are def. worth the cost. They are tricky at first but once you get the hang of them they run maintenance free and provide a constant 9-12 dkh with an average 350-450 calcium level.
Question? I have a 250 gallon reef and I am dripping the kaukwasser all day, yet my ph drops! Since I am new to this kaukwasser drip thing,
can you tell me what I'm doing wrong. Should I empty the gallon into the tank with a fast drip of Kaukwasser overnight or in a couple of hours? Also, I mix the kaukwasser with distilled water and let it sit for a day. Is that too long for it to sit around? How long do you let it sit before you add? Also, is 8-9 a normal tank dkh while dripping Kaukwasser?
Thanks for the help and if you decide to get a calc. reactor let me know and I'll guide you through the steps.
Talk to ya,
Vic

reefmack · 07-05-2001, 12:16 PM

VIC - Are you sure you are dripping the right amount of kalk to gallons of water? 250 is a big job! I just drip my kalk nightly - just enough to make up for whatever evaporation i had that day - and mix it right before i set it off - I do know that letting kalk sit around mixed is bad news - you need to use it soon after you mix it. When I started using kalk - i had a similar situation - i was dripping but levels were dropping - and i found out that if you let kalk sit around for a while - it will start having a REVERSE effect on you levels!!! weird but true...

ROD

reefmack · 07-05-2001, 12:17 PM

VIC - also, forgive me if i sound ignorant (i'm still fairly new to the hobby) but i thought the use of a calcium reactor would allow you to discontinue the tired chore of kalk dripping? don't they serve a similar purpose?

VIC · 07-05-2001, 12:51 PM

Rod,
I am awaiting a new calcium reactor as my old one broke. That's why I'm dripping the kaukwasser. As a side note
Kaukwasser is the only thing that will precipitate phosphate so it is common to drip it once a week or a month to precipitate the po4 from your system while using your reactor.
Question.. I am going on a trip for 2 days. Do you thing that I should dose up the kaukwasser before I go? I figure with a 250 gallon system
one gallon is not going to raise the ph that much. Also what is a correct dkh when using kaukwasser (is 7-9 ok) and you say you use your kaukwasser right away. After mixing, do you wait for the solution to clear? or just add it while cloudy? If not how long do you wait to add after mixing?
Thanks for the help!
Vic

reefmack · 07-05-2001, 12:59 PM

Don't worry too much about going on your trip - drip a regular dose the night before and when you get back... Your size tank shouldn't fluctuate that much with only a day or 2 off the kalk. And yes - when i mix the kalk i start the drip right away while the mixture is still cloudy - from what i can tall water and kalk don't mix very easily very quickly and if you wait too long a lot of the kalk will settle on the bottom of your drip apparatus (whatever that may be) and never make it into the tank... a second word of advice too - don't reuse the leftover. before you start a new drip - empty out the kalk and water that never made it into the tank via the drip (no need to rinse or anything)... and start fresh!

ps in case you haven't noticed kalk is highly toxic - wash your hands and all that - i've inhaled enough over the course of this hobby that i think i already have brain damage

07-03-2001, 09:50 AM	#1
VIC Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Elmwood Park, N.J. U.S.A Posts: 134	Calcium reactors and Kaukwasser Gentlemen.... My calcium reactor recently went on the fritz and I am awaiting a new one. In the meantime, a friend told me to drip kaukwasser as a substitute and I did. The sps growth I have seen in the last week is huge! Here comes the question....Does anyone out there drip kaukwasser while using a reactor? I've heard of some hobbyists shutting down their reactors once a quarter and adding kaukwasser for a week or so. If so whats the benefit? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks, Vic

07-03-2001, 07:45 PM	#2
reefmack Just Moved In Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 45	i ONLY drip kalk - about a gallon mix per night (1-2 teaspoons kalk mixed with fresh RODI water)... and everything seems to be A-OK and thriving... I can notice when I forget for a few days definitely (going away for the weekend etc.). I've been wondering the merits of a calcium reactor - are they worth it? __________________ reefmack ----------- Pix of My 75 Gallon Reef

07-05-2001, 12:16 PM	#4
reefmack Just Moved In Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 45	VIC - Are you sure you are dripping the right amount of kalk to gallons of water? 250 is a big job! I just drip my kalk nightly - just enough to make up for whatever evaporation i had that day - and mix it right before i set it off - I do know that letting kalk sit around mixed is bad news - you need to use it soon after you mix it. When I started using kalk - i had a similar situation - i was dripping but levels were dropping - and i found out that if you let kalk sit around for a while - it will start having a REVERSE effect on you levels!!! weird but true... ROD __________________ reefmack ----------- Pix of My 75 Gallon Reef

07-05-2001, 12:17 PM	#5
reefmack Just Moved In Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 45	VIC - also, forgive me if i sound ignorant (i'm still fairly new to the hobby) but i thought the use of a calcium reactor would allow you to discontinue the tired chore of kalk dripping? don't they serve a similar purpose? __________________ reefmack ----------- Pix of My 75 Gallon Reef

07-05-2001, 12:59 PM	#7
reefmack Just Moved In Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 45	Don't worry too much about going on your trip - drip a regular dose the night before and when you get back... Your size tank shouldn't fluctuate that much with only a day or 2 off the kalk. And yes - when i mix the kalk i start the drip right away while the mixture is still cloudy - from what i can tall water and kalk don't mix very easily very quickly and if you wait too long a lot of the kalk will settle on the bottom of your drip apparatus (whatever that may be) and never make it into the tank... a second word of advice too - don't reuse the leftover. before you start a new drip - empty out the kalk and water that never made it into the tank via the drip (no need to rinse or anything)... and start fresh! ps in case you haven't noticed kalk is highly toxic - wash your hands and all that - i've inhaled enough over the course of this hobby that i think i already have brain damage __________________ reefmack ----------- Pix of My 75 Gallon Reef

07-05-2001, 10:54 AM	#3
VIC Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Elmwood Park, N.J. U.S.A Posts: 134	Reefmack, I have been running a calc. reactor for over 2 years now and they are def. worth the cost. They are tricky at first but once you get the hang of them they run maintenance free and provide a constant 9-12 dkh with an average 350-450 calcium level. Question? I have a 250 gallon reef and I am dripping the kaukwasser all day, yet my ph drops! Since I am new to this kaukwasser drip thing, can you tell me what I'm doing wrong. Should I empty the gallon into the tank with a fast drip of Kaukwasser overnight or in a couple of hours? Also, I mix the kaukwasser with distilled water and let it sit for a day. Is that too long for it to sit around? How long do you let it sit before you add? Also, is 8-9 a normal tank dkh while dripping Kaukwasser? Thanks for the help and if you decide to get a calc. reactor let me know and I'll guide you through the steps. Talk to ya, Vic

07-05-2001, 12:51 PM	#6
VIC Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Elmwood Park, N.J. U.S.A Posts: 134	Rod, I am awaiting a new calcium reactor as my old one broke. That's why I'm dripping the kaukwasser. As a side note Kaukwasser is the only thing that will precipitate phosphate so it is common to drip it once a week or a month to precipitate the po4 from your system while using your reactor. Question.. I am going on a trip for 2 days. Do you thing that I should dose up the kaukwasser before I go? I figure with a 250 gallon system one gallon is not going to raise the ph that much. Also what is a correct dkh when using kaukwasser (is 7-9 ok) and you say you use your kaukwasser right away. After mixing, do you wait for the solution to clear? or just add it while cloudy? If not how long do you wait to add after mixing? Thanks for the help! Vic

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