Do most of you use 2 part calcium supplement(like ESV) or do you drip Kalk?

[jwavec]

Curious as to what most people do. 2 part seems pretty simple, but may get costly. Dripping Kalk seems a little cheaper, but may require more work. Thanks for any input.

[Gary Majchrzak]

I think you'll find that many reefkeepers use both kalkwasser, a liquid two part and perhaps even a calcium reactor (among other things) to supplement and adjust Ca/dKH.
The reason: kalkwasser and calcium reactors raise calcium and alkalinity evenly. With two part liquid alk/Ca supplements (such as B-ionic) you can independently adjust calcium in relation to alkalinity- something you can't do with kalkwasser.

Use this online calculator to balance your levels:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

[WingnutSr]

I am using a 2 part solution, daily. No big effort to use. Never tried dripping Kalk.

[szwab]

calcium reactor and every once in a while kalk.

[jer77]

I use 2-part Ca/alk and I drip kalk every once and a while. I like the fact that kalk raises the pH and also precipitates phosphates plus its much cheaper. So I find the LFS owners who keep stuff like sps use kalk, along with a calcium reactor sometimes, because its inexpensive for a large amount of water.

[jwavec]

Any suggestions a favorite brand of 2 part and kalk?

[drummereef]

My favorite brand is the one I make. :) I use Randy's 2-part homemade recipe. It's reliable and incredibly inexpensive to make. It costs me maybe $20 a year to make/use this stuff. Yes, a year! Here's the link.

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[mg426]

I have to agree with Drummereef, Randys two part is easy effective, and CHEAP !!!!!!

[sjm817]

I use Limewater auto topoff.

[jwavec]

Thanks for the Randy 2 part article...1 question though.....how are you measuring out exactly 0.1mL or 0.2mL of mix to put into a gallon of water?

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10040852#post10040852 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwavec
Thanks for the Randy 2 part article...1 question though.....how are you measuring out exactly 0.1mL or 0.2mL of mix to put into a gallon of water?

I guess I'm not understanding... 0.1mL or 0.2mL of what exactly?

[IslandCrow]

It will depend on the calcium demand of your tank. If I could get away with just limewater, that's exactly what I would do. You can't beat $2.50 a pound at Walmart. There is a very definite limitation to how much limewater you can add, though, since it causes a fairly significant rise in PH. You don't have nearly the limitation with a 2-part, so you can add enough daily to meet the requirements of even the most heavily stocked reef tanks.

[jwavec]

drummerreefer...I was reading the article and it was giving dosing suggestions of 0.1mL, 0.2mL etc to be dosed per gallon and I was wondering if this was equal parts of both the calcium and alkalinity parts to be dosed per gallon of tank water. For instance, I have a 90 gallon tank and it is a new setup...so the table suggested an initial dose of 0.2mL/gallon...so 18mL of both the calcium portion and the alkalinity portion need to be added daily. What do you use to measure 18ml of solution? A syringe of some sort or what? Thanks

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10041014#post10041014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwavec
drummerreefer...I was reading the article and it was giving dosing suggestions of 0.1mL, 0.2mL etc to be dosed per gallon and I was wondering if this was equal parts of both the calcium and alkalinity parts to be dosed per gallon of tank water. For instance, I have a 90 gallon tank and it is a new setup...so the table suggested an initial dose of 0.2mL/gallon...so 18mL of both the calcium portion and the alkalinity portion need to be added daily. What do you use to measure 18ml of solution? A syringe of some sort or what? Thanks

Ok, gotcha. Those ammounts are a rough estimate of what you should be dosing. You need to find out how much your tank demands of alkalinity and calcium in a 24 hour period. Then use the calculator to find out how much to dose daily. Yes, you should dose equal parts of alkalinity and calcium to keep the levels balanced. Here's what I do to find out the tank's demand...

1. Test your alkalinity and calcium. Write down these numbers.
2. Do not dose anything and wait 24 hours.
3. Test again for alkalinity and calcium and write the numbers down.
* By subtracting the two day's values you now know how much your tank uses of each in a 24 hour period. You should then plug these numbers into the calculator to find out how much 2-part it will take to bring the levels back up to the original testing amount (step #1).

[Sk8r]

I'm using a kalk reactor, which automatically doses kalk into the topoff water. This has been very good for my medium size [54g] tank, which has very high evaporation. I may have to supplement calcium occasionally, maybe once every couple of weeks. When I hand-dosed, without kalk, it was daily, and daily for the buffer.

Setting up a kalk reactor is simple if you start by putting a check valve into the feed line from the ro/di source. [I had to figure that out the hard way.] Beyond that, you unscrew the top, add dry Pickling Lime every month, and clean it occasionally.

[amike5]

Randy's 2 part here, cheap, easy, reliable.

[Vanquishxxxx]

I drip lime water, Mrs wages, so cheap and keeps Cal and alk at perfect levels

[pmartin727]

I am using ESV B Ionic 2 part buffer system.....

Easy to use and cost 13.99 i go through a package once every 6-8 months. So I spend about 30-40 bucks a year and no headache of messuring this or that!

[jwavec]

Has anybody purchased the Dowflake and MagFlake from Buckeye field supply? If not, where do most of you purchase it from?

[mg426]

I have got my Dowflake and Maglake from BFS for a couple of years. Works great never any issues.

[jwavec]

MG426...their website says it comes in convenient 16 cup size? Does it not come in a 50lb bag? Just curious. Thanks

[amike5]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10045679#post10045679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwavec
Has anybody purchased the Dowflake and MagFlake from Buckeye field supply? If not, where do most of you purchase it from?

I get it from a local concrete products supplier. 50 lbs. for about $17 a bag each. Calcium chloride is frequently used by concrete contractors. Magnesium chloride may be a little more difficult to find, but possible. These bags will last me years.

[dc_909]

I use Randys homemade 3 part

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10045679#post10045679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwavec
Has anybody purchased the Dowflake and MagFlake from Buckeye field supply? If not, where do most of you purchase it from?

I use Prestone Driveway Heat for my calcium part.

[IslandCrow]

I've bought the Mag and Dow flake from Buckeye, and had no problems. I've tried to go directly to the distributors for the stuff, but they only sell in very large quantities. I think it was something like 50 bags minimum. A friend of mine found Dow flake at one of the local pool supply stores. Mag flake has indeed been a bit tougher to find. I heard somewhere that it's sometimes used by lawn care companies, but I've yet to call around and ask. Some people use straight Epsoms salt for a magnesium supplement, but I guess you can get a buildup of. . .something bad. Randy has an article on it somewhere.