tired of adding calcium and alk? what should i get to help??

[tony45power]

i am tired of adding calcium and al;k everyday. lately ive been working crazy hours and often forv get or i am just too tired. what should i get to dose automatically>? i see dosing machines and calcium reactors??imn not sure how they work or what does what and what is the cheaper way w/out adding pumps inside my sump?

[tony45power]

heres a picture of my filter setup i have the room i would prefer not to add any pumps to my system though!<a href="http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb173/tony45power/?action=view&current=boilerroom058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb173/tony45power/boilerroom058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb173/tony45power/?action=view&current=boilerroom059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb173/tony45power/boilerroom059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[sjm817]

Do you have auto topoff?? Have you treid using Limewater for ATO?

[tony45power]

i have the 50 gallon drum under the skimmer table in the picture i keep RO water in it. should i put lime in the ro water? i add 1 gallon a day to my sump?

[Freed]

I use a calcium reactor and I dose kalk via a pH controller. Works great at keeping calcium and alkalinity steady/constant.

[tony45power]

i would liekto get a calcium reaactor but they just look confusing and expensive

[brians4671]

once you use kalk you will probably wish you did it long ago. ez breeze.

[Freed]

Expensive to start? yes. But you can find used really good quality ones here on RC for cheap. They will actually pay for themselves in not having to buy expensive two part additives down the road. Fill with media and forget about it for several months after you get it dialed in.

[tony45power]

what is kalk?

[Roy G. Biv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13380575#post13380575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tony45power
they just look confusing and expensive

They can if you dont own one. Once you have it in front of you, it makes sense :)

[sjm817]

Kalk is so easy, automated and cheap! Its just lime. You mix up to 2 teaspoons/gallon (this is max saturation) into your topoff container. Give it a good stir, cover it and let it settle. You are done. Your topoff pickup should be an inch or so of the bottom so that you dont pick up any of the solids that settle there. Balanced ca/alk is added every time you topoff. Saturated limewater has a PH of ~ 12.5 so it does raise your PH which most of the time is desirable. this may not be enough supplementation for your demands. You have to try and see. If you ask in the chemistry forum, Randy or one of the other gurus would be able to tell you you if Kalk topoff would be able to match what you are adding daily now.

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

[sps1-2-b]

Depends on your Ca demand. If it's high then I recommend a Ca reactor (it also maintains alk). Kalk reactor is limited on the evaporation rate.

[sjm817]

You can use both if need be. Adding Kalk to the topoff wont cost a thing except for the lime itself which is dirt cheap, and there is no equipment to set up. The higher PH of the Kalk topoff will help offset the PH lowering of a ca rx.

[dmbnpj]

I have read that a calcium reactor will not maintain alk in addition to calcium. You might want to keep an eye on both your calcium and alk levels even after adding the reactor. If the calcium is ok and alk is off, you might need to add some RO/baking soda to balance the alk.

[returnofsid]

Pickling Lime can be purchased at Walmart for under $3.00 and will last quite awhile. Mix it with RO water at the 2tsp/gallon mentioned above. This is Kalk. However, don't drip Kalk unless your Ca, Alk and Mg are all balanced. If you're balanced, go for it. Some recommend using Kalk for ALL your top off water. I should do that but am not quite diligent enough, so I also use Randy's 2 part DIY Ca, Alk and Mg recipe.

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13380690#post13380690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Kalk is so easy, automated and cheap! Its just lime. You mix up to 2 teaspoons/gallon (this is max saturation) into your topoff container. Give it a good stir, cover it and let it settle. You are done. Your topoff pickup should be an inch or so of the bottom so that you dont pick up any of the solids that settle there. Balanced ca/alk is added every time you topoff. Saturated limewater has a PH of ~ 12.5 so it does raise your PH which most of the time is desirable. this may not be enough supplementation for your demands. You have to try and see. If you ask in the chemistry forum, Randy or one of the other gurus would be able to tell you you if Kalk topoff would be able to match what you are adding daily now.

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm
^^^
:thumbsup:

I was a little nervous when I switched, but now that I did... I can't believe I was dosing daily. This is so much easier. My top off reservoir holds enough water to last the week. So all I do is make a new batch once a week... Set it... Forget it. :lol:

[will16]

I use peristaltic dosing pumps for dosing 2 part solution controlled by a reefkeeper2. They are small and easily hidden.

http://www.pbase.com/willgtp/image/102366269.jpg

I have the containers behind the tank

http://www.pbase.com/willgtp/image/102366275.jpg

It's been over a month and haven't had to refill the jugs yet. Once you have the dosage worked out and programmed, that's all you have to do. Been working great for me.

[tony45power]

so basically i can use kalk if my tank isnt demand too much calcium right now.

i can buy an expensive reactor but once i have it its awesome.

or i can purchase 2 dosing pumps.

i like the kalk im going to find some tonight. im thinking of going with the 2 dosing pumps. it looks easier the the reactor and they will maintain my calcium and alkalinity.

[Reefbox]

kalk is too ez and cheap to not give it a try and c if it suits your needs.
Chances are it will suit your needs.

It's like finally saving money in the hobby.

[sjm817]

If you have ATO you have everything you need already except the Lime. Yes, too cheap and easy not to try. IMO, is the 1st thing to use for supplementation. If it doesn't provide enough, then decide what you need to do from there.

[firebirdude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13380690#post13380690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm Very interesting read! Thanks!:)