Dosing Kalkwasser 8/3/04
Hello. I have been starting to dose Kalkwasser in the manner suggested by Anthony Calfo; dissolving it in a cup of water and pouring it directly into the display tank. (I've got good alk, 10.6 dKH but pH is 8.0 and I want to bump it up a bit. Also Ca is on the low end of the scale, 360ppm when only running calcium reactor, and I figure that could stand an increase as well.)  
<agreed... the ALK is fine... the pH is flat and the Ca could be perked up a bit. Frankly, though... stability is more important. And if the tank stayed dead even at 360ppm, you'd grow corals faster than if spiked periodically to 425ppm. Do consider this and not worry so much about inconvenient high Ca targets>
I've been doing this daily in the morning before the lights come on at a rate of 1/8 tsp per 200 gallons net aquarium water.
<nicely conservative>
I did this once after the lights just came on and noticed that the polyps on most of the Acropora retracted almost immediately upon dosing and returned to normal in about 10-15 minutes.
<not surprising or any big problem... you just need to ameliorate/dilute the dose more... or feed it to a stronger stream of water>
Cutting the dose in half has about the same effect. Is that temporary high pH shock harmful?
<bad husbandry really... just too slow flow for dispersion>
I like the method, but don't like the response from the Acropora.
<really no biggie either way. I dose mine with a watering can in the big tanks/pools! <G>>
Every polyp does not retract, just patches that happen to be in the Kalkwasser stream before it thoroughly mixes. After
a week of this, they look healthy at all other times. Regards, George.
<good eye for detail overall my friend... no worries/no harm here. Anthony>

Calcium Hydroxide grades 7/7/04
Could you tell if all calcium hydroxide is the same?  I was going to buy 5kg off the internet for 60.00-80.00 bucks...any info would help.
<not all are the same, my friend... there is a wide range of grades and you generally get what you pay for. The cheaper grades have more impurities. For the average home aquarium and how little is used in one year... its not worth the risk. Ask them for a chemical assay if you want to pursue it further to see/compare quality Anthony>

Kalkwasser Question
Dear Bob-
Hello, I have been reading your articles and FAQs and have come across some varying opinions concerning the boosting of ca and alk to a tank from what others have informed me. I have a 46 gal FOWLR and have decided to partake in corals. My questions are: what would be the best product to supplement ca and alk?
Also, what is the best way to administer the supplement? Are mechanical dosing pumps necessary? How do you in the beginning stages boost the ca levels without harming current inhabitants?
I recall Kalkwasser being high on your list while others have told me Bio Calcium by tropic Marin is more beneficial to a system.  Only one problem is the budget-I know that you favor calcium reactors and have heard of their wondrous contributions to reefing but under monetary constraints I am unable to purchase this machine. I plan to save up and eventually purchase one but the coral bug has bitten earlier than expected.  I understand that I hit you with quite a few questions but any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Steven Marandola
<Well-stated opinions here. For most (the vast majority) of small, home-based systems "two-part" supplements (like B-Ionic) are best IMO... they provide sufficient/excess alkalinity and biomineral content safely and reliably. I do not endorse the use of Kalkwasser generally... too toxic, unstable to use, easy to get "out of balance" (with magnesium, alkaline make-up) in general... But, Kalk can be a very useful adjunct to other means of boosting, maintaining conducive water quality, particularly with situations where folks have similarly boosted lighting, and a concurrent desire to enhance growth, biomineralization. Reactors are still the best available, most appropriate technology, but I agree with you re their cost. Perhaps a marine club near you will have a "do it yourself" reactor get-together (many do) and you can make your own, find a CO2 cylinder (still the most common types in the U.S. use carbon dioxide, though there are other moda), regulator, needle-valve... at a low price. Considering what folks "put into" their systems, mainly electricity, but also supplement, and livestock cost-wise, reactors are not expensive. Bob Fenner>

- Upgrading the Tank, Follow-up -
O.k. -- This is going to sound really stupid, but I am in a slight jam - or pickle -- whatever you may choose to call it -- I usually use a Kent buffer once a week to ensure that the PH remains stable -- and also use liquid calcium in my reef on a daily basis. My old tank is still doing well (knock on wood) -- However, the new 220G tank I am setting up had a slight complication -- after making a 4 inch sand bed, making 220G of RO/DI water, mixing all the salt and filling the tank -- I added a couple of bags of live sand - a handful of sand from my old tank into the new one to get it seeded, and finally a couple of large pieces of live rock -- I thought I was doing well -- till -- I decided to add some buffer to the tank (or so I thought) -- unfortunately, in my haste, I picked up the wrong jar -- and instead of the dKH -- added four table spoons of Kalkwasser into a small bucket of water, mixed it a bit -- like I usually do the dKH, and added/spread the whole mix directly into the tank in one go -- like I usually do the dKH -- except for a small fact -- it was not dKH -- but Kalk.
Now my tank is cloudy -- I have a film of white powder like substance on my walls.  That in summary is my pickle -- did I ruin the who new tank setup -- and do I need to start from scratch -- new water, new salt mixing, new live sand and new live rock -- or will the tank clear up in a little/long while - and I could just wipe the walls clean? <This will clear up in time... all is not lost.> Will this action have any lasting effects? <You should have very high calcium now.> Should I do anything to minimize/mitigate any effects? <No... perhaps a regular water change.> It took me two days (the whole weekend) of pain - 6-8 hrs a day adding/mixing/lifting/moving to get to this point. I would hate to start fresh -- but would much rather do that than risk moving my entire reef setup in a less than perfect environment. <No worries... this tank should be ready to go.>
Luckily -- no fish/coral or any living beings except for the live rock and live sand were in this tank -- so any damage would be limited to these guys.
I really really appreciate your help and love your forum.
Thank You
<Cheers, J -- >

Kalk Slurry Method?
Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen,
<Scott F. back with you today!>
I do stand corrected regarding the UK being so far behind in the marine hobby.
<Good!>
I guess it is because I live in Kent which appears to be a bit of a "dead spot" regarding good shops and good stock. I know of 5 LFS's in a 25 mile radius and not one of those will save anything for you even if you pay for it in advance.
<That's a bit annoying. Perhaps some of the stores in London or other major cities might offer online purchases? Worth checking out.>
Moving on- Dave Saxby's Tank although I have never seen it personally (but would love the chance? If you're reading this Dave !!)  is really quite a stunner. I do believe his tank has been used as a subject in "Marine World" and probably other fish mag.s too.
<Yep. It's also in Michael Paletta's "Ultimate Marine Aquariums". Truly one of the best reef systems ever created!>
Anyway I write here tonight with the hope that you will be kind enough to help me yet again in my perseverance in this hobby.
Anthony Calf's "Kalk slurry"...... Can you give me any info on how he achieves this w/out Calcium reactor i.e.. just using Kalkwasser?
<Well, it's a relatively simple procedure, which he outlines in his must-have "Book of Coral Propagation". I personally use this method in one of my tanks with great success. What you are essentially doing (through careful and regular testing) is determining your system's calcium demand, and mixing a "shot" of calcium that satisfies the daily calcium demand of the system without more than a two tenths of a point increase in pH (which, as Anthony points out, is generally felt to be an acceptable pH fluctuation for most animals). You'll find that, once you get things dialed in, you can supplement the calcium very easily and efficiently. I highly recommend this method if you are not using a calcium reactor. Do get purchase a copy of Anthony's book; it gives a great description of this process, and is a terrific "primer" for any hobbyist ho is interested in maintaining corals>
And secondly, since putting a few pounds (20lb) of live rock in the main display tank and yup, getting an outbreak of whitespot about 3 weeks ago, ( I am treating the sick fish in a hospital tank and fingers crossed it does not seem to have spread) I have noticed tonight on the front glass hundreds of almost microscopic beetle like life forms. To give a brief description they are (the largest of them) about half a millimetre long, the smallest a
tenth of this size. They have two front antennae, two segment bodies and some appear to have a tail-like appendage.......Have you any ideas?
<Sound like amphipods of some sort, or one of many similar related creatures. All of these function as essentially harmless "scavengers", and can benefit your system by providing a supplemental food source for your fishes. You are probably seeing an "explosion" in these creatures in the absence of the fishes, as they have a chance to avoid becoming someone's menu item!>
Well, I would like to thank you for imparting your hard earned knowledge in my direction in the past. You have helped me no-end !!
And thank you Scott on your advice regarding Tunze's Turbelles.....I am going to try them out, they sound v-good indeed.
<You're quite welcome! The Tunze pumps are excellent, and will really serve you well!>
One last quickie. Does the water flow in a DSB (5") refugium have to flow right through the sand or just over it and also how fast? should it basically be  a fast or slow turnover through the refugium?
<Well, I'd just let the water flow over it at whatever it rate it typically goes through in the system. No special flow rate is required, IMO. And, a refugium should actually have a fairly brisk flow rate, IMO.>
I want to put this just higher then the tank, supply it with a power head and gravity fed back to the main display......Do you think this will be ok?
<I've seen this work just fine before in several systems. Definitely worth attempting>
Cheers to you all !! Simon
<And to you, my friend! Good luck with your system! Regards, Scott F>

Hardening Sand 2/17/04
Hey Gang, Anthony, after adding the new Kalkwasser drip to my system, I'm realizing I may have added it to quickly, the sand is beginning to develop a crust on the surface. Will a few major water changes save the bed, or, would you recommend R&R? Peace & Thanks, from Denver! Stormbringer
<correct my friend... added too fast and/or inadequate water flow even with a safe dose (not your problem here I suspect/realize). The same thing (hardening of aragonite) can happen with other Ca/ALK/pH supplements just the same. No worries though... mash it up in time/on occasion with a stick/prod (perhaps with weekly sand stirring to feed some inverts) and just dose slower or dilute doses bigger here on out. Kindly, Anthony>

Hardening Sand 2/18/04
Anthony, Thanks for setting my mind at ease!
<excellent bud>
I knew there was something wrong when the Clove Polyps started looking very wilted the other day, going from a cream/green color to a grey, very unhappy look.
<true... good to spy and recognize key species like this clove as bio-indicators of the first sign of bad trends>
I did a 25g water change (Tropic-Marin) earlier & plan on another in a couple of days hoping it'll perc em up . Another question, which 65w PC spectrum is more beneficial to blue tip Acro, 7100k "ultra actinics" or actinic 03's?
<no question the daylight colored lamp... actinic 03s do not sustain corals (few)... they are mostly for aesthetics>
I like the way the 03's "light up" the green candy cane & Hydnophora,
<agreed>
but, the blue tips aren't the neon blue under the 03'S, like they were under the 7100K's. Just curious!
<with modern reef lamps (6500-20k K), 03 blues are no longer needed... only to be used for aesthetics IMO>
I know the those in the R.M.R.C would want to say hey, so, "Hey" from the gang! Thanks again Bro  ....'Bringer
<howdy back atcha! I'll be back in CO in just a few weeks in fact. Perhaps  a Hey in person :) Anthony>

- Kalkwasser - 
Hi, 
I have reading a little about using Kalkwasser. I currently don't use it. I have a 55 gallon reef tank, and I use B-Ionic for the calcium and Alkalinity needs. I tested my water last night, and the KH was 9.6 and the alkalinity was 3.4. I have read where dosing Kalkwasser was a good thing to do, but I don't know that much about it. <Do realize then that Kalkwasser is really only good for adding calcium to your tank - it doesn't really do much for alkalinity.> I have a couple of questions about using Kalkwasser. 
1. If I used Kalkwasser, would I still need to use B-Ionic? <I wouldn't use both simultaneously... certainly without a calcium test.> If I would still need to use B-Ionic, would I be adding too much "stuff" to my tank? <B-Ionic is water based so it doesn't really qualify as 'stuff'... it's really just calcium additions.> 
2. From what I have read, most people seem to use Kalkwasser by using a dosing pump or some kind of dosing setup and add it at something like a drip a second. Could you, instead, mix Kalkwasser in your evaporation refill water and use it that way, or is that too inconsistent? <It's consistent either way, but typical top-off systems dole out water in large amounts, which could be disastrous if Kalkwasser were tossed into the mix. Much better to deal with each issue [calcium - top-off] separately.> 
3. I read that if Kalkwasser was used, by dosing, a calcium reactor would not be needed. <Both would be better.> Is that true? <Not necessarily.> I know I have another question or two, but I can't think of them right now. I am setting up a new 135 gallon reef tank, and I am trying to figure out and learn the best way to do things... not necessarily how I am doing them now. Thanks for your time. 
Paul 
<Cheers, J -- >

Kalkwasser & Softies 1/11/04
Hey Gang, Top 'o the day from Denver, Anthony,
<cheers, Scott>
I'm asking a question about adding Seachem's Kalkwasser to my softy reef tank, all the while hoping you remember my tank! Ca-309.6, Alk-2.4, ph-8.3, Am-0, Ni-0, SG-1.024 Temp-79.6 are the water parameters. Question; Are the gravity fed, IV style drip devices a consideration for us that are high tech equipment challenged?
<they are indeed easy and effective. No disadvantage other than convenience- they tend to clog rather quickly. No biggie though. In time as you daily Calcium demand grows in the tank, you may find that the need is higher than what can be delivered through a dripped supersaturated solution. At that point, you may wish to consider my "Kalk slurry" method [see the WWM and RC archives for more on this... or my BOCP1]. The best long term solution is perhaps a calcium reactor>
Thanks for your treasured advice! Scott (aka; Stormbringer)
<always welcome my friend. best regards, Anthony>

"Pickling Lime" 1/8/03
This is for Anthony - I had the question below and looked up the Google reference but nothing came up. Do you (Anthony) have any input? Thanks!
Pickling Lime v. Kalkwasser (1/7/2004)
Thanks very much for the advice/counsel. <You're Welcome.> I have another question concerning the use of "Pickling Lime". I've heard it is a very cost-effective substitute for Kalkwasser. Do you know anywhere that describes the use of this product in terms of preparation and dosing. Again, thanks for any help - An invaluable resource I see!
<Go to www.google.com and search on the terms  "pickling lime, aquarium" You should find what you need there. If not, you can direct an inquiry to Anthony. Steve Allen.>
<<I'm not sure what the problem was Don... I typed in pickling lime for a search of WWM only and it reported 14 hits. There is much more info too on this topic on the big message boards. Frankly, I do not recommend it to folks that put any amount of solids in their aquarium. Pickling lime is a low grade and as they say, good things are seldom cheap and cheap things are seldom good. If, however, you only do a decanted supersaturated solution of limewater (no slurries), you can safely use such lime as it is self-purifying by its caustic nature (precip'ing most contams out). Anthony>>

Pickling Lime: Use in the aquarium 1/8/03
Anthony, Thanks. Yes, I will only use the diluted decant as I understand that, once saturated, the excess precipitates out of solution as an insoluble deposit.
<true... and contains any contaminants>
What I'd like to know is how to prepare and dose it. I.E., Do I prepare the solution and include a certain amount per gal in each water change or should I periodically add some of the solution in an amount per gallon.
<hmmm... the question indicates that you are or may be very new to the reef dosing game here my friend. Not a bad thing either :) But you should only dose as much calcium daily as your tank needs as per the readings from your calcium test kits. Its not a matter of X grams per gallon or water change. The supersaturated solution is merely a means to deliver it... not a measure. So what you need to do is first calculate what your daily demand for Calcium is (even go three days without dosing any calcium. and test tank before and then after and divide the diff by 3 days to get a more accurate measure). Then you can measure how much limewater it takes to meet that demand.>
If the latter method, how often would you suggest adding. Also, can the prepared solution be kept in an appropriate container for an extended period of time or is it necessary to prepare it immediately prior to each dosing?
<it cannot be kept for very long, should never be aerated or exposed to air (forms insoluble carbonates)... always mix fresh daily and generally add with FW only to make up for evaporation>
These are the types of questions I have and I hope you can either let me know based on your firsthand experience or direct me to the relevant resources.
<do a keyword search for Kalkwasser, limewater, calcium hydroxide and such terms on reefcentral.com and reefs.org and look for the writings of Randy Holmes-Farley amongst the hits... excellent data from him>
I did searches as suggested and, while there were a number of references to the use of Pickling Lime in the marine aquarium, none of them actually explained exactly how it would be applied in practice. Again, thanks for any advice/direction you can provide.  Don
<again... I fear for you a bit being so eager to save a few pennies in a system that has a considerable investment (your tank in lives and thousands of dollars). Really play it safe and just buy a manufactured Kalkwasser mix and follow the established protocol/directions. The quality and peace of mind are worth the few extra dollars each year. Best of luck, Anthony>

Kalkwasser Dosing...
Hi, I am a new to the marine aquarium hobby, I just set up a 29g reef tank this past Christmas, I have aqua clear 200 filter (with Chemi pure media), a Prizm protein skimmer and Coralife compact 130w (2-65w) lighting. Recently I have added about 27 pounds of aquacultured live rock. The coralline algae was abundant at first but is now fading and seems to have a grey film. Is this because it still needs time to cure or is it being baked by the lighting?
<Well, it could be due to a number of factors, including the light intensity, water current, and nutrient availability. Coralline requires magnesium as well as calcium and other nutrients. Most of these nutrients can be replenished with regular water changes, although supplemental calcium replenishment is helpful. And, as you suspect, a certain percentage of the coralline will die off after import...>
I can turn each of the 65s on or off, would I be better with just one on at a time?
<Well, I'd keep both of 'em on for the sake of the other inhabitants. Many species of coralline will "adapt" to the conditions and come back strong, so don't give up hope yet.>
And also I made a big mistake, (I read the instructions very wrong hehe) I put 29tps of Kalkwasser to a small container and let it set for several hours then added it slowly to the tank, only the liquid of course though. Will all that calcium kill the live rock?
thx for your time
~Greg
<Well, it's not great to dump in all of that calcium in at one time, as it will spike the pH significantly. I'd very carefully monitor the pH for a while. In the future, you'll add Kalkwasser slowly, according to the needs of your tank. It's probably best to utilize a regular regimen for Kalkwasser supplementation and stick to it. You may want to check out Anthony's "Book of Coral Propagation" for details on his simple, but effective "Kalk slurry" method of dosing Kalkwasser. It's easy to dose Kalk, but the important thing is to test for your tank's calcium consumption to avoid over dosing...Lots of other good information on Kalkwasser usage is available on the WWM site! Enjoy the research! Regards, Scott F.>

Kalkwasser Sources
Happy New Year Bob; What do you think about this thread ????
<Hey Maurice! Have heard, seen folks using pickling lime for reef systems, propagation facilities... can work... and not much risk from impurities... I still vastly prefer carbon dioxide type calcium reactors for providing all necessary biominerals... in proportion, on a continuous basis. Be seeing you, Bob F>
>Randy, All,
>FYI "pickling lime is CACL2 (Calcium Chloride) not CAOH) (Ca Hydroxide) Ca Chloride is a great way to boost your Ca levels but it is not "Kalkwasser"
>Keith
>Randy Sanchez  wrote:
>Steve,
>I've been using pickling lime from Wal-Mart for about 6 yrs now - $1/pound - it is exactly the same thing, only marketed for the food and not pet trade.
>It's amazing what the pet trade will charge for products you can get much cheaper advertised differently. I believe there might be a 0.1 or  0.2 difference in purity but when you're talking about the difference  between 99.7 and 99.8, I can live with that, especially at the savings.
>If you want to get even more technical, I know of several "big boys" in the reefing world that use garden lime (purity is slightly less, you'd have to look at it since it varies by brand) - you can get a 50# bag for about $15 or so - I forget. I personally always felt weird putting something meant for the garden into my tank but I know that they've been doing it for years.
>That's about as good a deal as you'll ever find!
>Randy
>Subject: [SDMAS] Kalkwasser Sources
> > I dose with Kalkwasser exclusively. I usually buy 4 lb. containers of
> > Kalk powder over the internet (direct from ESV - $21 for 4 lbs.).
> > Does anyone purchase Kalk powder in bulk and can recommend other sources?
> > Thanks,
> > Steve

Pickling Lime v. Kalkwasser (1/7/2004)
Thanks very much for the advice/counsel. <You're Welcome.> I have another question concerning the use of "Pickling Lime". I've heard it is a very cost-effective substitute for Kalkwasser. Do you know anywhere that describes the use of this product in terms of preparation and dosing. Again, thanks for any help - An invaluable resource I see!
<Go to www.google.com and search on the terms  "pickling lime, aquarium"  You should find what you need there. If not, you can direct an inquiry to Anthony. Steve Allen.>

Kalkwasser On (Acetic) Acid?
Dear WWM crew,
<Hi there! Scott F. with you today!>
Happy Holidays!
<Thank you! Hope you're having a great holiday season!>
I was recently patrolling the net and came across this article: http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html
It discusses mixing dry Kalk with acetic acid before use. I currently use Kalk the old fashioned way- but was wondering if this method had any value. Would you mind taking a look when you have the time- and letting me know what you think?  Thanks!  Tom L
<Well, Tom- I have read this article before and have heard about this technique. It is a valid methodology for dosing Kalk, but I have always done what you've done- dosed it the "old fashioned way". There is nothing essentially wrong with this method, IMO. It does assist in maintaining acceptable calcium levels in the tank. However, like any method, you do need to be very careful about the potential pH effects that this technique can cause. Personally, I like keeping things simple; I'm a big fan of the "Kalk slurry" technique outlined by Anthony in his "Book Of Coral Propagation". It's relatively simple to perform, offers the aquarist a high degree of control, and it works! I guess my philosophy, with regards to adding things to your tank, is to keep things simple. If you've got a system that works for you, and you're getting good results- stay with it! Regards, Scott F>

Aerating Kalkwasser 12/3/03
For starters, in my opinion your Book of Coral Propagation and the new Reef Invertebrates book with R. Fenner are the two best books EVER on reef keeping!
<wow... outstanding compliment that I/we do not take lightly. Kind thanks my friend>
I have a 100-gal reef that gets approximately 10 to 15 gallons of replacement filtered natural seawater daily, using a Liter-Meter III, pulling from a 125-gallon pond that I fill about once a week from Scripps Institute’s public supply in San Diego, CA.  
<I do have serious concerns about the long term (years) safety of this practice. If you need anyone to help convince you otherwise, do chat with some of the folks in the San Diego marine club (like that great chap Maurice Bullock). And Bob Fenner has worked at Scripps on those very seawater filters some time ago and can testify that they are only (very) grossly prefiltered. Natural seawater is variable at best and a liability in time for the nature of heavy populations and pollution/pathogens near most all shores (too many people/too much run-off)>
For evaporation-replenishment water I add about 1-1/2 gallons of RO daily, also using the Liter-Meter III.  (This pump controller rules the world!)  I know you don’t really like this idea, but to simplify life I add Kalkwasser to the replenishment-supply bucket.  I have been changing the evaporation water about once/week and dumping whatever is left.  Using Salifert test kits, Ca is about 385 to 390ppm, dKH is around 11 to 12 .  
<all good>
pH with an electronic Pinpoint probe is about 8.2 in the morning and rises to a maximum of about 8.6 in the early evening after a full day of HQI lighting.  So I think my water-quality parameters are pretty good.  
<agreed... but .4 is a very large swing for pH in one 12-24 hour cycle... do examine your circulation/aeration aspects... I wonder if you don't need more water flow here. Sel 10-20X minimum. Else, I would look to testing ALK with another brand of test kit to confirm accuracy for fear of it actually being too low>
I have four questions:
Is there any reason that I cannot just stir up the remaining Kalkwasser-RO water and then just add more each week, so that I don’t waste any?
<yes... two big reasons: 1) contaminants in lower grades of calcium hydroxide are precipitated in the solids and should be wasted, not stirred back into solution. And 2)any excess aeration of a Kalk solution causes the formation of insoluble calcium carbonate which is useless for your corals/inverts but shows on the test kits as present/helpful>
Your coral-propagation book suggests aerating evaporation-replenishment water.  
<correct... to raise pH and soften burden on buffers in sea salt/supplementation>
Can I aerate the Kalkwasser-RO water?
<alas, no... as per above formation of insoluble Ca Carbonate>
In order to encourage coralline algae growth, is it a good idea to further supplement Ca, maybe to about 450ppm with Part II of the B-Ionic solution, in addition to the Kalkwasser?
<better yet... use an organic sugar-based calcium like Seachem's ReefCalcium... outstanding for growing coralline algae but not as useful for coral growth (stick with calcium hydroxide for this)>
Is my range of PH too broad, and if so, how do you recommend I tighten it up?
<correct intuition my friend... addressed above>
Thanks for a fantastic website! Carl Beels, M.S.
<and very glad to hear of your apparent dedication to being a conscientious and successful aquarist. Keep learning/growing and succeeding. Anthony>

The Kalk Trick
Bob,
<Rich>
  Just wanted to drop a note to say thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit the MARS group in Sacramento.  Your presentations are always animated and informative to all levels of the marine hobby.
<Always a pleasure and a privilege. Thank you>
  In your algae talk, you mentioned dosing calcium hydroxide to raise the pH, thus causing phosphate to precipitate out of solution rendering it unusable to nuisance algae growth.  I was wondering if you could provide me additional details as to this application (what pH, how long, etc.).  I'm most likely experiencing some amount of undetectable phosphate in my reef, as even with the addition of new rock and substrate, I'm noticing the start of hairy green patches.  If a little neglected maintenance in years past resulted in the binding of phosphate to calcified surfaces, I'm certainly paying for it now.
<Sure... involves addition of Kalkwasser solution toward nighttime (lights out) with testing (for pH) to a point of about 8.5... this will drop over night likely... and your "testable" phosphate will also go to zip. Bob Fenner>
Thank you again,
Rich VanDusen
President Marine Aquarist Roundtable of Sacramento

Kalkwasser Dosing
I read quite a bit of information on the site about Kalkwasser dosing and have sort of become confused.  So many opinions and methods to choose from.
<my opinion on the matter is summed up here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/calcalkmar.htm
and in my Coral Propagation book which I believe you have <G>. The gist of it is really simple though, my friend... always test for daily demand for calcium before dosing... else its like potluck. Go 2-3 days without adding and calcium or new seawater... test the CA before and after the period and divide by the number of days to get your daily drop/demand for calcium. Then experiment with increasing doses of Kalkwasser to determine how much is needed to reach that daily goal>
So I thought I would tell you how I am doing it and ask for an opinion.  I have a 120 reef tank and am using a Kent Aquadoser.  Basically, I am mixing the Kalkwasser in a half gallon of non buffered RO water and letting it drip slowly at night into the sump right near the return pump so it gets shot quickly into the display.  I have nowhere to hang it so that I could let it
drip into the display.  
<no biggie... this is fine>
I am not letting it sit for extended periods of time.  I mix it when I get home from work around 6:30 and begin dripping it
around 9:30 that same evening.  Any problems with this?  
<as long as it does not raise you pH by more than .2 over that 3 hour period you are fine>
Am I going to have problems with my return pump or skimmer pump?
<indeed it will need cleaned more often for calcium deposits>
I have been dosing 2 tsp per night and that has been maintaining my Ca levels between 390 and 410. Thanks in advance.  Much appreciated. Andy
<2 tsp sounds like a lot for a young tank or a tank without a lot of coral. I wonder/fear is some of this isn't just precipitating out as insoluble calcium carbonate and becoming a burden on your buffers (is your Alkalinity low... under 10dKH?). Anthony>

RE: Kalkwasser Dosing
Thanks Anthony - my dKH is hanging around 11.  
<excellent>
I haven't noticed a snow storm or anything.  
<actually... precips can occur without a crash/snowstorm... evidenced by depressed ALK and chalky residue in sump, etc)>
I have been dripping the Kalk over probably an 8+ hour
period (half when I go to bed, half when I wake up, all with the lights off).  I have been testing Ca daily and it is hanging around 390-400.  
<all sounds fine>
My corals include:
1 green brain (appears splitting into 2 heads - purchased from you in
Cheswick years ago)
1 Lobophyllia (Pink outer, turquoise inner)
1 Fox Coral (approx 5")
2 Candy Coral Colonies (about the size of a softball each)
1 Montipora digita Frag
1 Hammer (5 heads)
1 Torch (3 heads)
Xenia (baseball size)
Loads of Briareum
Green Star Polyps
Gorgonians
Zoanthids (2 small frags)
<I would say you have a moderate load of corals.. not too demanding for CA. I still suspect 2 tsp is too much... but the water tests will reveal all/the truth>
Yes, I have the book and am contemplating going to the slurry method, but right now, I am feeling my way around with daily testing (Seachem Reef Status Test) and slow drip dosing.
One question on feeding them - With regards to corals with a bunch of heads i.e. candy, does each head need fed or will hitting a couple heads take care of the whole colony?  
<alas... they are individuals>
It is difficult to hit each and every one but will do so if need be.
<agreed... hence the reason(s) for a dense and productive refugium to spare us the need for tedious feeding of hungry planktivores>
Thanks a ton.  Maybe I'll see you at the next PMASI meeting.
Andy
<always welcome! Anthony>

Can I use old Kalkwasser 11/18/03
I have some Kent brand Kalkwasser that is about 5 years old. Is it safe to use?
Thanks for your help, Ryan
<if it is still dry, its fine my friend. Anthony>

Skimmer/ Kalk questions
Can I use a Euroreef CS6-1 in a 10 gallon sump for a 55 gallon tank?  Would it fit with the pump?  Thanks for the help.
< no you must maintain a 6" water level and if the power shuts off it would overflow it will fit but it will be tight try a 20 long instead>
  One question about Kalk slurry if you don't mind.  I pour (slowly, about 3 min.) 1/2 teaspoon in 3/8 gallon of cool DI water in my tank after lights go out, but I don't see any difference in Ca.  Also the ph goes from 8.1-8.2 but within 10 min it's back down to 8.14 and declining (using a pinpoint ph monitor). Should I use more Kalk?
<yes your tank is using the calcium and you need to add more>
  One more question, would a t4 pump be too much for a new All Glass Brand 55gallon tank with corner overflow built in, LFS said I would get some kind of bacteria?  (they tried to sell me a Mag 9100, is that better quality than the t4).  Thank you for all of your expert
< yes in my opinion mag pumps are very heavy duty and run forever flow rate sounds good thanks Mike H>
  advice... again.  Your tanks must be amazing!  (I attached a picture of my tank)

Purity of Ca Hydroxide? 10/28/03
Has there been any information or study on the Purity of different brands of Calcium Hydroxide?   I use the Calfo (slurry) method for some time now with good results.  However, I've been told that all of the impurities in the lime will be delivered into the tank.  How much impurities can the "hobbyist" grade Kalkwasser have?  I don't want to use this if it won't work long term. Justin Zimmerman Aquarist - Sea World of Florida
<cheers, Justin. Indeed, calcium hydroxide is well-studied and available in a variety of grades from cheap lime to research grade matter. Most any grade purchased as packaged for aquarium or lab use will be of a very high purity. With your resources at Seaworld, I am certain that any of the vendors that you currently  by lab equipment from (scopes, cylinders, reagents, testing equip, etc.) can get you chemical assays on the purity of the grades that they offer. Although it is true that the slurry method could carry impurities into the aquarium, it is generally a very small concern. Interestingly, calcium hydroxide has a remarkable quality of self-purification. Its extremely high pH in solution causes many impurities to drop out (most all metals). As such, decanted solutions are very pure... and slurries allowed to sit for just a bit (and decanted off the first phase of settling/solids) will also be very pure. Frankly, for how relatively inexpensive the better grades of lime still are... I use and recommend the matter with little concern of impurities. Greater cause for concern in source water, feeds, etc. With kind regards, Anthony>

pH shock from Kalkwasser 9/29/03
I have a 59 gal. coral reef aquarium.  I had ten corals and nine fish.  I have had the set up for about three months and it was time for a water change.  I mixed up my water with the salt and primer, but I added Kalkwasser.  Since I am a beginner, I am also stupid.  I did not read the entire directions and I added all of the new water at once instead of gradually.  Well, all of my fish have died but two and most of my corals have died.  Is there anyway to counteract the Kalkwasser as I am sure this is what I did wrong?  Do I need to make another water change?  I am very depressed about this since I lost about $500 worth of stock.  Thanks. Terry
<very sorry to hear of it my friend. If there was no precipitous reaction, it sounds like you simply pH shocked the system. The best solution is dilution.  A couple of large water changes and you will be back on your way. Do get yourself a couple of good reef references too. Eric Borneman's aquarium corals is an excellent photo reference... and my Book of Coral Propagation has most of the first 200 pages dedicated to no-nonsense plain language reef husbandry. Wishing you the best of luck! Anthony Calfo>

Coral Reef Aquarium
I have a 59 gal. coral reef aquarium.  I had ten corals and nine fish.  I have had the set up for about three months and it was time for a water change.  I mixed up my water with the salt< how  much H20> and primer<explain Primer>, but I added Kalkwasser.  Since I am a beginner, I am also stupid.  I did not read the entire directions and I added all of the new water at once instead of gradually.  Well, all of my fish have died but two and most of my corals have died.  Is there anyway to counteract the Kalkwasser as I am sure this is what I did wrong?  Do I need to make another water change?  I am very depressed about this since I lost about $500 worth of stock.  Thanks.
I would entertain the idea of a reference manual, check out the WWM library of books any books by Robert Fenner, Martin Moe, would be of great help. Try to stick with the beginner versions of their books. Good luck & try not to get to discouraged, reading about this hobby is your best bet for success.>
Terry Holden

- Kalkwasser Slurry Clarification -
Question for you fine folks, in regards to a Kalk slurry.  My first question is whether or not I should use fresh or salt water to do this... <Fresh water.> I thought it would certainly be fresh water but after reading some of the FAQs I'm not so sure anymore.  So, tell me if I have this right, cause I can't spend too much time searching the forum right now and I'd like to know if this is true.  My understanding is that a slurry is the proper amount of calcium needed for your daily tank uptake stirred into a glass of cold water, and then simply dumped into the tank before or after the lights come on/off. <First thing in the morning is ideal, before the lights come on. Keep in mind that you only want to 'dump in' the liquid portion of the slurry - leave the powder behind.> This as opposed to mixing a solution, letting it sit, and then using the clear solution as a drip over the course of a few hours, right? <Same but different - either way you only want to add the clear liquid.> Which method do you prefer? <Personally, I prefer calcium reactors - the Kalkwasser slurry method is Anthony Calfo's brain child.> It sounds as though the slurry method is the easier of the two, and just as effective. <Indeed.> I have constructed a DIY drip unit to take care of my daily evap, and I planned on using it to dose Kalk over a long period of time, but I'd rather use this slurry method now, as it seems less messy and easier to figure than the conventional drip method, and I could let the drip go 24/7 as opposed to only at night.
Would it seem a wiser plan to fill my drip unit with fresh buffered water to support the alk, and use the slurry for the CA? <Yes.> This is all I want to bother you with at the moment ;).  Thank you so much for all the hard work, guys...this site rocks! (It also angers my significant other, due to far too much time spent reading it...hehe).
-Dave
<Cheers, J -- >

Establishing Calcium and Alkalinity
<Hello! Ryan with you today>
I have a 58g reef tank that I started about  2 months ago.  I have 70lbs of live rock, 40lbs live sand, 2 clownfish, 1 Kole tang, 10 snails, and 5 crabs. <OK> I have a Euro-Reef cs6-1 skimmer, 250w 10,000k metal halide light, 450gph sump pump and 300gph circulation pump.  I've start thinking about adding calcium to my system to get ready for corals and I can't decide which method to use. <Understood> I'm thinking Kalkwasser, 2-part calcium/alkalinity, or Seachem reef advantage calcium. <B-Ionic 2-part calcium alk is what I prefer> I'm looking for least maintenance, most idiot proof, and most effective. <Exactly why I prefer it> I would also like a recommendation for inexpensive test kits for calcium and alkalinity. <Seachem works well and is reasonable> What are your thoughts on the calcium situation and what are your thoughts on my setup so far? <Sounds great, you've got sturdy equipment list and you're taking it slow.  I'd add some live rock if possible, you'll want at least 1 pound per gallon.  Best of luck! Ryan> Your help is much appreciated.  Thanks,  Chris

- dKH to ppm -
Good day, the crew rules.  Can't find a conversion cart for dKH to ppm.  Only found this formula 2.8 dKH =1.0 meg/l = 50 ppm.  You know if that's a linear relationship i.e.  (200 ppm = 4 meg/l = 11.2 dKH) or know where I might find a table?  Any help as always is greatly appreciated, Thanks.
<Found a calculator! http://saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/AlkConv.php?units=DKH&dkhStr=8  Enjoy! -Kevin>

- Adjusting a Calcium Reactor -
Hi Everyone, <Hello to you, JasonC here...>
I've been using your site daily for questions and it's been a great help to me. You provide a huge service to everyone in the hobby. I've had a 50 gal ref set up for about 2 years and learned most things the hard way. I've now upgraded slowly to a 110 gal with a Euro-reef filter sys with built in protein skimmer, chiller, Korallin Ca reactor etc. My tank is fully cycled and all readings are 0 or perfect except for my alk. The dKH is off the scale. The ca reads about 400.  I've been reading everywhere on your site and used google to see if someone else has had this problem with no luck. I'm using a Salifert test kit and I have to use 1.5 ml to even get a reading on the DKH. I've tried other test kits with the same results. <I'd turn off the calcium reactor for a while and get your dKH in readable range.> The reactor is set to 60 drips a minute with 20 bubbles per minute. <That's probably too much and too little - most reactors ideally need to drip about two to three drops per second, and CO2 should be bubbled in at about 15 drops per minutes... so, it's not a surprise that you've got a high dKH.> I've tried all sorts of settings with the reactor and if I change anything I either get low ca or to much c02 in the reactor. <For now, I'd turn off the CO2 and let the system head back to balance, a more reasonable dKH. Once that is done, then bring the reactor to bear on the system slowly - effluent pH in the 6.7 range and dKH in the 15 to 17 range - should be pretty easy to do.> Everything I have read suggests that my alk should be much lower. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,  Dick
<Cheers, J -- >

-Calcium additions to a FOWLR-
hey,
like everyone else I need advice. I have a 220g fish only with 220lbs of live rock. I'm starting over after ich and overall bad water I believe. I stepped up to a Euroreef 12-1 skimmer and I'm now prepared to practice religious water changes and good supplementation. the only problem is I'm not sure how to. I've done hours of reading on the internet and Mr. Fenner's book.
<Never heard of him...>
I just cant seem to find a practical application for a large fish only aquarium. I've tried 2 parts and Kalkwasser, without good results. I don't blame the products just the way I used them.
<Are you testing your calcium and alkalinity, finding them low, and then adding this stuff, or are you simply pouring them in looking for results? If you maintain your Ca at 400 or so with a dKH of 8-12 you should have healthy coralline growth.>
anyhow I'm looking for something simple that merely maintains water quality between water changes. I'd rather do more frequent water changes as opposed to everyday supplements.
<With coralline algae as your only large scale calcium user, it is very possible that you could maintain these levels with water changes alone.>
I feel safer with this method and its less tedious. I've been told to only do water changes but don't really trust this method with all the fish I plan to have. so I was thinking of buying some powdered Kalkwasser and mixing in  a airtight container? and then adding it to my 2.5g Kent dripper and allowing to constantly drip into my system. then adding a buffer when necessary. what do you think of this? is it to simple?
<You need to test your Ca and alk to decide if you need to add any. Using Kalkwasser in the method you described for some/most/all of your top-off water should give you good results.>
any ideas of how, much often? and if I do this should I do more water changes more often?
<Like I said, your test kits will tell you when you need more. Good luck! -Kevin>
thanks  Brandon

Sand Question II - clumping aragonite 6/15/03
Thanks for the reply Anthony.  
<always welcome my friend>
I have the sump return with an Iwaki MD40LXT( 1200 GPH ), closed loop thanks to you with a Velocity T4 ( 1225 GPH ), and a RIO 2100 for the chiller ( around 400 GPH or so ), taking into consideration curves, turns, etc., I would guess about close to 1800 GPH total, and this is in a 90Gallon tank, so I shouldn't be having much problems with flow.  
<agreed... excellent turnover>
I do pour the slurry into the main display right where one of the close loop outlets is.  Could I be doing it too quick.
<yes.. it could be that simple. Let me suggest that you just use a larger volume of water to make your slurry and/or dose just a bit slower.>
It is about a measuring "CUP" worth of RO water, stirred briefly and poured in over a period of about 45 seconds or so.  Is this correct?
<does sound fine... nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps split the dose in two parts separated by minutes or an hour or so. In tanks with vigorous coral growth in time, two or more slurry shots in a day are sometimes required naturally when a Calcium reactor is not available or desired>
Thanks Paul
<best regards, Anthony>

Kalkwasser Slurry 6/11/03
I was reading the slurried Kalkwasser method described in Anthony's Book of Coral Propagation. When he says you take a small amount whisked briefly in a cup of cold purified water. Is that mixture poured directly in to the tank or is it dripped in?
<its poured right in, mate... but it must be coordinated with the pH meter so as not to spike the system more than .1-.2  We have a good bit of information on this topic too in our FAQs. Do a keyword search from our homepage at www.wetwebmedia.com using the google search tool at the bottom of the page for "Kalkwasser slurry". Much to browse with the links/hits. Kind regards, Anthony>

"A rose by any other name...": Calcium oxide & hydroxide
A friend of my ask me about use calcium oxide instead Calcium hydroxide.  I look into catalog an it says that Calcium hydroxide is Calcium oxide hydrated... so... it is possible to use calcium oxide?? thanks
<indeed, my friend. You may exchange it freely and enjoy essentially the same benefits. Best regards, Anthony>

Kalkwasser Slurry redux 5/14/03
Over the past few weeks I have been topping off with Kalkwasser in my reef tank.  This will bring my pH to around 8.3 in the early morning hours. Later that day the pH will drop back to 8.0 to 8.1.  
<Doh! Something is not quite right here bub. pH climbs higher during the day. Are you mistaken in the script here... or is this so? If so... do consider what might be causing this>
I have read about keeping a window open to help with this.  
<yes... CO2 accumulation>
I have tried this somewhat.  But have not seen where this has helped.  
<besides the open window... be sure there is a flow of air through the house (i.e.- open door to room... passive venting to the attic fan/ridge vent, etc). Else the open window is limited in efficacy. Confirm by testing a glass of water before and after heavy aeration in a well ventilated area (outside, the garage, etc). If you get a pH rise there... CO2 is a culprit>
My need for higher ph is for the Xenias I have in my tank.  I would love to provide them a constant pH of 8.3-8.4.
<agreed>
My question is, What is the likely hood that suppressed magnesium levels would cause this.  
<mild>
I am going today to buy test kit and supplement for magnesium.  Do you have any recommendations on which ones work well.
<I like Seachem's brand just fine for hobby grade... LaMotte or HACH for quality>
Thank you so much for all the information you guys have provided through your website.
<our pleasure>
I have been looking on the site for exact directions on the Kalkwasser slurry method.  The only information I find on this is that it is in the propagation book.  Is there anywhere else to find this, or is this a hint to buy the book?
<no worries... not a hint at all... we are anti-capitalists ;) The passage from my book was excerpted and is in the archives. Look here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/kalkh20faq2.htm
its in a reply titled "Kalkwasser Slurry Method" about 3/4 down the page. I found it just now by using the google search tool on the home page... with a keyword search of "Kalkwasser slurry excerpt". Do use the search tool often to refine your searches of our broad website.>
Again thanks Chuck
<kind regards, Anthony>

Kalk message
 Cheers, Don :) > I have a person who is dosing 1 ½ tsp of Kalk daily > with a pH spike of > .22  A few questions: Okey-dokey >  > 1) Isn’t this an extreme amount of Kalk to be > adding? (I guess I am > assuming they are using the slurry method based on > the wording) depends on the size of the tank and more importantly, the actual daily demand for calcium (the true/only limiting factor). If this is a 150 gall + sized tank with live rock then it does not sound like that much at all. > 2) While high, the .22 pH spike is OK? .1-.2 is safe... over .2 is pushing ones luck indeed > 3) Is it necessary to maintain reef like alk/calcium > parameters in a FOWLR? Yes... of course. These fishes come from the same waters as corals (reef animals collectively). Our ambition is to maintain reef quality water/stability. What is not needed for reef fishes or reef corals is the insanely high and unnatural levels advocated by the SPS coral nuts in particular (over 12 dKH or over 425ppm Ca)   > Same person asked about a copper fresh water dip. > OK? Would the > concentration of copper in a fresh dip be the same > as treating a > hospital tank? I really don't think it would be especially helpful. Methylene blue or Formalin have been shown to be much more effective BTW, I already recommended Methylene > Blue, but that > didn’t seem to click. No worries... all good :) Kind regards, Anthony

RE: Regal tang in QT
Some more questions on my regal tang still in quarantine, if you don't mind.
He is not scratching himself at all anymore, he is eating vigorously, and is less shy, still a bit skittish.  There is still one small white spot on his side.  I have noticed a spot at the base of his pectoral fin.  5mm in diameter, white in the center, grey on the outside.  It does not look like flukes, I have found nothing on your site that positively identifies it, it appears to have gotten smaller over the past week.  Other then the 4 freshwater dips (9 min.s) that I have given him what else should I do, could it just be a permanent scar?  By the way nitrite is now down to 0.  I have heard of giving a 4 min copper dip in fresh water to help get rid of external parasites.  Is this a good idea, if so, how much copper and how many times should I do it?
< Copper is very poisonous to the animal and the trick is to find the amount that will kill the parasite and not the fish! Too much of a gamble for me. From your description the spot (probably a parasite) is getting smaller? I would continue the current course of using FW dip and add Methylene blue or formalin. Stay away from the copper for now>
One other unrelated question.  My 90 gallon FOWLR tank has 170 pounds of LR.  I dose with Kalk everyday.  In order to dose the proper amount of Kalk to sustain calcium at 380 meq/l, I have to dose 1 and a half teaspoons.  My alk is at 11 dKH.  This causes my ph to go from 8.16 to 8.40.  Is this too big of a jump?  If so what should I do, dose twice per day?  I really don't want to do that, but will do what is required.  Thanks again for all your hard work answering our questions.
<Yes .24 pH jump is extreme. Dosing twice daily or using Kalk in a lesser dose and some other calcium supplement would work. Good luck with your tank, it will be a beauty. Don>

- Dosing Kalkwasser -
I add Kalk to my top off. When I refill my top off bucket do I need to wash out all of the Kalk that is left on the bottom of the bucket before I refill my top off? <Not on a daily basis, but certainly every so often.> I have just been putting in 1tsp per gallon then filling the bucket and let it settle. I know the Kalk is only effective for about a week but I was wondering if the white crap just keeps building up and eventually needs to be cleaned out? <Both... the white craps does build up and it does need to be cleaned out.>
Shaun Nelson
<Cheers, J -- >

- Kalkwasser & Calcium Reactor Question -
Greetings :-)))
<And hello to you, JasonC here...>
My KH and Ca was quite low (8 dKH & 400mg/l)), even when I was using CalciumReact. <I don't regard either of those as being critically low.> so I've decided to drip Kalkwasser > good decision??? <As long as you are careful.> After dripping, my KH rinsed to 10 dKH and Ca was still 400 - I'm happy about KH and Ca, I think that they are on good level. <They were fine before.> My question is: Will using Kalkwasser and Calcium Reactor may cause problems (e.g.. snowfall)? <Could, if you're not careful.>  - I'm dripping very slowly... Another question quite off-topic: why when my ca was quite low (400), <400 is not low.> the KH was also low (8dkH)??? I though that when KH is low Ca is high... <Not necessarily - both can be lower.> - It is a new tank with 2 corals so these elements aren't VERY needed... And now when KH rinsed Ca is still 400 - why??? <400 is a good number, I wouldn't worry about it.>
Off-topic: Will +0.04 pH raise in 1 hour is harmful? <No.>
THX for answer
<Cheers, J -- >

- Kalkwasser & Calcium Reactors -
hello,
<And hello to you...>
sorry for wasting your time :-) <'tis not a waste.>
simple question:
May using both Kalkwasser and calcium reactor cause any problems? <Only if you're not careful.> (I've read that it's not good... > low Mg) <I've not read this myself, but again... anything added to a tank should be tested for before addition - in other words, don't dump in a bunch of Kalkwasser without testing first.>
If yes what kind of troubles? <Calcium precipitation.>
Will connection CalciumReactor + CalciumMixer be good? <Again... testing will determine what you're missing/needing.>
Can I use Kalkwasser all time or it's not good for a long term? <If you are using a calcium reactor, then you shouldn't need to add Kalkwasser very often, and daily would be too much.>
THX VERY MUCH
PETER
off-topic:
My xenia is in place where water flow is quite strong (she likes it). But water makes 'roller-coaster' to her and she is 'twisting' in all directions > is it good? <Would probably be better with a little less current.
Cheers, J -- >

- Dosing Kalkwasser in a Small Tank -
Sirs/Madams,
<Good evening, JasonC here...>
Is a 30 gallon reef tank too small to attempt using Kalkwasser? <If not too small, certainly on the small edge of small... I'd be very careful.> I have been using two part Bionic for months with fair success. I have no sump so would have to dose directly into the tank. <If you must, use very small doses, and monitor the pH like a hawk.>
Thanks
<Cheers, J -- >

Sump Dosing -
hi. thanks for taking my ? can I dose c02 along w/ Kalk in a sump with a skimmer  Bill.
<What would be your purpose for doing so? J -- >

Adding Kalk Slurry - 4/9/03
I just started using Kalk in my 90 gallon FOWLR tank, and I tried the "slurry method". <Cool I personally employ this method as I have relatively small tanks>  I mix about half a teaspoon of Kalk with cold RO water. <I do about the same in a gallon of cold RO water>  I mix it for about 1 min.  Then I add it to my main display. <That is correct>  Do I have to add it to my main display? <You don't have to if you want to add it to your sump>  What is wrong with adding it to the sump, the chamber that contains the main return pump? <Nothing wrong with it. Have you looked through our FAQs on this? http://www.wetwebmedia.com/kalkwasser.htm Have you tried the forums as well?> Also, every time I add the slurry there is some small white chunks of undissolved Kalk.  Is this dangerous to the fish? <I do not believe so. Maybe more a mixing issue??????>  Is there any way to avoid this? <Try mixing it a little longer and stir very well>  Or is it just an aesthetic issue? <Probably more of the latter.>
Thanks in advance for your much appreciated reply. <My pleasure. Please read through the link above and grab a book or two. Now.... somewhere someone here wrote a book with lots of very useful information related to this subject and many more......hmmmmmm oh, there are two authors here that have written books?......<VBG> Seriously though, thanks for your question. Knowledge is power and you are well on your way. Good day. Paul>

Mixing Kalkwasser
When mixing a bucket of Kalkwasser, if using a pump to do so, how long should it be mixed for and should it ever periodically be re-mixed through out the week? Thanks. Justin  
<Well, Justin, I think that you should follow Anthony's Kalkwasser "slurry" method, where an appropriate amount of Kalkwasser is mixed up in a cup of cold water just before use, creating a "shot" of Kalk that can be dosed all at one time before the lights in your tank come on. There is a bit more to it than that (as far as determining how much to use), but it's really an easy technique. Sure, you can mix it up ahead of time, but I would not mix up a week's worth; rather, I'd just mix up a few day's "supply" of Kalkwasser. And Frankly, I wouldn't give it another "stir" once it's been dissolved. Just use the clear Kalkwasser near the top of the bucket. HTH. Regards, Scott F>

Using Kalkwasser:
Hello guys:
I am having problems in my tank water. this is bugging me so much that I must solve this problem right now. And pls help:
Since my tank started up, I am having troubles keeping appropriate water conditions.. namely alk and pH, now Ca.
I do frequently change water, and add additives. This is how the story goes:
First I was notice that my pH tends to be low, (8.0-8.05 during day
time. ) also my Alk is low (2.2meq) , so I went out and bought some buffer from SeaChem. I use the manufacturer's dosage but cannot keep up, the pH is still low, rises a little like 8.30 then drop rapidly down.
<Are you just testing pH? How about carbonate alk which is also raised with buffer and carbonate supplements? pH is going to fluctuate some, lower in AM and higher at night before lights go off. Dripping Kalk, calcium reactors or well established refugiums on opposing photoperiod will stabilize pH due to carbon dioxide/oxygen content. Also test magnesium. Should be three times normal calcium (calcium 380-425 magnesium 1200-1300). Add carbonate/buffer to maintain alk at 3.5 - 5 meq/l. This is not the same as pH.>
I finished the bottle and do not know what to do.
<Stop your fixation with pH and focus on overall water chemistry. This will help. Read Anthony's great article on calcium and alkalinity at WetWebMedia.com. There is much there for you my friend.>
Then I email you guys and baking soda was tried. When I added the baking soda, the pH lowered. That drive me crazy because I am a biochemistry student and I know that baking soda should raise pH of water. I tried to mix the baking soda in my tap water, it do the same thing. Lowered pH???
<You need a complete testing of your water (not by the LFS, but by a company that can give you a complete assay, esp. of hardness mineral content which may be causing you problems. STOP adding baking soda, this is simply MORE carbonate, which by now is completely saturated. You may have such minerals in your tap water. I suggest several large water changes with RO/DI water to try to get back to normal ionic balance, then use of buffer WITH TESTING of carbonate alkalinity to verify need (NOT pH). Add carbonate/buffer and Calcium/Kalkwasser at different times or on different days altogether to prevent cross-reaction suppression. This is true of two part (A&B) additives as well. Also magnesium *by test/use*. Maintain normal params of 3.5 to 5 meq/L alk, 400 calcium, 1200 magnesium. Test each separately and dose separately as needed. Read Anthony's article for best ways to supplement calcium, carbonates and magnesium.>
Then without any directions, I noticed some of my aragonite has gone hard, I ask around and people told me that the Mg is depleted, and the Ca and carbonate drop out of solutions and form limestone. that was why no matter how much I added supplement, the parameter more or less the same.  So I added a bunch of Mg additives, and WM pH buffer and to raise my Ca, I use Liquid Ca,,, and measurement is Ca=280, Mg=950, pH 8.15-8.18 and Alk=3.2meq. then I emailed you guys and ask, crew told me my water is out of balance, and ask if I will stop adding supplements for 2 weeks and do a massive H2O change. I did, I change 60-70 gallons
of water, and the results are still the same, the new seawater have the Ca=400, Alk=3.6-4 meq, and Ph=8.03!!!! that is not right!!! However I did the water change.
<No mention of magnesium presently. Maintain as above. (1200-1300)Follow testing/use and dosing directions carefully by volume. Do not overdose and only add according to actual need. I'm not a big fan of liquid calcium, but get calcium to 380-400. Read up on Kalkwasser use thereafter.>
And since then, I tried following a strict guideline, and try use part AB additives for a week. However  I have the following results, the Ca drop by 20 ppm, and ALK falls. pH remains or falls a little lowered. This is all not making sense to me!!!!
<Why? The dose is simply insufficient to make up for use with two part additives, which are notoriously weak, esp. if not dosed at least 12 hours apart. The label dose is not likely to replace actual use.  Go with separate powdered additives like Seachem in larger quantities (bulk) for larger tanks (a 125 will break the bank on two parters). Follow dosing on label exactly according to tests.>
What can I do?? something must be wrong and I do not know what.
<Add what is needed, separately. Stop fixating on pH. Calcium, alkalinity and magnesium seem to be major concerns.>
Here are my concerns:
How do I suppose to correct this imbalance??
People in LFS are not using RO, but they are ok with the water, so I think the tap water is not the main problem.. however, a low pH after mixing sea salt is very confusing.. fresh sea mix water should have a good pH.. Like 8.3. why??
<Did you get gas laws in biochemistry Eric? What happens to gasses in water under pressure? They dissolve (like the bubbles in coke) into the water and take some time to get released/balanced with the atmosphere (like when you pop open a coke or after you aerate your water for 12-24 hours). I would test your salt mix after 12-24 hours of aeration and add supplements separately, according to tests.>
Should I try using CaOH2??? I have a them on hand but afraid to use in my already imbalance system.
<Read Anthony's article, it will help you immeasurably>
Pls help!!!!! Very very frustrated because of imbalanced water and sick fish all the time... Sincerely, Eric
<I hope this helps Eric.  Craig>

Dosing Kalkwasser slurry 3/21/03
I have been following the "Slurry method" of dosing Kalkwasser and have been using cold freshwater when mixing, my question is can I mix the Kalkwasser with cold water from my tank? The reason behind this is I have an automatic freshwater top off for evaporation that is supplied from my Deionizer unit and with adding more fresh water every time I dose Kalk my salinity has began to drop. Would this still be safe/effective if using salt water. Thanks
<likely fine, but not a great habit I suspect (risk of precip. in mix water at least). For how very little water is required to make a slurry, I can't imagine the SG strays quickly at all. Certainly not within the time frame of a necessary water change (weekly or monthly). Else the slurry is being ameliorated to generously, or the tank is small and being overdosed. My advice is to use freshwater and make up the small difference with the next water change. Heck, just salt creep alone surely affects salinity more (and even then not much). Good question, my friend... but no worries. Kind regards, Anthony>