Not new to reefing but in the process of switching from All for Reef to a combination of kalkwasser stirrer dosing at night and calcium reactor during the day. New subscriber to your channel and I gotta say, you present everything so thoroughly and clearly. Catch you on your next live chat!
Hi Alex. Great video. Both you and Brstv have convinced me to go back to Kalkwasser after not using it for over 5 years. I’ve been using the TM balling salts for years now except with soda ash in place of Part B. As a result pH has never been a problem for me but I have a very large system with a lot of evaporation and I now just think why add RO water when I can add limewater instead and save money by adding less of the TM Balling salts. 👍
Hi Alex, I'm in the uk as well and the purest kalk I managed to find is from a website called apc pure.... it also gives you the chemical breakdown so you actually know what's in it.... I've been using it for the last 6 months or so
I put on a CO2 scrubber 2 days ago. Goodbye Kalkwasser! When using Kalk I had a 10 liter per day evaporation rate feeding the stirrer with top-off RODI and its effect on PH was negligible. CO2 scrubber went on and its pegged at 8.2 day and night. I have never seen that before except on my first tank the day after I mixed my first water ever. Now to see what happens when I start the calcium reactor, Desk Taco, er, DeStaco. My small tank in the same room, no reactor and regular water changes, swings from 7.8 to 8.0 max. Two ideas. 1. Our home it tight and energy costs means its closed in cold seasons. 2. We live in the valley near the river so perhaps CO2 levels are moderately higher than on the upper plain. Its not a gradual valley but a cut in the land with vertical cliff faces and lots of industry all along the way. Anyway, I'm kind of excited to see how things will go with PH in the green area for the first time in spite of having roaring success with 7.9 chronically. I was removing 8" heads of Acro Millipora every six months. Only the Millipora grew that fast. I see frags from my hand outs in several stores. When I dismantle a tank I give my corals to my favorite stores. It feels better than selling them at 5 pennies to the dollar.
I've also just started dosing kalk as per Chris from ati's reccomendations, I've been mixing the kalk solution up to its maximum saturation level of 12.44PH rather than 6g per gallon per say. I think you need to get Chris on and do a live stream video chat 😉
You should try phosphate rx to bring your p04 down. Managed to bring mine down from 0.5 to 0.05 over a few days, currently dosing a drop or 2 per day and testing with the phosphorus tests it seems to be leaching from the sand or rocks still. Just starting to work with kalk today so here's hoping, switching over from all for reef gradually.
@ReefDork, I’m just starting my Kalk journey. I watched all your videos on Kalk. Question: I usually drill a small hole in the lids of my dosing containers as I was told it eliminates a vacuum effect. Is that small hole okay if you are using the container for Kalk?
@@ReefDork thanks for the reply. I must say Kalk is awesome. Before Kalk my PH was only hitting 8 and the low was 7.7. Now I’m at 8.2. Wow, what a difference. Thanks for the great videos on Kalk. They were helpful for a Kalk newbie like me!
Reef dork you have spoken about kalkwasser so much im now going through you videos on the topic will dose kalk effect my alkalinity because i use red sea coral pro salt and the alk is high at around 11.5 and can i just mix it in a tube and pour a bit in the aquairum morning and night to start with
hey man, couldn't catch the live . good to know about the fuge , you first thought it doesn't have a significant effect . now I really need to incorporate a fuge in my sump . wonder what effect would taking the sand out have on buffering , especially without kalk . still a newbie but learning so much from your journey as well , thanks for sharing man.
The CADE peninsulas don't have the RO reservoir at the back - they have it like a waterbox - plus they are 70cm wide. Now that you have heard that I know you will consider them because with all the media sections and the cable management I think they are actually a very reasonably priced tank. I do like that the RO reservoir is in the back but then again I'm not such a fan of MP pumps
A cryptic zone is another name for an anaerobic environment which would hypothetically support nitrate reducing anaerobic bacteria. In my reading, BRS and other reefers have hypothesized that by using large solid biobricks (like the ones from MarinePure) in the bottom of their sump, they can effectively reduce flow rates and surface area such that anaerobic bacteria are able to colonize the inside of the media and effectively reduce nitrates. I think BRS ran a test on their BRS160 project some number of years ago, and I recall them tearing out all of the media maybe a year or so after but I can't remember the details. I imagine those concerned with the Triton Method, might have successfully implemented a anaerobic or cryptic zone.
For the nitrates would putting the filter roller on a timer do the job? Thus it isn't running 24/7, the roller lasts longer, keep th refugium as the benefits outweigh the other (if there are any) etc?
Unfortunately I am catching up on you video and I do agree that fixed grams is a real measurement, but when you say you have small spoons and large ones overlooks something. A teaspoon is an actual fixed measurement, there are teaspoon measuring 'tools' they generally come as sets and just like Cups the measurement not the utensil it is a fixed quantity. I must tell you though Reef Dork, keep up the great videos this is generally my evening entertainment and update on Fridays. Watching from all the way down in Barbados.
***update** Catastrophic failure.... woke up to 50% of sps peeling, 1000's of dollars. Apparently the dosing line began clogging and the dose amount turned into 1-2 mil per 15min.... ph fell on its face to 7.7 overnight and dkh to 7.9ish Man....this sucks. So currently back to 2 part with another container dosing full saturated kalk water. With ph holding at 8 overnight and 8.2 during the day. dkh at 10... trying to get ph above 8.0 My system 400g...display, two low boys, sump No refugium 8.5-9 dkh, 450 cal, 1450 mag Dosing 2 part 80ml per day Was dosing super saturated kalk with filter canister 7ml per min... ph was finally reaching 8 during the day but still dropping to 7.8 at night. Fully maxed my daily evaporation. Switched to 5 gallon bucket with a powerhead inside to start dosing kalk slurry. 4 gallons ro / 2 cups of kalk = 2% Dosing 10ml per 15min Two mornings in a row ph is 8.1 and daytime is 8.3 Will need to back off my 2part soon, dkh is starting to climb over 9.2 Super excited...🤙
Alex, you seem extremely stressed, this issue has obviously worried the life out of you. Well panic not, youre an amazing chap, certainly one of the top 11 handsomest people I personally know and almost as funny as me. I think you need a side project, something to take your mind of things.... So I'm here to help :) I dont understand... Jecod... they are frying my brain. I want to buy a couple of return pumps for my lovely Red Sea 250 all in one. I'm attracted by their value for money and silentness, but why so many models? MDC, MDP, DCW, DCP, ACQ What does it all mean? DC and sinewave, wow, erm, great. Only someone like you, a hero amongst mere mortals, can dissect this muddle of prefixes and explain before my brain explodes. Stay sane and keep Dorking, or Reefing, or whatever it is :) Regards Phil
🤣 You're a true gent! I've given up trying to work that out though - my dcp and mdc are silent so that's good enough for me. Mdc are wifi akth I can't get that to work!
@@ReefDork Fair enough, like me you have been defeated by a magnitude of letters and confusing prefixes. Well crack on then, there are parameters to measure, fish to feed!
Go to a cooking store or Ikea and get some measuring spoons - 1 teaspoon is 5ml and 1 tablespoon is 20ml (and that is much bigger than your typical dessert spoon) Heaps of great stuff in here
Vibrant may have been the product a few years ago, but I bought mine thru the big Amazo-n online store, then more. Starting with the dosing instruction and never did a thing even after four months still nothing I tripled the amount - nothing, so I started twice a week...Nothing, so I began every other day and still nothing. I first began reefing in 1988 and success with nearly everything. I pretty much know what happens in my tanks, but Vibrant gets a giant 👎👎👎 in my book of Reef keeping.
Vibrant is a product to use with extreme caution. I had a 6 year old SPS tank which crashed shortly after using it. I reckon it killed half the corals over 3 days. I was heartbroken.
Here's the Randy HF article on pH - www.reef2reef.com/ams/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium.7/
Not new to reefing but in the process of switching from All for Reef to a combination of kalkwasser stirrer dosing at night and calcium reactor during the day. New subscriber to your channel and I gotta say, you present everything so thoroughly and clearly. Catch you on your next live chat!
Reef Dork need to add this to Kalkwasser playlist! I was disappointed when I finished episode 2 thinking that was the end!
Thanks for flagging - all fixed now! 5 episodes and a talk with Telegraham about Kalk slurry!
Hi Alex. Great video. Both you and Brstv have convinced me to go back to Kalkwasser after not using it for over 5 years. I’ve been using the TM balling salts for years now except with soda ash in place of Part B. As a result pH has never been a problem for me but I have a very large system with a lot of evaporation and I now just think why add RO water when I can add limewater instead and save money by adding less of the TM Balling salts. 👍
Hi Alex, I'm in the uk as well and the purest kalk I managed to find is from a website called apc pure.... it also gives you the chemical breakdown so you actually know what's in it.... I've been using it for the last 6 months or so
I put on a CO2 scrubber 2 days ago. Goodbye Kalkwasser! When using Kalk I had a 10 liter per day evaporation rate feeding the stirrer with top-off RODI and its effect on PH was negligible. CO2 scrubber went on and its pegged at 8.2 day and night. I have never seen that before except on my first tank the day after I mixed my first water ever. Now to see what happens when I start the calcium reactor, Desk Taco, er, DeStaco. My small tank in the same room, no reactor and regular water changes, swings from 7.8 to 8.0 max. Two ideas. 1. Our home it tight and energy costs means its closed in cold seasons. 2. We live in the valley near the river so perhaps CO2 levels are moderately higher than on the upper plain. Its not a gradual valley but a cut in the land with vertical cliff faces and lots of industry all along the way. Anyway, I'm kind of excited to see how things will go with PH in the green area for the first time in spite of having roaring success with 7.9 chronically. I was removing 8" heads of Acro Millipora every six months. Only the Millipora grew that fast. I see frags from my hand outs in several stores. When I dismantle a tank I give my corals to my favorite stores. It feels better than selling them at 5 pennies to the dollar.
I've also just started dosing kalk as per Chris from ati's reccomendations, I've been mixing the kalk solution up to its maximum saturation level of 12.44PH rather than 6g per gallon per say.
I think you need to get Chris on and do a live stream video chat 😉
You should try phosphate rx to bring your p04 down. Managed to bring mine down from 0.5 to 0.05 over a few days, currently dosing a drop or 2 per day and testing with the phosphorus tests it seems to be leaching from the sand or rocks still.
Just starting to work with kalk today so here's hoping, switching over from all for reef gradually.
@ReefDork, I’m just starting my Kalk journey. I watched all your videos on Kalk.
Question: I usually drill a small hole in the lids of my dosing containers as I was told it eliminates a vacuum effect. Is that small hole okay if you are using the container for Kalk?
Yep, you don't want it to be completely air tight for that reason
@@ReefDork thanks for the reply. I must say Kalk is awesome. Before Kalk my PH was only hitting 8 and the low was 7.7. Now I’m at 8.2. Wow, what a difference. Thanks for the great videos on Kalk. They were helpful for a Kalk newbie like me!
Reef dork you have spoken about kalkwasser so much im now going through you videos on the topic will dose kalk effect my alkalinity because i use red sea coral pro salt and the alk is high at around 11.5 and can i just mix it in a tube and pour a bit in the aquairum morning and night to start with
Yes it will, watch my most recent video for more info on this question
@ReefDork i just got to the bit in this video where you have just said it had a little swing lol
hey man, couldn't catch the live .
good to know about the fuge , you first thought it doesn't have a significant effect . now I really need to incorporate a fuge in my sump . wonder what effect would taking the sand out have on buffering , especially without kalk . still a newbie but learning so much from your journey as well , thanks for sharing man.
Any recommendations on a pump for dosing kalk ( one thats available to buy ) I'm currently using GHL 2.1 85ml evey 30 mins
Check out the Kamoer FX-STP
The CADE peninsulas don't have the RO reservoir at the back - they have it like a waterbox - plus they are 70cm wide. Now that you have heard that I know you will consider them because with all the media sections and the cable management I think they are actually a very reasonably priced tank. I do like that the RO reservoir is in the back but then again I'm not such a fan of MP pumps
A cryptic zone is another name for an anaerobic environment which would hypothetically support nitrate reducing anaerobic bacteria. In my reading, BRS and other reefers have hypothesized that by using large solid biobricks (like the ones from MarinePure) in the bottom of their sump, they can effectively reduce flow rates and surface area such that anaerobic bacteria are able to colonize the inside of the media and effectively reduce nitrates. I think BRS ran a test on their BRS160 project some number of years ago, and I recall them tearing out all of the media maybe a year or so after but I can't remember the details. I imagine those concerned with the Triton Method, might have successfully implemented a anaerobic or cryptic zone.
Ah, I tried that with Siporax a while ago - it was very effective! Too effective in fact...
For the nitrates would putting the filter roller on a timer do the job? Thus it isn't running 24/7, the roller lasts longer, keep th refugium as the benefits outweigh the other (if there are any) etc?
Pretty good idea, that!
@@ReefDork yeah, save on fish food too
Alex, do you run a lot of bio media in your sump? If so maybe consider removing any excess if you want to have less nitrate reduction.
A little Siporax - I removed some a few weeks ago. But I removed most of my chaeto last week and my nitrates have now recovered!
In GB ppl dont use tea spon very often. Its the moste shocking thing I ever heard.
Unfortunately I am catching up on you video and I do agree that fixed grams is a real measurement, but when you say you have small spoons and large ones overlooks something. A teaspoon is an actual fixed measurement, there are teaspoon measuring 'tools' they generally come as sets and just like Cups the measurement not the utensil it is a fixed quantity.
I must tell you though Reef Dork, keep up the great videos this is generally my evening entertainment and update on Fridays. Watching from all the way down in Barbados.
***update**
Catastrophic failure.... woke up to 50% of sps peeling, 1000's of dollars. Apparently the dosing line began clogging and the dose amount turned into 1-2 mil per 15min.... ph fell on its face to 7.7 overnight and dkh to 7.9ish
Man....this sucks. So currently back to 2 part with another container dosing full saturated kalk water. With ph holding at 8 overnight and 8.2 during the day.
dkh at 10... trying to get ph above 8.0
My system
400g...display, two low boys, sump
No refugium
8.5-9 dkh, 450 cal, 1450 mag
Dosing 2 part 80ml per day
Was dosing super saturated kalk with filter canister 7ml per min... ph was finally reaching 8 during the day but still dropping to 7.8 at night. Fully maxed my daily evaporation.
Switched to 5 gallon bucket with a powerhead inside to start dosing kalk slurry. 4 gallons ro / 2 cups of kalk = 2%
Dosing 10ml per 15min
Two mornings in a row ph is 8.1 and daytime is 8.3
Will need to back off my 2part soon, dkh is starting to climb over 9.2
Super excited...🤙
I use 42.6 gram per 5 gallon, max saturation it will have a ph of 12.44 after it clears (24 hrs later)
Hey I wanted to say that Brightwell has a Kalk mixed with Magnesium and strontium and that's what I've been using for the last 2 yrs
Unfortunately Magnesium is insoluble in kalkwasser, it precipitates out. You’re being ripped off.
Hi what’s happen to to kalkwrasser stirer
Couldn't fix it so I've abandoned it 😔
Alex, you seem extremely stressed, this issue has obviously worried the life out of you. Well panic not, youre an amazing chap, certainly one of the top 11 handsomest people I personally know and almost as funny as me. I think you need a side project, something to take your mind of things.... So I'm here to help :)
I dont understand... Jecod... they are frying my brain. I want to buy a couple of return pumps for my lovely Red Sea 250 all in one.
I'm attracted by their value for money and silentness, but why so many models? MDC, MDP, DCW, DCP, ACQ
What does it all mean? DC and sinewave, wow, erm, great.
Only someone like you, a hero amongst mere mortals, can dissect this muddle of prefixes and explain before my brain explodes.
Stay sane and keep Dorking, or Reefing, or whatever it is :)
Regards Phil
🤣 You're a true gent! I've given up trying to work that out though - my dcp and mdc are silent so that's good enough for me. Mdc are wifi akth I can't get that to work!
@@ReefDork Fair enough, like me you have been defeated by a magnitude of letters and confusing prefixes. Well crack on then, there are parameters to measure, fish to feed!
Go to a cooking store or Ikea and get some measuring spoons - 1 teaspoon is 5ml and 1 tablespoon is 20ml (and that is much bigger than your typical dessert spoon)
Heaps of great stuff in here
I said it was 6 grams per gallon.
C:N:P - 106:16:1. It is NOT 1:100. (Carbon to Nitrogen to Phosphorus)
I said it was 6 grams.
Is that 6grams a litre?
@@rafwhitcher679 a gallon.
@@avelinofernandezjr.9341 cheers I guess US gallon?
Vibrant may have been the product a few years ago, but I bought mine thru the big Amazo-n online store, then more. Starting with the dosing instruction and never did a thing even after four months still nothing I tripled the amount - nothing, so I started twice a week...Nothing, so I began every other day and still nothing.
I first began reefing in 1988 and success with nearly everything. I pretty much know what happens in my tanks, but Vibrant gets a giant 👎👎👎 in my book of Reef keeping.
Vibrant is a product to use with extreme caution. I had a 6 year old SPS tank which crashed shortly after using it. I reckon it killed half the corals over 3 days. I was heartbroken.