Kalk in ATO and consumption rate question

Zalick · 02/21/2018, 08:46 AM

I've been reading lots of threads on mixing Kalk in the ATO and haven't found the answer to my question. I have a 100g ATO and I use a an SpectraPure Litermeter pump.

If I saturate my ATO with say 1/2 tsp per gallon of Mrs. Wagers pickling lime, and it dispenses more kalk than my coral consumes, what will the result be?

This is somewhat an academic question as I'm pretty sure my tank will consume it all. I've read that kalk in an ATO is great for maintaining levels but not good for raising levels. This confuses me as what happens if the tank consumes less than is added through the ATO?

nereefpat · 02/21/2018, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zalick

This confuses me as what happens if the tank consumes less than is added through the ATO?

Ca and alk will rise over time in this case.

Saturation is somewhere closer to 2 teaspoons per gallon, fyi.

Zalick · 02/21/2018, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

Ca and alk will rise over time in this case.

Saturation is somewhere closer to 2 teaspoons per gallon, fyi.

Thanks. That's what I assumed.

I assume the rise would be very slow such that its safe to mix in my 100g RO holding tank and let it do its thing? I'd monitor every other day to see how its affecting the tank. Maybe I should start at 1tsp/gal and see the levels?

nereefpat · 02/21/2018, 01:51 PM

Just playing around with the calculator found here:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

It looks like for a 300gallon system that evaporates about 3 gallons a day, if you replaced that with saturated kalk, it would raise dKH about 1 unit.

You may not need any Ca or alk supplementation, however, depending on demand of the system and your water change regimen.

Zalick · 02/21/2018, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

Just playing around with the calculator found here:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

It looks like for a 300gallon system that evaporates about 3 gallons a day, if you replaced that with saturated kalk, it would raise dKH about 1 unit.

You may not need any Ca or alk supplementation, however, depending on demand of the system and your water change regimen.

Thanks for the info! My system is on the lower/medium demand side right now and I change 1% per day with an auto water change system.

bertoni · 02/21/2018, 10:43 PM

1 tsp per gallon is a reasonable place to start. Kalk can increase consumption by raising the pH, so the results of dosing are a bit predictable.

02/21/2018, 08:46 AM	#1
Zalick My reef tanks my wallet Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Portland Posts: 571	Kalk in ATO and consumption rate question I've been reading lots of threads on mixing Kalk in the ATO and haven't found the answer to my question. I have a 100g ATO and I use a an SpectraPure Litermeter pump. If I saturate my ATO with say 1/2 tsp per gallon of Mrs. Wagers pickling lime, and it dispenses more kalk than my coral consumes, what will the result be? This is somewhat an academic question as I'm pretty sure my tank will consume it all. I've read that kalk in an ATO is great for maintaining levels but not good for raising levels. This confuses me as what happens if the tank consumes less than is added through the ATO? __________________ 300g custom acrylic from James 72x36x27, 4 Mitras Lx7 &6 a360, 2 Stream 3s, C2C beananimal. 100g sump, Jebao DCP- 8000 (Vectra M1 died) -> 114w aquauv -> SRO 5000ext , varios8 return Current Tank Info: Me v Dinos - I'm winning for now... Last edited by Zalick; 02/21/2018 at 01:18 PM.

02/21/2018, 01:51 PM	#4
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Just playing around with the calculator found here: http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html It looks like for a 300gallon system that evaporates about 3 gallons a day, if you replaced that with saturated kalk, it would raise dKH about 1 unit. You may not need any Ca or alk supplementation, however, depending on demand of the system and your water change regimen. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

02/21/2018, 10:43 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	1 tsp per gallon is a reasonable place to start. Kalk can increase consumption by raising the pH, so the results of dosing are a bit predictable. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni