Help
hi all! this could be a stupid question but here goes.
to keep my dkh levels up i use a buffer but it swings up and down between tests.and if like recently ive been very very busy elsewhere i missed a test and it fell very low.
what do you use to keep it a constant level? anything auto?
cheeers john
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kh levels
#2 Guest_jacksok_*
Posted 18 May 2009 - 10:38 PM
People tend to use a 'balanced' method that tries to add both alkalinity and calcium in the proportions it gets consumed by the corals/livestock. The options for achieving this are:
Two part additives work fine but become terribly expensive on larger aquariums.
Kalkwasser is cheap but calcium hydroxide is caustic, with a high pH and needs to be used with care. The method is also limited in that the amount of calcium it can add is determined by the evapouration from your aquarium (though it can be boosted using acetic acid / vinegar). To automate you'd need a kalkwasser stirrer and an auto-top up for the aquarium.
Balling requires a set of dosing pumps and controllers, connected to reservoirs with solutions of calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate (you can add magnesium dosing to this methodology as well if you like).
Calcium reactor requires, CO2 cylinder, gas regulator, the reactor, and ideally a dosing pump and pH controller as well.
Each works, and each has its fans.
HTH
Keith
- two part additives - e.g. Brightwell Reef Code A & B
- 'Balling' method - precise dosing of individual carbonate and calcium solutions to match their consumption in the aquarium
- kalkwasser (saturated calcium hydroxide solution) - to replace evapouration. or
- a calcium reactor - using CO2 to dissolve calcium carbonate into the aquarium water.
Two part additives work fine but become terribly expensive on larger aquariums.
Kalkwasser is cheap but calcium hydroxide is caustic, with a high pH and needs to be used with care. The method is also limited in that the amount of calcium it can add is determined by the evapouration from your aquarium (though it can be boosted using acetic acid / vinegar). To automate you'd need a kalkwasser stirrer and an auto-top up for the aquarium.
Balling requires a set of dosing pumps and controllers, connected to reservoirs with solutions of calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate (you can add magnesium dosing to this methodology as well if you like).
Calcium reactor requires, CO2 cylinder, gas regulator, the reactor, and ideally a dosing pump and pH controller as well.
Each works, and each has its fans.
HTH
Keith
#3
Kevang 
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Posted 19 May 2009 - 07:34 AM
Thats it in a nutshell above 
I used to use Kalk, then Bio calcium but when that got to expensive (as coral demand grew) I went over to a calcium reactor.
Everything is stable now with only slight variation as the media level drops in the reactor.
Cheers
Kev
I used to use Kalk, then Bio calcium but when that got to expensive (as coral demand grew) I went over to a calcium reactor.
Everything is stable now with only slight variation as the media level drops in the reactor.
Cheers
Kev
Tankless at the moment :-(
Hopefully not long to wait
Hopefully not long to wait
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