Supplementing Calcium.

[Mandarin333]

I've been using kalkwasser and turbocalcium and am wondering if it would be
better to use a two part additive? Anyone got a recommendation for a good
calcium additive?

TIA -M333

[L8N DEB]

Bite the bullet and get a calcium reactor. I did the kalk, calcium, and alk
routine for alot of years. I got a calcium reactor and I don't have to screw
with it now. Best investment I've made on the tank in awhile.

[Phil Krasnostein]

I use Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium. I add it once a week and it seems to
be fine.

Phil

"Mandarin333" > wrote in message
...
> I've been using kalkwasser and turbocalcium and am wondering if it would
be
> better to use a two part additive? Anyone got a recommendation for a good
> calcium additive?
>
> TIA -M333

[Simon O'Keeffe]

I've dripped kalk for 10 years it works great and takes almost no time
at all.
I'd go for a calcium carbonate reactor if I was to change, I don;t see
how using a 2 part additive is any easier than a teaspoon of kalk per
gallon when you replace evaporated water.
You still need to top off the fresh water anyway so I can't see how
adding a teaspoon of kalk to this before use is hard.
I have never waited for the solution to clear, I just use it straight
away but drip it very slowly.
It cost me $3.50 aust per year for kalk for a 1000 litre system, I don't
have any imbalances and my levels are right on NSW (alk is slightly
elevated), so I find it difficult to spend 100 years worth of kalk on a
reactor, when I have no real dramas with kalk? On going costs of CO2 gas
and bottle hire etc aside kalk is so much cheaper there is no comparison.
BTW I use builders lime, from the hardware store, it's real cheap $7 per
20kg bag (20kg is like 45 pounds).
It's also called hydrated lime.

Simon

Mandarin333 wrote:

>I've been using kalkwasser and turbocalcium and am wondering if it would be
>better to use a two part additive? Anyone got a recommendation for a good
>calcium additive?
>
>TIA -M333
>
>

[L8N DEB]

Simon, your right. If you don't mind spending time mixing the solution, in
my case, waiting for it to settle, dosing, and testing. Me, I prefer to spend
my time admiring my tank, or riding my bike, or any other enjoyable activity. I
like a low maintenance tank.
Please do not take this as a knock on the way you have achieved your goal
of a successful tank. I just like the convience of not having to hassle any of
that but twice a year. It was $$$ well spent in my case.

[david]

> BTW I use builders lime, from the hardware store, it's real cheap $7 per
> 20kg bag (20kg is like 45 pounds).
> It's also called hydrated lime.
>
> Simon
Thanks for that Simon I have spent many hours looking for pickling lime in
the stores here in the UK.
I was using Hydrated lime last year mixed in mortar to colour match the
existing brick work. As you say it
cost very little for a very big bag from Jewsons or any other builders
merchant.
But what is so strange is I was given a 3 foot tall Co2 cylinder from
the pub landlord the other day to
build a calcium reactor with..


anythanks for the name for cheap kalk


David :-)

[Pszemol]

"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message ...
> BTW I use builders lime, from the hardware store, it's real cheap $7 per
> 20kg bag (20kg is like 45 pounds).
> It's also called hydrated lime.

Is it really clean enough to use in a reef tank?
People are freaking out for salt-makers not using the cleanest salts,
and you use dirty stuff designed for building homes and you are ok!

[Simon O'Keeffe]

No problems if I had heaps of spare cash to splash around I'd get a
reactor set up too.
How do you top off FW though, Unless you have an auto topoff then I
can;t see how it takes more than 30 seconds to add a teaspoon of kalk
before you top of f the FW.

I agree that tank maintenance is not fun, this is why I spend less than
15 mins per month on all my tanks.
I'm probably too slack, but I just don;t have much spare time these
days, and when I do I'd prefer to frag corals than screw around cleaning
skimmers etc.
I can;t believe some of the pains I used to go through for my tank, if
only I knew then what I know now I;d have even more tanks (hehe).
Simon
L8N DEB wrote:

> Simon, your right. If you don't mind spending time mixing the solution, in
>my case, waiting for it to settle, dosing, and testing. Me, I prefer to spend
>my time admiring my tank, or riding my bike, or any other enjoyable activity. I
>like a low maintenance tank.
> Please do not take this as a knock on the way you have achieved your goal
>of a successful tank. I just like the convience of not having to hassle any of
>that but twice a year. It was $$$ well spent in my case.
>
>

[L8N DEB]

>How do you top off FW

I built a Nurce unit. Fill it and don't have to worry for 5 - 7 days.

[Simon O'Keeffe]

Yeah heaps of us Aussies use Builders lime.
No problems so far, I've used many kg of the stuff.
It's probably exactly the same as the seachem stuff, just without the cost.
I don't know of anyone over here who uses lime from the LFS anymore.
$66/kg compared to 40c/kg.
YMMV as per usual.
Simon


Pszemol wrote:

>"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message ...
>
>
>>BTW I use builders lime, from the hardware store, it's real cheap $7 per
>>20kg bag (20kg is like 45 pounds).
>>It's also called hydrated lime.
>>
>>
>
>Is it really clean enough to use in a reef tank?
>People are freaking out for salt-makers not using the cleanest salts,
>and you use dirty stuff designed for building homes and you are ok!
>
>

[Rod]

how long would it take to toss in a few spoons of kalk powder and stir it up?
maybe 60 seconds?

>
>>How do you top off FW
>
>I built a Nurce unit. Fill it and don't have to worry for 5 - 7 days.
>
>

[Phil Krasnostein]

Simon

Is it exactly the same as the Seachem additive? Do you add it at the same
rate?

Phil

"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
...
> Yeah heaps of us Aussies use Builders lime.
> No problems so far, I've used many kg of the stuff.
> It's probably exactly the same as the seachem stuff, just without the
cost.
> I don't know of anyone over here who uses lime from the LFS anymore.
> $66/kg compared to 40c/kg.
> YMMV as per usual.
> Simon
>
>
> Pszemol wrote:
>
> >"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
...
> >
> >
> >>BTW I use builders lime, from the hardware store, it's real cheap $7 per
> >>20kg bag (20kg is like 45 pounds).
> >>It's also called hydrated lime.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Is it really clean enough to use in a reef tank?
> >People are freaking out for salt-makers not using the cleanest salts,
> >and you use dirty stuff designed for building homes and you are ok!
> >
> >
>

[L8N DEB]

> Yes, I have had a few DIY versions that I used to drip kalk through.
>
>>Are you familar with the nurce design? It's not meant for any additive

How did you do the maintenance on it to clean the inside?

[Simon O'Keeffe]

Yeah it's the same stuff Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide.
As it;s s cheap I tend to add more so there is definitely some
precipitation of Calcium carbonate, however the chemical make up is the
same (just apparently a less pure form of Calcium hydroxide is used in
builders lime, but IME it make no difference to the quality of the mixed
kalk.
Give it a go.
Simon

Phil Krasnostein wrote:

>Simon
>
>Is it exactly the same as the Seachem additive? Do you add it at the same
>rate?
>
>Phil
>
>"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>>Yeah heaps of us Aussies use Builders lime.
>>No problems so far, I've used many kg of the stuff.
>>It's probably exactly the same as the seachem stuff, just without the
>>
>>
>cost.
>
>
>>I don't know of anyone over here who uses lime from the LFS anymore.
>>$66/kg compared to 40c/kg.
>>YMMV as per usual.
>>Simon
>>
>>
>>Pszemol wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
>>>
>>>
...
>
>
>>>
>>>
>>>>BTW I use builders lime, from the hardware store, it's real cheap $7 per
>>>>20kg bag (20kg is like 45 pounds).
>>>>It's also called hydrated lime.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Is it really clean enough to use in a reef tank?
>>>People are freaking out for salt-makers not using the cleanest salts,
>>>and you use dirty stuff designed for building homes and you are ok!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>

[Rod]

>How did you do the maintenance on it to clean the inside?
>
>

muratic acid