I’ve wasted a lot of money over the years watching some of these videos. Glad the real facts are coming out now. Watched the pH video posted a little bit ago and it was rather jaw dropping to say the least.
Just finished watching a BRS video explaining why adding kalkwasser to my ATO is a great idea. Now I’m watching a BRS video why it’s a terrible idea. Cool. A+ credibility.
Did you notice there was a 6 year gap between the videos? This is progress as everyone thought kalk in the ATO was the way to go and now BRS is saying we screwed up and won't recommend that.
I had an awesome talk with Jack Kent yesterday about the value of using kalkwasser to raise coralline growth in tanks with dead rock to aid in establishing helpful bacteria yesterday. I can't wait to try it!
How can a new tank need kakl when its not consuming alkalinty and calcium yet? I have anew tank and nothing wants to grow in it! I have only tried zoas but they keep dying off seems like its because of diatom growths smothering polyps!
Kalkwasser + calcium reactor worked for me for a very long time but I switched to DIY All-for-Reef + recirculating CO2 scrubber modded skimmer last year and I believe I've finally found the perfect dosing method. Can't beat the simplicity and ease of AFR + CO2 scrubber mod skimming at maintaining Ca/Mg/Alk and pH
@@jdamommio Not much to it. Tropic Marin's All for Reef is a calcium/magnesium/alk solution. It also has trace elements. It's an all-in-one solution minus the sodium, so it doesn't raise salinity so you don't have to balance that later on. BRS has a CO2 scrubber mod for skimmers which makes it so that it only scrubs the air circulating through the skimmer/in your tank water instead of wasting the media on air in your house. These two implemented together take care of your dosing needs and pH, which are imo the most important parameters to balance and maintain in reefing. Ask away if you have any more questions. ***I would suggest DIYing carbo-calcium + magnesium solution without the trace elements if your tank is sub 1 year or isn't wall to wall coral yet.***
Just to clarify, All for Reef isn't the cheapest solution to larger volume tanks, but the DIY is much less costly. BRS also has you covered on the recipe just search the channel.
@@Atalantum I have a 36 bowfront with very little room under the tank can i fit a scrubber. Where do I find out more info on this and do use kalk in an ato or a doser? I run bare bones now. Everything by hand because of space issues but maybe I can make some room in closet nex t to the tank. Couldnt I use kalk in ato if I hook up my senye that has a ph alert? Also get a good ato with mutiple redundancy! I get no help from hubby so being a woman also makes it hard one of the reasons I do it all by hand!
@@jennanation6992 Hi Jenna. If you have a skimmer you can probably just fit a scrubber by putting Tupperware filled with scrubber media on top of the collection cup. There are videos on how to do this by other UA-camrs. However, I have discontinued scrubber use and now dose kalkwasser along with all-for-reef. I find that the kalkwasser elevates my pH and so there is no need for the scrubber media. I dose saturated kalkwasser with a GHL 2.1 doser.
Great video - disappointed to hear that the ATO isn't a great place for Kalkwasser. I've been using it for 3-4 full ATO refills and 2 doses. I've noticed coraline algae increasing on my rocks like crazy since adding it to the ATO. With a 20 gallon nano and a 5 gallon ATO, it has made things very easy and my levels so far have been fantastic. That being said, I think the investment in an Apex would be great for monitoring and dosing. Time to start saving - hopefully I can implement the Apex soon!
I want to start with my nano too . Did you have any alkalinity swings? i am so confused because this makes it seem easy until they got to max saturation. I dont get how eveyones tank would need the same amout or saturation! I need coraline bad! I am having diatoms and its smothering my zosa and killing them and one tank had coraline grow on frags racks and it stoped but another tank wont grow coraline!
I love the video topic as I was just doing extra research on which reactor to save up for. But I am also quite taken with that background tank, Very pretty. TY for the tips.
Sooo guys thanks... I just started brs kalkwasser today and mixed it into my 25gal brute bucket ato... wish I had seen this first... now the decision is do I dump my ato or just let it play out and then go to a doser :( ugg... that all aside thanks for all your work on these it is appreciated
You can absolutely use it in your ATO if you use a gravity ATO that is controlled by a float valve(not switch). As it will constantly be the same evaporation rate and return rate with gravity fed systems.
@@gagedraper2086 don’t know but it’s helping my PH. I use a dose pump to pump it in and works great. Reducing 2 part usage and dose the same amount of kalk each day. :)
hola. me compre un reactor de kalkwasser y una kamoer continua, mi pregunta es; cuanto tengo q poner de kalkwasser en el reactor para manter el ph?( lo quiero usar solo para estabilizar el ph )
What is you live in fl and dont evap much? I havnt hooked up my ato yet because both my 20 gallons dosnt evap much so Is it possible that I won't need my ato and kalk solution is enough? I only have 1 week left to return it LOL Is there a way to hook up a ph controller to an ato? Is there anytime that its smarter to use ato with kalk? I had a controller in my kart and you sold out LOL
If I add a couple fans facing the top of my water either on my aquarium or sump, will that help with carbon dioxide? Opening up a window is not an option as there are no windows around
Kalk will not maintain your magnesium, so if you water changes aren't getting the job done in terms of maintaining magnesium, you'll want to use a separate magnesium supplement like our BRS magnesium mix. www.bulkreefsupply.com/magnesium-mix-for-general-adjustments-bulk-reef-supply.html
@BRS. would a pH probe not give you the same information as the conductivity probe if all you want to know is if the potency is decreasing? ie, it the ph falls below 10, time to add more kalk powder to the stirr?
I actually have my PH running at night lows to around 8.0 daytime PH gets to 8.3 and I run a calcium reactor. I know most people doesn’t have this issue. Would my PH get to high if i dosed kalk
Alright, I've fear kalkwasser for decades, and just the past 2 weeks I started to experiment with it. No video, no article explain fully what is happening in my case that I understand: 3 aquarium, almost the same pH, it varies between 7.4 to 8.0 Aquarium #1 has a Skimmer, which brings down the pH (This is where I dose kalk) Other 2 aqua have no skimmer (nano) and pH is more stable and almost no dosing (for now... but I should... anyways) At first when I started to dose Kalkwasser, I didn't have a pH boost, so started to dose more, noticed a better pH but... so small almost unnoticeable Then I turn off the skimmer and this is where the pH started to raise more, but still .. 8.1 at max Now here are the problems: - Calcium is WAY too high, I set the limit for 450ppm (at the moment I'm at 480), so there's a Calcium accumulation in my mixed reef. Ones of my theory is the fact I use the concentrated at the bottom - The amount of saturated water to dose is completely ridiculous, I have to dose something between 2-3x time above my limit of evaporation With kalkwasser I basically need half of my aquarium size volume to make this practical. For example the Voss bottle, 800ml, last only 2 days vs 2 month from the previous thing I was dosing. The cylinder on that video is what I need to dose every day in my 33g to give you a basic idea. Frustrated, I decided to directly add the powder to my aquarium to see the reaction (an amount that wouldn't crash) but... Kalkwasser seems to be a mess to deal with from a cleaning point of view. It mixes so badly with the water =/ Now here's the thing: Vinegar, that would increase the saturation, but decrease the pH which is what I'm trying to boost with kalk so it defeat the purpose. I want to use Kalkwasser, but so far, all my experiments pointed to avoid it. I also (still have) kalk in my ato, and thank you for changing you mind because it's... well a mess to clean after ;) I use the SR aquaristik powder (Sorry, Canada...) ___________________ msg to BRS team/Ryan ________________ Hey, do you mind if I come to your studio and just fix your video production in different area? Probably shouldn't say here but... everyone knows that I'm an open book.
@Aqua Splendor When BRS was hiring, I think, earlier this year I was wondering if you would take the opportunity to apply. I automatically thought of you because of your video production skills!
One thing Kalk can't do that 2-part can is trace elements. This and the fact that I never have pH test below 8.2 are main reasons I don't bother with Kalk anymore.
Many 2-part solutions require the addition of trace elements (like Tropic Marin A+ & K-). There are a handful out there like Triton that have trace elements mixed in, but when it comes to standard Sodium Carbonate and Calcium Chloride you will want to supplement.
If using a stirrer that stirs on a timer, could you use with an ato and adjust the amount of stirring? For example you set the timer to stir every 3 hours and if you are dropping in dkh daily increase to stirring every 2 hours? I haven't hooked up my stirrer yet, but wanted to attempt this.
If you're using your ATO pump to feed through the stirrer to top off the water, it's difficult to gauge when exactly your ATO pump will kick on. In that case, I would set my stirrer timer to small short stirs as frequently as possible in order to ensure the water inside remains fully saturated when the ATO kicks on. Maybe 5min every 30 mins? This would be my top choice for timer that has the cycle capabilities to run a schedule like this. www.bulkreefsupply.com/save-a-watt-p4472-digital-timer.html
I'm going to start with kalk on with a stirrer to make it cheaper and to stabilize the ph at night while using Triton during the day (which gets ph at 8.42 at the end of the cycle to 8.25 at the start). Did guys not mention this use of kalk for any reason?
Test and see. If your alk and cal are fluctuating then you should consider it, but if you have small frags then it may be that your tank isn’t ready for dosing yet and your water changes are enough. I maintain about 8.0-8.2 alk with my kalk dosing
@@okn712 my alk has never moved from 10. At least I’ve never tested anything else. And while I don’t usually test calcium as much as I should it also sits at 420. I only have large soft corals and just got some encrusting sps and the Duncan’s this year but all have been fine, I was more so wondering if this would inhavnce growth or would it cause more issues if me and my tank are not very advanced?
there is a milwaukee ph monitor that works in conjunction with a doser. The unit runs the doser til it reaches the desired pH. would it be okay to use this to dose my Kalkwasser. Your input would be so much help.
Remember that kalkwasser also raises your calcium and alkalinity, so this setup could easily lead to a calcium/alkalinity overdose if you're not careful. For that reason, we wouldn't dose kalk based on pH alone.
I just dont understand how you know how much max saturation to make it to! You said 2 teaspoon per gallon but how can it be the same for every tank being they use different amounts of alk and calcium. Old video you said start with 1 teaspoon! Ryan said 2 teaspoons per a gallon and you may not be all the way there but good enough! i dont get that! Arent we not only uping ph but controlling alk and calciums? A commenter said they put it in new tanks to increase bacteria and coralline! How can that work if new tanks dont need dosing! I having a rough go with new frag tank and one other tanks wont grow coraline very much! Also do I totally stop my 2 part when I start this? Can I expect alkalinity swings? SCARY! Please help! I am buying the kalk and a ph controller and ready to go! Oh dosnt vinegar lower the ph? Confusing from 16 and on! PLEASE ANSWER! Love you guys!
If you stir that soon before dosing, you're likely going to be dosing some of that super high pH kalk "slurry", so if you're using a kalk stirrer, give it some time to rest before dosing.
both will add calcium and alkalinity to your system, so if you add kalkwasser to a system that is already on the balling method, you'll want to reduce your balling dose and monitor your calcium and alkalinity closely while you dial everything in.
Possibly, but I would have a couple of concerns with this approach. First is how any filters you would need to go through to capture all of that fine left-over material and second, more exposure to the CO2 in the ambient air might degrade the potency (which you would have to test with an EC pen to know for sure.)
Not directly at the moment, but some international customers use mail forwarding services to order from us and ship overseas. Here's some info we have on that process. www.bulkreefsupply.com/international-shipping
I switched to all for reef and almost immediately regreted it not sure why after a year of using kalk my tank looked great as soon as i switched to all4reef it had a diatom outbreak that i am still fighting. I have a 75 gallon tank and I top off about a half gallon of rodi a day and dose kalkwasser 1x a week only on sundays. The all4reef did boost my alkalinity but my PH is better with kalk so idk.
It can help supplement any calcium and alkalinity that might be consumed in your tank daily, the key will be to test your tank's Alk/Calcium over a few days and see if they fall. If so, try a little kalkwasser to keep them up.
Does the container for the kalkwasser need to be air tight, the container I use is plastic and has a tiny hole drilled in the top to stop it creating a vacuum? Is this okay?
I have been un able to get my senyeye to work but could give it another try! Would you trust it to monitor the ph using kalk? I cant afford an ph monitor! I mainly want to use it for the ph raising! my ph never goes over 8! Would you not trust add it ino ato with a moniter for ph and a good ato with multiple redundancy? I don tknow how to hook up all this stuff being a woman! LOL Thats why I do everything by hand plus no room under a 36 bowfront either makes it hard and I like a clean clutterless tank!
I wouldn't suggest putting the seneye directly in your kalk solution, but it's a viable way to test pH in your aquarium. Just be sure to swap out the slides on a regular basis for the best results.
"Two parts raise salinity and that's a problem". If you lack the mental faculties to take remove a jug full of tank water every few months and replace it with R/O water then you need a different hobby.
Max saturation is around 10.3 mS/cm, but it is difficult to achieve perfectly due to variables like water temp, water purity, etc. This is why we recommend mixing up a batch of 2tsp/gal and using an EC Pen to get a baseline for your own "max saturation", then use that number to identify when your kalkwasser is getting depleted.
@@BRStv Thank you for your reply. So for me, I am going the dosing out of a five gallon bucket route, the reason why I wanted to know max saturation. I'm at 20 tsp in 5 gallons of ro/di and I am at 7.8 mS/cm. Also, could you touch a little more on the benefits of adding vinegar and at what ratio. Thank you.
honestly dont see the problem with using the ato as long as you use a smaller amount of kalk aswell as overall mixture, people are too lazy and rely on the ato not failing
I feel like you guys need to remove some videos. I listen to a 20 minute video from brs on why you should dose kalk to the ato, only to be followed by a video saying it’s bad. This is annoying to people who look up a subject to find 10 different answers from the same people.
Well they did say multiple times you don't need the extra equipment. They only suggested the tank be separate from he ATO water to avoid the biggest mistake that frequently happens which is a gummed up a valve that sticks open and kills the tank. Anyone around long enough has seen plenty of previously successful people do this.
@@Slide-Loc I’ve been around long enough to know that an ATO that has a double optical sensor will fail less than than most equipment. I have seen many nuked tanks from a kalk doser running away. I’ve also been around long enough to know BRS changes stance on many products, methods and theories. Don’t fix what’s not broken, unless you are doing UA-cam videos as marketing tools.. but at least be consistent in what you recommend subscribers to do.
Top 20 flannel mistakes coming tomorrow.
Thumbs up but i do like the flannel just missing the turtlenecks ha
Lol
😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣
Slow clap
Ok, did you guys call each other this morning and ask what you were going to wear to work today??? 🤣
I’ve wasted a lot of money over the years watching some of these videos. Glad the real facts are coming out now. Watched the pH video posted a little bit ago and it was rather jaw dropping to say the least.
I got a kalk stirrer and a kamoer pump - best decision I've made with my current tank. 10/10 would recommend.
Kalkwasser for life 🖖 from the beginning, sps dominant tank, will never us anything else..
Randy your a trip bro with some of those faces you make when Ryan is talking..Thanks for the tips guys you all rock👍👍👍
Just finished watching a BRS video explaining why adding kalkwasser to my ATO is a great idea. Now I’m watching a BRS video why it’s a terrible idea. Cool. A+ credibility.
Did you notice there was a 6 year gap between the videos? This is progress as everyone thought kalk in the ATO was the way to go and now BRS is saying we screwed up and won't recommend that.
I swear, you guys are the best. you have videos for every question one could have! THANK YOU GUYS
Been using kaulk for over 20 years in my ATO with new technology of course it's not the most accurate way but it does work. And it's tried and proven.
I'm using kalk in my ato. You definitely have to keep an eye on it for sure.
I had an awesome talk with Jack Kent yesterday about the value of using kalkwasser to raise coralline growth in tanks with dead rock to aid in establishing helpful bacteria yesterday. I can't wait to try it!
It works wonders. I've seen a tremendous coraline explosion on my 'dry rock' since adding it to my ATO for my nano tank.
How can a new tank need kakl when its not consuming alkalinty and calcium yet? I have anew tank and nothing wants to grow in it! I have only tried zoas but they keep dying off seems like its because of diatom growths smothering polyps!
Kalkwasser + calcium reactor worked for me for a very long time but I switched to DIY All-for-Reef + recirculating CO2 scrubber modded skimmer last year and I believe I've finally found the perfect dosing method. Can't beat the simplicity and ease of AFR + CO2 scrubber mod skimming at maintaining Ca/Mg/Alk and pH
@@jdamommio Not much to it. Tropic Marin's All for Reef is a calcium/magnesium/alk solution. It also has trace elements. It's an all-in-one solution minus the sodium, so it doesn't raise salinity so you don't have to balance that later on.
BRS has a CO2 scrubber mod for skimmers which makes it so that it only scrubs the air circulating through the skimmer/in your tank water instead of wasting the media on air in your house.
These two implemented together take care of your dosing needs and pH, which are imo the most important parameters to balance and maintain in reefing. Ask away if you have any more questions.
***I would suggest DIYing carbo-calcium + magnesium solution without the trace elements if your tank is sub 1 year or isn't wall to wall coral yet.***
Just to clarify, All for Reef isn't the cheapest solution to larger volume tanks, but the DIY is much less costly. BRS also has you covered on the recipe just search the channel.
@@Atalantum how long does the co2 media last when you do the recirculating skimmer mod?
@@Atalantum I have a 36 bowfront with very little room under the tank can i fit a scrubber. Where do I find out more info on this and do use kalk in an ato or a doser? I run bare bones now. Everything by hand because of space issues but maybe I can make some room in closet nex t to the tank. Couldnt I use kalk in ato if I hook up my senye that has a ph alert? Also get a good ato with mutiple redundancy! I get no help from hubby so being a woman also makes it hard one of the reasons I do it all by hand!
@@jennanation6992 Hi Jenna. If you have a skimmer you can probably just fit a scrubber by putting Tupperware filled with scrubber media on top of the collection cup. There are videos on how to do this by other UA-camrs. However, I have discontinued scrubber use and now dose kalkwasser along with all-for-reef. I find that the kalkwasser elevates my pH and so there is no need for the scrubber media. I dose saturated kalkwasser with a GHL 2.1 doser.
My favorite line: "The poof burns." So true.
I love how you dress each other
Doing tons of research on this! Great timing for a new video. ♥️
You guys are the best! I am so sole on Kalkwasser!
Kalk definitely was my favorite...might consider going back ....the growth was amazing
@ fishohex did a great video adding kalkwasser with dosing pump and stirrer. Thanks guys for continuing the great content!
Great video - disappointed to hear that the ATO isn't a great place for Kalkwasser. I've been using it for 3-4 full ATO refills and 2 doses. I've noticed coraline algae increasing on my rocks like crazy since adding it to the ATO. With a 20 gallon nano and a 5 gallon ATO, it has made things very easy and my levels so far have been fantastic.
That being said, I think the investment in an Apex would be great for monitoring and dosing. Time to start saving - hopefully I can implement the Apex soon!
I want to start with my nano too . Did you have any alkalinity swings? i am so confused because this makes it seem easy until they got to max saturation. I dont get how eveyones tank would need the same amout or saturation! I need coraline bad! I am having diatoms and its smothering my zosa and killing them and one tank had coraline grow on frags racks and it stoped but another tank wont grow coraline!
What timing! Just got my Avast
+1 for #1. Finally!
I love the video topic as I was just doing extra research on which reactor to save up for.
But I am also quite taken with that background tank, Very pretty.
TY for the tips.
Thanks guys really needed this video!
U say "wasser" very well! :) nice vid
I use pickling lime for 20 years in my tank. No coral mortality that I know of ...
You guys need to set a shop up in the uk, send Randy over here
The BRS pharma has allowed my stirrer to go MUCH longer between maintenance cycles.
I don't rely on Kalk but add a little to my 4 litre gravity ato just to boost. I wouldn't trust a larger pumped ato to risk of overdose.
Ok! Where is Randy Holmes Farley when you need him!!!
can‘t you add CaOH powder directly to the sump, using an automatic feeder?
I love the colour of lights on that tank in the rear of this video - anyone know what they are?
Sooo guys thanks... I just started brs kalkwasser today and mixed it into my 25gal brute bucket ato... wish I had seen this first... now the decision is do I dump my ato or just let it play out and then go to a doser :( ugg... that all aside thanks for all your work on these it is appreciated
@K Slay THANKS!
You can absolutely use it in your ATO if you use a gravity ATO that is controlled by a float valve(not switch). As it will constantly be the same evaporation rate and return rate with gravity fed systems.
What I find funny is their website still recommends to use the ato method..
You can feed your stirrer using ATO reservoir as a source.
This is exactly what we recommend doing and what we did ourselves on the ULM tanks initially.
not using the ATO to pump the kalwasser is the BRS switchover of the year
For real were they not preaching in a video a couple years back that you should put it in your ato?
@@gagedraper2086 don’t know but it’s helping my PH. I use a dose pump to pump it in and works great. Reducing 2 part usage and dose the same amount of kalk each day. :)
Can you mix this with ur RO top off
hola. me compre un reactor de kalkwasser y una kamoer continua, mi pregunta es; cuanto tengo q poner de kalkwasser en el reactor para manter el ph?( lo quiero usar solo para estabilizar el ph )
What is you live in fl and dont evap much? I havnt hooked up my ato yet because both my 20 gallons dosnt evap much so Is it possible that I won't need my ato and kalk solution is enough? I only have 1 week left to return it LOL Is there a way to hook up a ph controller to an ato? Is there anytime that its smarter to use ato with kalk? I had a controller in my kart and you sold out LOL
I run my tunze into my avast kalk stirrer. Easier on the pump for sure ph controlled by apex
If I add a couple fans facing the top of my water either on my aquarium or sump, will that help with carbon dioxide?
Opening up a window is not an option as there are no windows around
Just ordered the low range Hannah EC pen as you recommended. What should be a perfect reading be when I put pen in my Avant K1 stirrer.
I dropped an entire bag of opened kalkwasser, the poof cloud jumped up and smacked my nostrils as I was gasping.. I can absolutely feel that burn
Yikes! Not a fun feeling at all!
edit your past video that says to add it to your ATO. TY
and you guys talk about how you deal with Mg if you only use kalk.
Kalk will not maintain your magnesium, so if you water changes aren't getting the job done in terms of maintaining magnesium, you'll want to use a separate magnesium supplement like our BRS magnesium mix.
www.bulkreefsupply.com/magnesium-mix-for-general-adjustments-bulk-reef-supply.html
se puede combinar el kalkwasser con un baling?
kalk can take my tank 1dkh per day. 85g net water volume, based on my evap. Which is substantial!
@BRS. would a pH probe not give you the same information as the conductivity probe if all you want to know is if the potency is decreasing? ie, it the ph falls below 10, time to add more kalk powder to the stirr?
I have a pH Monitor and I just monitor my pH dosing kalk 24/7 in my tank as long as the pH doesn't get too high you have no problem
Wouldn’t dosing kalk just lower your salinity ? I guess depending how much you need to dose
I actually have my PH running at night lows to around 8.0 daytime PH gets to 8.3 and I run a calcium reactor. I know most people doesn’t have this issue. Would my PH get to high if i dosed kalk
You will definitely see a pH increase using Kalk, so if low pH isn't your issue this might not be the right option.
Thanks that’s what I was thinking
@@BRStv would it be dumb to try kalkwasser if my ph is around 7.8, i use api color tubes and it is a light purple?
Alright, I've fear kalkwasser for decades, and just the past 2 weeks I started to experiment with it.
No video, no article explain fully what is happening in my case that I understand:
3 aquarium, almost the same pH, it varies between 7.4 to 8.0
Aquarium #1 has a Skimmer, which brings down the pH (This is where I dose kalk)
Other 2 aqua have no skimmer (nano) and pH is more stable and almost no dosing (for now... but I should... anyways)
At first when I started to dose Kalkwasser, I didn't have a pH boost, so started to dose more, noticed a better pH but... so small almost unnoticeable
Then I turn off the skimmer and this is where the pH started to raise more, but still .. 8.1 at max
Now here are the problems:
- Calcium is WAY too high, I set the limit for 450ppm (at the moment I'm at 480), so there's a Calcium accumulation in my mixed reef.
Ones of my theory is the fact I use the concentrated at the bottom
- The amount of saturated water to dose is completely ridiculous, I have to dose something between 2-3x time above my limit of evaporation
With kalkwasser I basically need half of my aquarium size volume to make this practical.
For example the Voss bottle, 800ml, last only 2 days vs 2 month from the previous thing I was dosing.
The cylinder on that video is what I need to dose every day in my 33g to give you a basic idea.
Frustrated, I decided to directly add the powder to my aquarium to see the reaction (an amount that wouldn't crash) but...
Kalkwasser seems to be a mess to deal with from a cleaning point of view.
It mixes so badly with the water =/
Now here's the thing: Vinegar, that would increase the saturation, but decrease the pH which is what I'm trying to boost with kalk so it defeat the purpose.
I want to use Kalkwasser, but so far, all my experiments pointed to avoid it.
I also (still have) kalk in my ato, and thank you for changing you mind because it's... well a mess to clean after ;)
I use the SR aquaristik powder (Sorry, Canada...)
___________________ msg to BRS team/Ryan ________________
Hey, do you mind if I come to your studio and just fix your video production in different area?
Probably shouldn't say here but... everyone knows that I'm an open book.
@Aqua Splendor
When BRS was hiring, I think, earlier this year I was wondering if you would take the opportunity to apply. I automatically thought of you because of your video production skills!
The BRS website says to dose your ATO 🤣
One thing Kalk can't do that 2-part can is trace elements. This and the fact that I never have pH test below 8.2 are main reasons I don't bother with Kalk anymore.
Many 2-part solutions require the addition of trace elements (like Tropic Marin A+ & K-). There are a handful out there like Triton that have trace elements mixed in, but when it comes to standard Sodium Carbonate and Calcium Chloride you will want to supplement.
@@BRStv ESV FTW!
Can Kalk power go 'stale'? Shelf life?
If using a stirrer that stirs on a timer, could you use with an ato and adjust the amount of stirring? For example you set the timer to stir every 3 hours and if you are dropping in dkh daily increase to stirring every 2 hours? I haven't hooked up my stirrer yet, but wanted to attempt this.
If you're using your ATO pump to feed through the stirrer to top off the water, it's difficult to gauge when exactly your ATO pump will kick on. In that case, I would set my stirrer timer to small short stirs as frequently as possible in order to ensure the water inside remains fully saturated when the ATO kicks on. Maybe 5min every 30 mins? This would be my top choice for timer that has the cycle capabilities to run a schedule like this. www.bulkreefsupply.com/save-a-watt-p4472-digital-timer.html
Why not have 2 ATO that is controlled by a Ph Probe... Over 8.3 add RODI... under 8.3 add kalk. ... That is the way I dose with my apex.
I'm going to start with kalk on with a stirrer to make it cheaper and to stabilize the ph at night while using Triton during the day (which gets ph at 8.42 at the end of the cycle to 8.25 at the start).
Did guys not mention this use of kalk for any reason?
Kalkwasser can be a great tool to achieve that goal 🙂
I'm doing a 2% water change every day with a dosing pump. Can I add kalkwasser to the saltwater I'm dosing in to the tank?
When mixing kalkwasser, you'll want to mix it with fresh RODI water.
Should I even look at this if I have a mainly softy tank? Only have a Duncan, monti cap and meteor shower cyphastrea that are lps or sps.
Test and see. If your alk and cal are fluctuating then you should consider it, but if you have small frags then it may be that your tank isn’t ready for dosing yet and your water changes are enough. I maintain about 8.0-8.2 alk with my kalk dosing
@@okn712 my alk has never moved from 10. At least I’ve never tested anything else. And while I don’t usually test calcium as much as I should it also sits at 420. I only have large soft corals and just got some encrusting sps and the Duncan’s this year but all have been fine, I was more so wondering if this would inhavnce growth or would it cause more issues if me and my tank are not very advanced?
there is a milwaukee ph monitor that works in conjunction with a doser. The unit runs the doser til it reaches the desired pH. would it be okay to use this to dose my Kalkwasser. Your input would be so much help.
Remember that kalkwasser also raises your calcium and alkalinity, so this setup could easily lead to a calcium/alkalinity overdose if you're not careful. For that reason, we wouldn't dose kalk based on pH alone.
You mentioned dosing vinegar with Kalkwasser. Would it be possible to lightly carbon dose with the kalkwasser solution?
Vinegar is a form of carbon dosing, so in a way, you'd already be doing that by using it with the kalk 🙂
I just dont understand how you know how much max saturation to make it to! You said 2 teaspoon per gallon but how can it be the same for every tank being they use different amounts of alk and calcium. Old video you said start with 1 teaspoon! Ryan said 2 teaspoons per a gallon and you may not be all the way there but good enough! i dont get that! Arent we not only uping ph but controlling alk and calciums? A commenter said they put it in new tanks to increase bacteria and coralline! How can that work if new tanks dont need dosing! I having a rough go with new frag tank and one other tanks wont grow coraline very much! Also do I totally stop my 2 part when I start this? Can I expect alkalinity swings? SCARY! Please help! I am buying the kalk and a ph controller and ready to go! Oh dosnt vinegar lower the ph? Confusing from 16 and on! PLEASE ANSWER! Love you guys!
wait so it is a bad idea to stir the solution say 2 mins before dosing?
If you stir that soon before dosing, you're likely going to be dosing some of that super high pH kalk "slurry", so if you're using a kalk stirrer, give it some time to rest before dosing.
can i use kalkwasser simultaneously with balling method because i have low ph or will i have a problem with alk and ca
both will add calcium and alkalinity to your system, so if you add kalkwasser to a system that is already on the balling method, you'll want to reduce your balling dose and monitor your calcium and alkalinity closely while you dial everything in.
@@BRStv thank you very much for your answer
Would you get the full benefit if you poured the mix through a coffee filter or similar filter to remove the sediment / precipitate?
Possibly, but I would have a couple of concerns with this approach. First is how any filters you would need to go through to capture all of that fine left-over material and second, more exposure to the CO2 in the ambient air might degrade the potency (which you would have to test with an EC pen to know for sure.)
@@BRStv I guess this requires some testing.
Can you guys ship brs pharma kalk to the UK?
Not directly at the moment, but some international customers use mail forwarding services to order from us and ship overseas. Here's some info we have on that process. www.bulkreefsupply.com/international-shipping
I switched to all for reef and almost immediately regreted it not sure why after a year of using kalk my tank looked great as soon as i switched to all4reef it had a diatom outbreak that i am still fighting. I have a 75 gallon tank and I top off about a half gallon of rodi a day and dose kalkwasser 1x a week only on sundays. The all4reef did boost my alkalinity but my PH is better with kalk so idk.
I lost coral when i switched to all4reef and i dont have too much coral either.
Is kalk good for soft and Lps corals
It can help supplement any calcium and alkalinity that might be consumed in your tank daily, the key will be to test your tank's Alk/Calcium over a few days and see if they fall. If so, try a little kalkwasser to keep them up.
Does the container for the kalkwasser need to be air tight, the container I use is plastic and has a tiny hole drilled in the top to stop it creating a vacuum? Is this okay?
You nailed it on the head! No issues with this approach at all.
@@BRStv thanks, keep up the brilliant videos with great content.
I have been un able to get my senyeye to work but could give it another try! Would you trust it to monitor the ph using kalk? I cant afford an ph monitor! I mainly want to use it for the ph raising! my ph never goes over 8! Would you not trust add it ino ato with a moniter for ph and a good ato with multiple redundancy? I don tknow how to hook up all this stuff being a woman! LOL Thats why I do everything by hand plus no room under a 36 bowfront either makes it hard and I like a clean clutterless tank!
I wouldn't suggest putting the seneye directly in your kalk solution, but it's a viable way to test pH in your aquarium. Just be sure to swap out the slides on a regular basis for the best results.
"Two parts raise salinity and that's a problem". If you lack the mental faculties to take remove a jug full of tank water every few months and replace it with R/O water then you need a different hobby.
What is max saturation for kalkwasser?
Max saturation is around 10.3 mS/cm, but it is difficult to achieve perfectly due to variables like water temp, water purity, etc. This is why we recommend mixing up a batch of 2tsp/gal and using an EC Pen to get a baseline for your own "max saturation", then use that number to identify when your kalkwasser is getting depleted.
@@BRStv Thank you for your reply. So for me, I am going the dosing out of a five gallon bucket route, the reason why I wanted to know max saturation. I'm at 20 tsp in 5 gallons of ro/di and I am at 7.8 mS/cm. Also, could you touch a little more on the benefits of adding vinegar and at what ratio. Thank you.
Gravity fed kalk ato ftw
Can I pickle my cucumbers with BRS kalk?
Our kalkwasser is not intended for human consumption.
honestly dont see the problem with using the ato as long as you use a smaller amount of kalk aswell as overall mixture, people are too lazy and rely on the ato not failing
I feel like you guys need to remove some videos. I listen to a 20 minute video from brs on why you should dose kalk to the ato, only to be followed by a video saying it’s bad. This is annoying to people who look up a subject to find 10 different answers from the same people.
You are 100% right. I will personally look into this and discuss with the team. Thanks for keeping us sharp! -Randy
A Good business will be to make liquid kalkwasser
or just buy the powder and make your own for much less cost 🙂
Idk what they’re talking about. Kalkwasser let’s me smell colors
First rule of stripe club is dont talk about stripe club
You guys look so cute w your stripped shirts.
Kalkwasser on ato is the best it's been 4 years and no problem
Shill. Kalk dosed via ATO has worked for millions for a long time. The gadgets are not needed. Marketing is on point at BRS though😂
Well they did say multiple times you don't need the extra equipment. They only suggested the tank be separate from he ATO water to avoid the biggest mistake that frequently happens which is a gummed up a valve that sticks open and kills the tank. Anyone around long enough has seen plenty of previously successful people do this.
@@Slide-Loc I’ve been around long enough to know that an ATO that has a double optical sensor will fail less than than most equipment. I have seen many nuked tanks from a kalk doser running away. I’ve also been around long enough to know BRS changes stance on many products, methods and theories. Don’t fix what’s not broken, unless you are doing UA-cam videos as marketing tools.. but at least be consistent in what you recommend subscribers to do.