kalkwasser vs. bio calcium (whats the rave)

[got krabs]

I'm courious to know why everyone raves about kalkwasser when reading in most posts that you need to do the drip crap.In my oppinion (and thats all it is) you have a better chance to overdose than if you use Bio-calcium where you don't need to do the drip you can just sprinkle on top the water and add as much as you need by using a measuring cup that they give you in the container.
Let me knowe what you use and think

 

[aceiswild7]

i use kalkwasser and made an improv drip which works great i just put the bucket with the mix on a shelf next to my tank and start a siphon into the sump with some airline tubing but there is a valve halfway on the tubing so i can tighten it to drip so it only stops and loss of water from evaporation and it works out great for me

 

[artskoi]

I tried Kalkwasser in a drip bottle.It would either drip to fast and empty in a day or go slow then clog up.No happy medium.I use Reef Complete now and doing much better.To dispense I put the solution in an old Kick Ick bottle that has a squeeze chamber you can fill to a certain amount and then pour.For my tank it is 1 oz. per day(135 gal.)IMO

 

[burnnspy]

Using kalk is better than liquid ca and easy if done without a drip. Just mix up a gallon and add what you need at the end of the day.
BurnNSpy

 

[big dave]

I use B-Ionic because I have heard that Kalk contains phosphate. Is this true?? I think B-Ionic is easy to dose and I also like it because it is an Alk. builder too. IMO.

 

[kris walker]

Originally posted by Big Dave:
<STRONG>I use B-Ionic because I have heard that Kalk contains phosphate. Is this true?? I think B-Ionic is easy to dose and I also like it because it is an Alk. builder too. IMO.</STRONG>
Hello Big Dave,
I don't know about B-Ionic, but I use Kent Marine's Kalkwasser Mix. From reading the ingredients on the label, it says it only contains Calcium Hydroxide (CaOH). Considering Kalkwasser Mix is typically called "Lime Water", and since lime powder is CaOH, it stands to reason that the kalkwasser you have seen in the stores is probably only CaOH, and does not contain phosphates (PO4, P2O5).
From reading "Hard Corals" (Jim Fatherree, TFH Publications, p. 25), it says that liquid calcium additives are calcium binded to organic bases. When the calcium is needed by processes in the aquarium, it is taken away from the organic bases. As a result, organics accumulate over time (protein skimmers should fix this). So you are right, it sounds like there is not much of an overdose risk with B-Ionic. However, it does not increase or help to maintain high alkalinity levels.
On the other hand, kalkwasser does help maintain high alkalinity levels. But you need to make sure you use kalkwasser as directed, or else you may overdose.
For more info, check out
http://www.reefkeepers.org/sps/Alkalinity.html
cheers,
sam

 

[up north hermit]

Good advice Surfin Sam, and a hearty welcome to the board!
Kalkwasser contains no phosphate, but dripping it will help precipitate phosphates out of your water, a very good thing. Maybe this is where you got confused Big Dave.
Kalk will maintain Calcium in your tank, NOT raise it. To raise it first use Kents Turbo Calcium or a like product. Then drip Kalk to maintain.
I used to use the two parters, but after switching to the Kalk drip I am much more satisfied with the great results. I am a dripper that won't go back!
HTH
hermit

 

[kris walker]

Hi Hermit,
Thanks for the info, and the warm welcome. It is a shame that all the kalkwasswer boards are not condensed into one, as I already posted a similar message/question in another.
My confusion is based on this "buffering" effect of kalkwasser. Why is it considered a buffering agent rather than something to increase Ca with? From the limited chemistry I know (I am a geophysics major: earthquakes, plate tectonics, and the like), lime will revert to Ca and OH ions when mixed with water. The OH ions raise the pH of the water. When you then put the lime water in the reef tank, you increase the number of Ca and OH ions in the tank. You mention that phosphates are precipitated out during this process. To me, this means that some of the free Ca is bonding with phosphates. However, if there are not many phosphate ions in the tank, there will be a surplus of Ca ions in the end. Therefore, you now have raised the Ca of the tank, and produced a good Ca buffer. As for the OH, if everything is simple, you have now increased the pH of the tank.
So can anyone add to this, or correct me if I'm wrong? I am just trying to gain confidence in myself by understanding the system before I go buying corals for my tank.
thanks,
sam

 

[big dave]

Thanks for clearing up my problem. Good info.

 

[burnnspy]

Surfin, good stuff there but now you are confused.
Buffer capacity in a reef tank refers to calcium carbonate not pH I believe.
That is why baking soda is an acceptable substitute for buffer agents like Reef builder.
BurnNSpy

 

[kris walker]

Hi BurnNSpy,
Thanks for the reply. I'm still confused, but I need to sleep on the issue before I reply.
Thanks,
sam