Can Kalk affect Alk?
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Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
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URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44097
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Topic: Can Kalk affect Alk?
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Subject: Can Kalk affect Alk?
Date Posted: October 19 2010 at 10:17am
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I just mixed up a batch of new water for a water change and brought up the SG to 1.025 with oceanic. I then tested that water and the alk tests at 9.2, yet the alk in my tank tests at 10-11. Really strange, since I havent added any alk to the tank? The only difference is I do drip Kalk for my topoff. Could that be the reason for the difference? ------------- Life is good....right? |
Replies:
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: October 19 2010 at 11:03am
| yes, it is the reason. Kalk adds both Calcium and Alk. |
Posted By: downhill_biker
Date Posted: October 19 2010 at 11:52am
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For sure! Kalk influences alk in a big way. Kalk is generally considered a balanced additive but it does increase alk slightly more than ca. I would recommend doing some more reading on kalk if you are using it and you don't know what it does. I am not trying to be rude, but it can be dangerous stuff and there is a lot to learn. It also can be a great help to your tank's health. Here's the best article to date on kalk: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php ------------- Make sure you post your best pictures every month in our POTM forum. |
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: October 19 2010 at 11:59am
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I dont think youre being rude curtis. I just didnt know that about kalk. I was told that it just helps in the stability of your cal/alk balance. I knew it slightly raised cal, but i didnt know it raised alk as well. Good to know, thanks for the info. ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: October 19 2010 at 1:19pm
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I think you misunderstood what the person was telling you about kalk... kalk maintains alk/cal, not just makes it stable, even though it does that too.so you use it to keep your levels where you want them... then you still need to add alk/cal when your levels begin to drop.
Talking with a chemist he told me that kalk is a balanced. Additive in the sense that it adds alk and cal at the same levels can intake them. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 19 2010 at 5:52pm
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Adding to the good instruction already given, I'll add this: Depending on the types of organisms growing in a particular tank, the Alk and Ca may be used up at different rates. What is the Ca currently? Typically Alk is used up quicker and extra Alk may need to be added, but just recently we saw a hobbyist here that had good Alk even though he had not added any. Something in his tank, probably the sand, was naturally supplementing the Alkalinity.  It's important to test Alk and Ca regularly. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: October 19 2010 at 10:17pm
 That is great Mark!
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Mark Peterson wrote: