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[prion27]

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[DanK.Reefer]

Some guys mix kalk in a stirrer/reactor and that can be fed either by a stand alone pump like a kamoer F1/X1. Another popular option is just to put the Kalk powder in your ATO and get a shot of KH any time your ATO squirts. If running the ATO optuon it is a good Idea to plug your ATO into a PH controller such as a milwuakee to prevent overdosing.

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[Dipan00]

Im using this for my sps dominant tank: https://www.avastmarine.com/products/kalk-stirrer?variant=4581536771

I am using a neptune dose as my doser and have it connected to my ato container so only fresh water going through the doser and then into the kalk stirrer. From there it pushes out the fluid while keeping it at max concentration. You could probably use any doser. But this seems to be the best way to dose kalk.

From my experience kalk is hard on dosing pumps and have had many fail because of kalk build up in doser or pump. Which is why I went with the stirrer as only rodi runs through pumps.

 

[prion27]

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[DanK.Reefer]

So I have a PH sensor that came with my Hydros Pro Pack. I'm not sure if anything can be tied to that to get the dosing to get to a desired PH and keep it stable or if that's not how it is supposed to work. My 200 gallon system has a mesh lid and my AC is constanly running, so I gather that putting Kak in my ATO would be a bad idea giving the evaporation and replenish of RODI would probably overdose Kalk in my system.

When putting the Kalk into your ATO water without a stirrer the kalk tends to settle to the bottom of the ATO reservoir and crust over. The concentration while elevated is not quite as extreme as the effluent that a kalk stirrer would provide. You just want to make sure that your ATO pump is not sitting on the bottom of the ATO reservoir sucking the kalk powder straight.

Yes using the PH probe on your Hydros and a power outlet on your X8 should be able to control the on off of the ATO incase of overdose. I personally just like the tighter control of a stand alone unit.

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[DanK.Reefer]

I use the PH sensor's in my Hydros units to monitor the system, where I rely on the PH controller to "control" it. I like this setup as I can set tighter parameters and locate the PH controller sensor closer to the dosing/ATO line in the return pump section. Then I like to put my Hydros PH probe in the first section of my sump to get a better idea of what the water in the tank looks like.

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[DanK.Reefer]

I have an old PH controller I could sell you for $40. It needs a new probe but they are readily available on amazon, BRS, Marine and Reef, and numerous other retailers. PM me if you want it. Either way if you are running a Kalk stirrer or just the ATO res. is a good idea to use a controller.

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[prion27]

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[DanK.Reefer]

I am in Oceanside.

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[DanK.Reefer]

I can ship it to pretty much anywhere in socal for like $10-$15

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[prion27]

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[DanK.Reefer]

Done

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[pledosophy]

I use a Neptune DOS pump and follow the Chris Meckly method of dosing based off of pH. It works well for many people. I would suggest you give it a read.

If your tank has a low demand for Alk/CA, or if the room lacks fresh air then it might not be the best method for you.

 

[drexel]

I think dosing kalk is perfectly fine and will carry you a long way, but I wouldn't chase the pH dragon with kalk, too many issues that can wipe out a tank. I do think having a pH cutoff implemented is a good idea, but I wouldn't try to always have your pH at 8.3 or whatever # you choose. Instead, dose based on your tanks demands and it should do the trick. I would find a sturdy dosing pump that can handle micro dosing throughout a 24hr period and go from there. I also find it funny that people are calling it the Chris Meckley method, especially when we've been dosing kalk this way since the 80's, but I guess the added pH target changes that? I'm not knocking Chris, I like the guy, but it's funny how things get pinned to someone in this hobby. I'm old school, so I dose kalk at night to counter my CaRx when it goes off and I'm just dosing the effluent from a bucket. I wouldn't add kalk to the ATO, because you have no control over the amount that goes in and it's pretty harsh on pumps, as others have stated. The other thing about using pH probes to dose kalk, is they are notoriously bad at keeping proper calibration, so unless you're willing to double check the accuracy of your probe once a month, I wouldn't depend on a probe to dose kalk. You can use them to monitor trends, but I wouldn't rely on them for their accuracy. I like GHL for dosing, but I'm currently using the Sentia Dose and they working perfectly fine for dosing, but do have a reservoir limit for monitoring.

 

[pledosophy]

I also find it funny that people are calling it the Chris Meckley method, especially when we've been dosing kalk this way since the 80's, but I guess the added pH target changes that? I'm not knocking Chris, I like the guy, but it's funny how things get pinned to someone in this hobby.

I'm a noob, I didn't get into reefing until 2001.

Chris's method was different than anything I had ever seen in relation to how it was dosed. Not only the targeted pH, but also the idea of the reservoir being undisturbed (never mixed) for months at a time, the idea that a float needed to be on the surface of the kalk reservoir to minimize air contact, and setting the DOS to refill twice your evaporated fluid, that all originated from Chris as far as I can tell.

He has also written about it extensively, and done you tube videos on it, some of which are hours long with the full explanation on why his method differs from just doing a kalk reactor, or adding it to the ATO.

It is by no means for everyone and I completely agree that newer reefers or anyone not trying to get that extra 5% of growth should not do this method.

Personally I think I have been the most successful with chasing Alk, and just testing and dosing that to keep it stable daily. But if someone wants to do Kalk, they will learn a lot from Chris, even if they do end up going the reactor route.
JMO.

 

[drexel]

I'm a noob, I didn't get into reefing until 2001.

Chris's method was different than anything I had ever seen in relation to how it was dosed. Not only the targeted pH, but also the idea of the reservoir being undisturbed (never mixed) for months at a time, the idea that a float needed to be on the surface of the kalk reservoir to minimize air contact, and setting the DOS to refill twice your evaporated fluid, that all originated from Chris as far as I can tell.

He has also written about it extensively, and done you tube videos on it, some of which are hours long with the full explanation on why his method differs from just doing a kalk reactor, or adding it to the ATO.

It is by no means for everyone and I completely agree that newer reefers or anyone not trying to get that extra 5% of growth should not do this method.

Personally I think I have been the most successful with chasing Alk, and just testing and dosing that to keep it stable daily. But if someone wants to do Kalk, they will learn a lot from Chris, even if they do end up going the reactor route.
JMO.

He mixes the kalk once (as do I and everyone else that uses kalk this way) as he adds the dry kalk and lets it settle and doses the clear effluent, which is how it’s done. It doesn’t go undisturbed for months. The only thing he does that’s different is the target pH and the coding within apex. You simply double your evaporation over the course of the day and dose that in a 12hr period. Again, this isn’t anything new, but the target pH is. He’s also mixing a new batch every 3 days, so the whole idea that the reservoir goes undisturbed just doesn’t cut it. Sorry, I’m not trying to argue here, but just trying to clarify some statements. If you were reefing in the late 80’s/early 90’s, this was the method you used to supplement calcium and alkalinity. I still use kalk this way, dose the clear effluent, it’s dead simple. Chris has also changed his message to the average hobbyist and states that his method shouldn’t be used by the average hobbyist and was meant for farming.


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[pledosophy]

He’s also mixing a new batch every 3 days, so the whole idea that the reservoir goes undisturbed just doesn’t cut it.

Not trying to argue man, just talkin.

I have been using the method for over a year and only mix the reservoir once a month or so; I use a smaller reservoir. Several people have been doing 55g barrels at a time for 100g ish systems and going a few months. The reservoir can go undisturbed for quite a long period of time if it has the float, which as far as I know was introduced by him. He might not have invented it, but that you tube video of him on Melev's channel introduced it to the rest of us.

Using the float really does keep the kalk reservoir at a higher pH, meaning you need much less of it to increase the tanks pH. If you are making new batches every few days I am not sure that it would matter much, but that is just a guess.

It's an interesting method, but ya, it is not right for everyone.

 

[Steve d]

Shot out to Drexel watching how he does it got me using kalk…I use kalk and supplement the balance with a reactor.

 

[drexel]

Not trying to argue man, just talkin.

I have been using the method for over a year and only mix the reservoir once a month or so; I use a smaller reservoir. Several people have been doing 55g barrels at a time for 100g ish systems and going a few months. The reservoir can go undisturbed for quite a long period of time if it has the float, which as far as I know was introduced by him. He might not have invented it, but that you tube video of him on Melev's channel introduced it to the rest of us.

Using the float really does keep the kalk reservoir at a higher pH, meaning you need much less of it to increase the tanks pH. If you are making new batches every few days I am not sure that it would matter much, but that is just a guess.

It's an interesting method, but ya, it is not right for everyone.

Yeah, using the float really helps with only dosing the effluent. In the good 'ole days we had to mix it up, let it sit for 12-24hrs, then carefully drain the clear effluent into a separate container and gravity drip it all day/night. Then we got fancy and added it to the ATO reservoir and that's when things got messy. The big barrel on a smaller system will last quite a long time. I get about 8 days with my 5g bucket, but I'm not dosing too much right now.
I like talking too, but I just wanted to make sure that I didn't come across as old guy yelling at clouds. That's the problem with typing everything out, you miss the intent with someone speaking.
Happy reefing!

 

[Jimbo327]

I remember putting Mrs. Wage Pickling Lime in a container and feeding the ATO through it...about 15-20 years ago. We didn't have anything close to the kalk stirrer, it didn't exist yet. And it was not disturbed either unless we are refilling it and letting it come to saturation on its own.