Kalkwasser vs 2 Part Dosing vs Calcium Reactor for your reef tank

Stable Calcium Alkalinity and Magnesium are key to a thriving reef tank.. but what and how should you dose? today we compare Kalkwasser, two part and calcium reactors.
Dosing Pumps
Neptune DOS
Jebao geni.us/sdvo
CoralBox geni.us/CrCUV
Bulk Supplements
Fritz 8lbCalcium geni.us/fghl
Fritz 10lb Sodium Bi-Carbonate geni.us/0uPARzF
Fritz 10lb Sodium Carbonate geni.us/Sp24
Kalkwasser - Calcium Hydroxide
Kalkwasser geni.us/Can2Wq
TLF Reactor geni.us/2QWHQ
Kalk Stirrer geni.us/ITi8N
ARM Calcium Reactor Media geni.us/Tiirx
TLF Reborn CA Reactor meida geni.us/OlJ67G
Join The Community at / reefdudes
If you want to support the channel consider purchasing your supplies through our amazon links! amzn.to/2FgW9LR

[@pngzis]

This video is amazingly informative and definitely deserves more views, best wishes to you and your channel!

[@ReefDudes]

Thanks so much Djoo Djoo!

[@huckilt]

Hmmm... a few of things you spoke about were conflicting with things I’ve learned elsewhere. I dissolved Kalkwasser “sludge” should not be thrown out it can still be dissolved when more fresh water is added as the maximum amount of Kalkwasser that can be dissolved in a gallon of water is 1 1/2 tablespoons Kalkwasser powder. Kinda sucks when your trying to learn something and everywhere you look ppl give you the information their way of doing it instead of giving you the information that’s universally accepted in the hobby. I’ve always heard 7-12 dkh is acceptable you say 7-10 not that big of a difference or anything but when your getting conflicting info how do you know what to believe? I want to do things the right way not jus your way or his way or hers. And everyone tweaks things to accommodate themselves, and I’d rather know the full extent of the info rather than jus getting one persons recipe for their success. Their tank isn’t my tank and should be looked at that way. I’m not trying to be mean or anything jus like I said it sucks to hear so many different things from different ppl. I kinda lean more towards the info from BRS since they do their tank trials and have multiple tanks almost identical other than what they are testing. Which gives a broader view on how different parameters affect a reef tank. I appreciate your hard work tho and am not trying to put you down or anything of that nature. Jus throwing my opinion out there.

[@ateshhastam]

Thanks. Plenty to think about. Super informative run down.

[@dailycoral]

Another great topic, and great video Dev!

[@AmericanReefing]

Awesome video Dev! A ton of great info thanks

[@fr4nkthet4nk86]

So happy you make this video. Thank you Bro!

[@ReefDudes]

Your most welcome Frank!

[@MarylandWearAndCarry]

Well said and thanks for the links.

[@oliverjoneses1957]

Great informative video!!! Definitely weighing all my options...so many things to consider.

[@ReefDudes]

Yep!! Basically smaller tank 2 part. Larger high demand tank calcium reactor is likely cheaper long term. Both have their pros and cons

[@ReeferGil]

Most excellent informative video. Totally agree with your points about Calcium Reactor vs Dosing Pumps. Thumbs Up!

[@ReefDudes]

Thanks Gil!

[@meiersreefs188]

Great Vid Dev!

[@RipVanWinkle_Nature_Discovery]

I think these technical videos are really useful for understanding water chemistry and how to manage it. BRS has a similar vid where they go through outlining 2-part, kalkwasser and a calcium reactor. Dev, you went through all of them together in this one vid but if you could do a mini-series, like a vid on on each one individually, I for one would really like to see them. Especially something where we can see in detail how a calcium reactor is set up. Even better would be the Apex monitoring side of it.

[@ReefDudes]

Sounds good! ill ad them to the list. Thanks RipVan

[@Ravan_Caw]

Great update cool info.👍🏻

[@SCReefer]

Very informative video! Thanks!!!!

[@gbj6581]

great info.. Can you touch on marine ich. specifically have you ever used any of the 'reef safe' medicines like kick ich, or poly lab etc.. (reasonably speaking most cannot take out all fish and treat with copper, so how do we manage in a established reef tank?)

[@CescaTheDarkHorse]

Nice video with some good information. :)

[@andrew5762]

Many thanks 🙏 matey really appreciate this topic 👍😀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@ReefDudes]

Your most welcome

[@chevythang92]

Great video.

[@the.humble.reefer7230]

Thanks for that, very informative.

[@ReefDudes]

Thanks Scottie, Your most welcome.

[@insectkiller2005]

Have just switched from core7 to a calcium reactor and can’t believe I haven’t done so sooner . Tank is only 250L but but even this size tank full of sps will work out expensive with core7

[@pelphrey]

Great video sir!!

[@ReefDudes]

Thanks Pelphrey!

[@Cosaman831]

Hello Evan, Great information. Thank you. I'm designing a 800 gallon tidal reef (SPS LPS) tank. I want ease of maintenance and cost effective for adding trace elements. Leaning towards a calcium reactor. Do you agree? How large a unit? and should the Co2 tank be large as well? Thank you for your time.

[@KlemmetsmoReefing]

Now that’s how you motor through tank supplementation in 15 minutes! 👍👏👍

[@HerringZFish]

Helpful video.

[@ReefDudes]

Thanks Asa

[@Reefscom]

good job bud!

[@dailycoral]

Also, have you ever ran Kalk in combination with a calcium reactor? I'm considering it, as I've heard it's a great combo for corals along with the Ph boost

[@ReefDudes]

Yes i have via a kalk stirrer.. however it didn't really keep up as i seemed to be dosing more than i was evaporating. currently im just runing the doser so i haven't used it since// adding it to your ATO is an easy way to give it that little boost.t

[@calanprc3]

Hi Devon, Great video! I have a Waterbox 130.4 ireef tank. Is this considered a small reef tank? Debating if I should switch from 2 part dosing to kalkwasser or Calcium reactor. Any advise?

[@ManCaveReef]

Thanks good information

[@ReefDudes]

Thanks Man Cave Reef :D

[@tylerjaax4917]

Great video! As others have mentioned, it is definitely 2 teaspoons, not tablespoons of Kalk per gallon as a max.

[@ReefDudes]

Thanks for pointing that out tyler!

[@serenabowman2214]

I was thinking about using kalkwasser on the nano tank but I do my ro top by hand so if i get a atu I might go down this road or I was thinking on a calcium reactor aswell? If I went with a calcium reactor then I'd get a bigger one so when I get my bigger tank I can then take it off the nano and install to the bigger tank but I'm not sure what to do! 🙈

[@ReefDudes]

for a nano, an ATO is the way to go :)

[@Whiskeys_Reef]

i did not read all the comments but don,t you dose kalk at 2 teaspoon per gallon instead of two tablespoons?

[@karennation3580]

This is probably a stupid question. i have been doin weekly water changes but after getting a bunch of corals my nitrates have shot uo to about 60 from the refroids i would imagine and my alk has dropped to 6 from 9. my phosphates looks anywhere from zero to 0.25 with api (Going to get some better kits maybe hanna checkers) Proably not that high because I have a bag of chemipure elite in my filter sock. My skimmer is just now getting hooked up it had a leak in it, so probably use nopox since I have a huge bottle that came with tank should I remove chemipure? So for the alk. issue, first i have to get my alk up right? so confused as to which to start with. I have low ph especially since I started covering tank because of jumpers! I have half screen and half glass because it a bowfront! My ph is 7.6, used to be 7.9. I had planned to use soda ash because of the ph uping but yous said if you need to up alot that you would use sodium bicarbonate. Will kalkwasswer up my ph once I switch to that and have levels where I want? Can I just dose sodium bicarb. or soda ash by hand then when I get it to where I want start using ato and kalk? I have no idea how much to put to make up a solution at first until i get it to where I want it then I am sure i can use a calculator! Appreciate any advice. This is the part where things start getting difficult! The dreaded dosing! Actually my calcium and mag is spot on because of weekly water changes but I guess its better not to do weekly water changes because it changes things and the stability! What is your opion on that? My frags are all small, mostly lps, softies and a few sps. sorry to ask so many questions but I know you da man! LOL I love your youtubes and watch most of them! Appreciate all you do for us reefers!

[@justdabubbletip1452]

Just an FYI. The max amount of kalkwasser per gallon is two teaspoons not two tablespoons. Otherwise very informative video👍🏼. Do Canadians even use tablespoons and teaspoons?

[@ReefDudes]

hahah Thanks! I just went with a spoon full.. im by no means on pro baker status haha

[@mozby76]

Red flags! I was about to comment the same thing but glad someone said it a year ago! You should really edit this video to correct that info. At least throw in the correction in a caption.

[@frostyhardtruth3170]

@ReefDudes What ?🤔 Dude, listen again..you clearly said ‘tablespoons’ not ‘spoonfuls’ ...and as some people could use your provided info..don’t you feel that’s worth correcting ? Or at least adding this correction in video details?

[@drewlong77]

4th way of adding it is a gravity fed dripper from a 5 gal bucket with 1/8" rodi line and bulkhead with valves on each end in nearby closet or cabinet. My kalk just drips one drop ever 2 to 3 seconds depending on time of year/evaporation rate. At which point I increase the kalk concentation. I just look at sharpy line on sump and increase or slow drip to keep level there. Rarely changes. 1 bucket lasts 3-5 days on 120 gal system.

[@drewlong77]

GOOD VID. Most people will have to buy the kalk first..at which point they will read tsp..not tbsp...so not a big deal. :) Also..evaporation changes depends on where you live/humidity Inside your house. LESS evap in summer while AC runs...More in winter while heat is on and air is more dry.

[@cubanreefer1582]

I test for alkalinity Wednesday and Saturday to make sure I don’t get a big fluctuations is that a good idea?

[@ReefDudes]

Sounds solid, once you don't get much in fluctuations you can prob test weekly but it never hurts to test more! :)

[@karennation3580]

How can I dial in a daily dose if my alk drops very randomly? One day may drop 0.1 them maybe 3 days no drop then maybe 0.2? I used to get it up to about 8.5 or 9 after water change but today only went from 7 to 7.5. I thought about doing a few water changes to get it back up to that. Is it the norm to have to dose a tank thats only had corals for a few months? I had fairly stable dkh then after being coralless for about 5 months on a 7 months old tank I added about 30 frags within a month and it started dropping. Seems like it is dropping less. My lfs said on a young tank ( 7 months) I shouldn't need to dose for years. My frags are all small but a few. Do you think it will level out and get used to the change or is it normal for my amount of frags and size tank. 36 gallon.

[@markgresin6335]

I am really looking for the answer to: does 2 part dosing Alk/Calc increase PH along with Alkalinity? Hard to find the answer to this question. From what I am gathering it sounds like you want to 2 part dose to handle your alkalinity and then dose kalk on top of the two part to keep PH levels at a decent level.

[@ReefDudes]

Depends on the alk solution but many will give you a temporary ph bump

[@dangappa]

Where would you draw the line at needing a calcium reactor vs dosing two part? My reef has consumed a max of 300 ml per day of two part.

[@bluerider0988]

BRS has a good video on this. Search BRS calcium reactor.

[@flreefshark76]

Many thanks Evan for the awesome video in regards to KALK! I am not a big fan of running a KALK through my ATO.. Actually, I run a single #BRS perilastic pump running through my Avast Marine KALK reactor that's all connected to my APEX.

[@ReefDudes]

Sounds like an excellent setup!

[@flreefshark76]

@@ReefDudes its coming along!! I am going to be hard plumbing my 150 RIMLESS this weekend or next and will be putting out Episode 2 in my 10 part series SCA150 dream build!!

[@logancannon458]

I guess Im kinda off topic but do anyone know a good site to stream new movies online ?

[@luiskade7316]

@Logan Cannon flixportal :P

[@logancannon458]

@Luis Kade Thank you, I signed up and it seems to work =) Appreciate it!

[@bruce3579]

So 2 part is to get your tank levels where u need them and then use kawlkwaser to maintain?

[@ReefDudes]

Yep. You need 2 part if you want to adjust the levels where kalk can raise but better to let it maintain it

[@macbarb12]

Do you recommend a specific pH pen probe to test to the pH does not change more the 0.02 with each kalkwasser addition from an ATO?

[@ReefDudes]

I use the neptune apex one.. I have used handheld ones in the past but they were not the most reliable and required frequent calibration. In general, i wouldnt worry to much about PH as long as your adding kalkwasser slowly. you dont want it to go toooooo high but generally with ato slowly adding it its not an issue. What does your PH normally sit at mid day?

[@macbarb12]

I use to have a glass cover on my Red Sea Nano max and over the winter my pH was around 7.8 (no real fresh air). For a couple of weeks now I switched to a Red Sea mesh cover and with it warming up and the windows open in my apartment my pH is now 8.2 at noon. Which I was pleasantly surprised with!

[@ReefDudes]

Air exchange makes a big difference! hehe Pointing your return nozel up a bit to agitate the surface will also help rais it a smidge more.. 8.2 is a good place to be!

[@karennation3580]

How long is the ph raising benefit with soda ash? Will it give you higher ph most of the day or keep it stable? I know you recently added outside airline for ph and you said it was below 8 before but if you are using soda ash why would you need to do that? I am looking for the easiest way. My hubby has little interest and I am not handy at climbing in the attic ect...lol being a woman. I am starting to understand why there are way more men reefers than woman! haha. I love the hobby and I love taking care of my underwater coral garden but all the carpentry and engineering and all that I can defiently do without.

[@ReefDudes]

hehe, you can do a recirculating one that uses air form the skimmer in a loop which is very efficient on media. (no holes in the house required!) How long it lasts all depends how much co2 is in your surrounding air / tank ..aka how hard the media has to work.

[@karennation3580]

@@ReefDudes Thanks so much for reply, hate to keep bugging you but how do I do that? I know there is a tiny airline sticking out and what media are you speaking of? Only media I am using is carbon basically in a filter sock. Super small cabinent under a 36 bowfront. I used to have chemipure elite but phospahtes got to low. I have nothing else hooked to tank. Going to dose by hand probably plus I am upgrading soon to a 120 so waiting untill then to add dosers, ect Will 2 part keep ph up? I think i iwill switch to kalk later on.

[@careyedwards5662]

Setting up a 180 gal reef tank. Wich is more cost effective, Calcium reactor or 2 part

[@ReefDudes]

Your on the line were a calcium reactor would be more cost effective long term on a tank full of sps, if its full of softies then a doser is all you need.

[@careyedwards5662]

ReefDudes thanks

[@vsreef1042]

Hey dev, hows the kalk stirrer you made? I'm looking to add kalk to my system to raise the ph but those 250$ stirrers are bulky and look easy to diy. Also I cant find any info on what you do to maintain it and keep the kalk saturated

[@ReefDudes]

V's Reef haven’t used it in ages as Kalk couldn’t keep up on my tank. To maintain just give it a good clean or with vinegar and water every few months. And top off as needed. You jsut have to make sure you don’t put too much Kalk in that the stir bar has issue. It’s really finding that sweet spot of how much to add to the reactor

[@vsreef1042]

@@ReefDudes Oh so leaving some at the bottom undissolved basically dissolves itself as its consumed? And all I'd have to do is keep it at a reasonable level for it to sift through?

[@ReefDudes]

V's Reef exactalg. You push fresh rodi into it. And you let the max saturated liquid drip out. As long as it’s not too thick it stirs once in a While to make sure it’s always fully saturated

[@vsreef1042]

@@ReefDudes How are you managing your ph now with the calcium reactor? I have a relative who's running kalk with his calcium reactor just to keep his ph above 8

[@ReefDudes]

@@vsreef1042 Mine is 8.08-8.29 ish.. bounces around in there.. Tiny outside airline to skimmer. Refugium and a turf scrubber.. between them all its been keeping it high :)

[@mack4like]

PLEASE HELP!!!!! I’m attempting to use Kalkwasser with a BRS dosing pump, but it does not seem to help with my dkh. My PH raises but not dkh. I mix 2 teaspoons to 1 gallon of RODI water for about a minute and let it settle for about 2-3 hours before use. I have sealed the container but it eventually creates a vacuum and very little Kalkwasser is dosed. I now tighten the lid but not fully. Can someone tell me what I’m doing wrong. Any help is appreciated.

[@ReefDudes]

Check your Mag as its likely out of whack.

[@mack4like]

Thank you, waiting on mag test kit to come in tomorrow.

[@myopinion6328]

If the water dkh is tested at 13, what causes it to be high and what can be done to lower ?

[@ReefDudes]

Its likely the DKH of the salt mix your using. What brand of salt do you use?

[@myopinion6328]

ReefDudes it's Omega sea premium reef salt...I also have instant ocean salt, but I don't think this is the reef salt just normal salt

[@serenacroft6801]

I am quite sure he meant to say TSP not TBSP.

[@ReefDudes]

Likely :)

[@stellarlivingstoned]

Why did you only have a Canadian accent for the first 20 seconds of the video?

[@ReefDudes]

you just got used it that fast!