Kalkwasser dosing question

[skeety]

Okay...bought a bucket of Kalkwasser.

finally got my levels where I want them...so I want to start adding some to my top off water.

Only problem is...the stupid directions say, and I quote:

"Add 1/8th to 2 full teaspoon per gallon"

question is...how do I know how much? Obviuosly, the lower my levels the more I add, but how much more?

Is there a specific amount for a specific level/bioload? Someone help me here.

Right now, I'm just ballparking it at 1 full teaspoon per gallon.

any help would be appreciated.

[wharyat]

I do one teaspoon per gallon, all my levels are stable; YMMV tho. Took me a month or so of testing every other day to find the best amount to add to mine.
I use pickling lime, chemically the exact same product Ca(OH)₂; I only pay 2 dollars a lb.

[drsyme]

What do you mean a bucket? Was this pickling lime from the grocery store, or kalkwasser from a lfs?

If it is the former, you probably want a higher amount per gallon. According to Tom, he recommends 3 tablespoons per gallon. The idea is that the solution is saturated so it is the same no matter what the "bioload" of hard corals is.

You can start off with a lower amount, say 1 tsp per gallon, and follow your numbers, there is nothing wrong with that. Frankly I use 2 tsp per gallon of the Kent Marine Kalkwasser, but next time I am going to get the much cheaper pickling lime, and dose it at higher concentrations.

[skeety]

okay...so basically, just use some amount....test....adjust....repeat?

(argh) hahaha

my calcium test kit makes me end up using like 20-25 drops per test. Testing every day, I'm pretty sure the bottle will be empty by this time next week...and I just bought it last week! hahaha

So one last question. Adding 2 tsp, vs 1 tsp will just make a more saturated solution? No ill affects from adding too much? I'm aware that long term, I could super-saturate, and start precipitating Ca, but I'm assuming that would require more than 2 tsps/gln, right?