is kalkwasser the same thing as those a and b cacium liquids i put in? i also so a liquid form of this kalkwasser called calcium hydroxide solution.what should i really be adding in my 110 galon reef and fish tank. ive been adding frozen brine ,4 drops of iodine a week for the clams,dt's,and that two part calcium thing.i also put in some red algae for the tangs.what else should i be putting in there.
Kalkwasser is not the same as the 2-part additives. Kalkwasser is calcium hydroxide dissolved in water to saturation. It is used to maintain calcium levels in saltwater aquariums. It has a very high pH (12+) and must be dripped or dosed very slowly into the aquarium. An added benefit is that it helps maintain alkalinity (although it doesn't contain any of the common buffering agents, it helps neutralize acids that make your alkalinity decrease), it maintains pH due to it's own high pH, and it also can precipitate phosphates out of your aquarium water. The down side is that it loses strength quickly so you need to make up small batches that will be used within a few days, and people often don't want to bother with mixing it up and come up with a drip or dose method.
The 2-part additives are usually mostly calcium chloride in one solution for calcium maintenance, and buffering agents (carbonate, bicarbonate, borate etc.) in the other solution that compliment each other to maintain a calcium/alkalinity balance. They are effective and easy to use. The down side is that they will increase salinity over time as they contain various salts, usually there is a maximum that can be added at one time due to the pH spike, and they are more expensive over the long run.
As far as additives for your tank, you are doing just fine using the 2-part calcium additives, just monitor your calcium and alk levels to be sure you are properly maintaining them. As for iodine supplements, the jury is still out on it, you will probably get a 50/50 mix on answers as to it's effectiveness. Personally I think as long as you keep the doses extremely limited you are probably doing no harm, but it's hard to say without actually measuring what you are adding. I would prefer to maintain most of these "trace" elements through regular partial water changes with a good salt mix.
I have no idea what animals you are keeping, but I would try to vary the feeding a bit more, fish love brine but it's not all that nutritious. Try some other frozen foods, the Formula type come to mind, and also you might want to get some Selcon and soak the food in it before feeding. The tangs will love some green seaweed also.
I've rambled enough, hope this answers a few of your questions.
thanks for the advice, is selcon like that zoe ive seen? and what type of tropical mix should i buy?
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
The Reef Tank
2.7M posts
79.2K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to reef aquarium owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about flora, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!