kalkwasser

[DaytonaPalms]

Kalkwasser has been used for years with great success.  It would be helpful to know how much you are using, what size your tank is and if are you using any other supplements. In our reef tanks we use Kalkwasser for all of the make-up water lost to evaporation.  Typically we add about 2 teaspoons of Kalkwasser to every gallon of pure fresh water that we are going to use for top-off water.  The water is cold at least no warmer than room temperature.  The water and Kalkwasser powder is added to our container and gently stirred to mix.  After the residue settles to the bottom of the container we then slowly drip the liquid [lime water] into our system.  You can either drip into your sump or an area of high water flow in the reef tank. If you are having trouble keeping your PH up, 8.1 to 8.4, you may have a problem with the buffering capacity in your system.  You need to check the alkalinity and add a buffer such as Kent Marine Supperbuffer-dKH.   This will raise your alkalinity and help you maintain your PH where you want it Also I would strongly recommend you do some basic tests on your system, at least on a weekly basis.  If you don't, you are asking for a major disaster.   It is much easier to do a few tests and add the basic needs to keep your system stable than to never test and have your system crash.  If you have a reef system there are basic things that should be added on a regular schedule to keep your system functioning properly. Your basic tests for a reef system should at least be: (01)    Test PH (02)    Test Alkalinity (03)    Test  Calcium (04)    Test Nitrates (05)    Test Nitrites (06)    Test Ammonia There are several other factors that affect the PH in your system but I would need more information to address these. Good Luck With Your Tank, Gray Leonhard, Coral Reef Express www.coralreefexpress.com