Kalc + Acid = ?

[jacksok]

Someone mentioned this in passing on another thread - mixing kalc with acetic acid to increase available calcium plus provide an increased source of carbon for the nitrifying bacteria. This was the first I'd heard of it (I live a sheltered life!) but the idea has clearly been around for a few years now. The posts by BReefCase in the attached thread from 2001 explains it:

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13...der=asc&start=0 (http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13770&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0)

I was wondering if any members had tried it and (and perhaps most tellingly) had stuck with it?

What were the drawbacks? I assume there must have been some otherwise everyone would be doing it by now (wouldn't we?).

Keith

[danny]

I have heard of doing it and it would probably suit my system, but I would worry that the vinegar (acid ) would dissolve not just the calcium but also any impurities in the kalk or RO water rather than them being precipitated out as would occur without the vinegar. Don`t know if that is true but it puts me off.
Cheers Danny

[Jawfish]

I tried this however stopped due to the slight increase in phosphates , and reduced system ph.

Mark

[Kevster]

I think the idea is sound, but the main draw back is that you no longer get the pH boost that you did with kalk alone. If it's boosted (ie, higher than you can achieve with kalk alone) calcium you need then using a calcium reactor seems like the best route.

[jacksok]

Thanks for the replies.

Don't feel a compelling need to try this myself yet, have both kalc stirrer and a reactor, so not pushed for extra calcium and don't feel my system is straining to deal with the nitrates. But worth keeping in mind if this situation should change I suppose.

Keith