The Kalk King is not just a new product but it could also be eligible for a new product category, brought to you by E-Fins, makers of the Algae Mower Vac that we also didn’t know we needed. Simply put the Kalk King is a kalkwasser doser for adding saturated limewater to your reef tank either in conjunction with float switches, automated and with failsafes to prevent overdosing.
The Kalk King consists of an acrylic mixing chamber that is 6.5”L x 3.3”W x 14”H, so a little bit fatter than a typical hang on filter or skimmer. Small DC pumps are included to both mix the kalk slurry and for dosing to the aquarium, both of which are controlled by a central computer. The Kalk King’s computer/controller allows users to adjust the mixing intervals and the drip rate of your feed pump.
Where the Kalk King departs from the norm is with the inclusion of a pH monitor which automatically turns off the dosing of Kalkwasser should the pH get too high. Other accessories like included check valves, tubing, magnetic float switch help to make sure that installation of the Kalk King is everything you need and as streamlined as possible.
Some other perks of the Kalk King is that it serves additional functions of being a pH monitor, an automatic top off (ATO) device and a calcium & alkalinity dosing mechanism while using a single power cord to do so. Don’t know about you but power outlets around our aquariums are precious. The hang-on design of the Kalk King is suitable for placement on tanks, although most of us will want to get it on the sump.
There’s even an “Integrated water auto top off sub-system for feeding the kalkwasser reaction chamber”, likely a mechanical float switch for replacing spent water from the Kalk King’s reaction chamber. Finally, the Kalk King can be programmed to dose between 100ml and 20,000ml (5 gallons) per day which E-Fins reckons is good enough for reef tanks up to 500 gallons.
Of course there’s nothing revolutionary going on with the Kalk King, all of the components are readily available and you could easily assemble a kit like this with one visit to a well stocked LFS. However, you’d be hard pressed to gather all the pieces including the controller, pumps, pH monitor, power supplies and all the bits for $299, the suggested retail price that E-Fins is aiming for when the Kalk King is released later this year.
