kalk water test?

[r6_rider]

well i finally got the Ca salifert test kit in today. (way better then that piece of **** hagen that i had.) i tested the water and got 290 with alk at 2.3. i got bored and tested my batch of kalk water that i made up tonight and found something interesting. the make up water tested at 180. i was for sure that was wrong so i tested it 3 MORE times and they all were in the 180 - 200 range. now correct me if i'm wrong but i thought that the dose water was supposed to be greater then the tank water. :? you know this could have been my problem all along

 

[Anonymous]

describe exactly how you make your kalkvasser-product, amounts, etc.-also do you stir it thoroughly before you let it settle(do you let it settle)- is it fresh, etc.

 

[r6_rider]

i use ro/di water, and a 2.5 gallon poland springs water jug. since my Ca. was low i mixed in 2 teaspons but i usually only use 1 for the 2.5 gallon jug. the kalkwasser i use is the kent marine and it is pretty old (about 2 years). it was given to me buy a friend who upgraded to the Ca Reactor. shake it all up then let it sit for about 4-6 hours. then drip it in over night. before i dosed it last night i tested it and those were the results. just seemed rather strange.

 

[Anonymous]

what is the difference in the tests(if any) between a fresh batch made with your powder at 3-4 tspns/gal, and after letting it sit for 6 hrs.?

 

[Mac1]

Hmm... that is unusual. Nearest I can figure, since you mention it's an old can of Kalk Powder, is that it could have been exposed to air. The Kalk reacts w/ CO2 (something we want to happen in our tanks, not in the container), and forms limestone... pretty useless stuff unless you're adding to your sandbed. If the Kalk is really old and not stored properly, it might explain the lo numbers you're getting. The other thought I had was that the Kalk was so high, that it was giving erroneous readings. A Fresh batch of Kalk should mix to a pH of about 12, so if you have a pH meter lying about in your tank, that would be another way to test the air-theory.
For S&G's, next time at the LFS, get a fresh can, should only cost a few dollars (get the smallest size they have to test), and mix that up, do the same tests (pH and Ca).

- Mac

 

[r6_rider]

i'll try both of those thing tomorrow being that i'm stuck at work all day today. sample it as soon as i mix it, and test the pH on it. probably will just go and get a new can to be on the safe side. just haven't had time. i just did a water change to bring the Ca up plus it was about due anyway. thx for the ideas i'll let you know how it comes out.