Kalkwasser Simple Questions Thread

[topmav1]

I know there are several different sites that discuss kalkwasser but they all seem to miss the simple questions I have. This is how I am using kalkwasser. If I'm wrong someone please say so...

I made about 15 gallons of RO/DI water. Put it in a 30gal garbage can. Mixed about 1 TSP PER GALLON (too little, too much?)of Kalkwasser. Stirred it by hand. Dripping into the sump for top off water. I lose about 2 gallons a day so this should last about a week to 10 days. Calcium when I last dripped kalk was 450 now its 380 so now I want to use Kalk for top off consistently.

The water in the garbage can is clear with a white sediment on the bottom.

Do I have to clean out the garbage before I refill the top off water next week?

If I want to raise my salinity a bit using drip method can that salt mix be used with Kalk in the same garbage can?

I will prob switch to reg lime water soon but same questions apply.

 

[Killerdrgn]

Yes you should probably clean it out with vinegar before you use it for the next batch of top off water, don't forget to rinse out the vinegar with RO/DI before you use it for real.
The white sediment on the bottom is probably because it's not being mixed in very well.

You should probably raise salinity without the kalk, in small quantities of water it's very easy to cause a white out with kalk.

Lime water is kalk right?

 

[topmav1]

Yes. Just cheaper ways of doing it w/o using Kalk.
I read that the water should be clear not milky.:banghead:

 

[Killerdrgn]

Actually I should have asked, how much sediment is on the bottom? is it a light coating or like pretty much all of the kalk that you put in?

And on the other thing, kalk is already dirt cheap. 16 oz of pickling lime is only $5.

 

[bad coffee]

You should only be dosing once the water clears. You don't want to be dosing white kalkwasser.

I'd just dump in more kalk and more water when you need a refill. Scrape the gunk and clean every other batch or so.

I have a kalk reactor and it's so much easier than dosing my top off.

B

 

[topmav1]

Actually I should have asked, how much sediment is on the bottom? is it a light coating or like pretty much all of the kalk that you put in?

And on the other thing, kalk is already dirt cheap. 16 oz of pickling lime is only $5.

Right. Gonna use pickling lime from now one once this batch is done.
It looks like a thin layer of white at the bottom.

 

[Killerdrgn]

ok i'm guessing you mean using pickling lime from like mrs wages as opposed to buying kalk from seachem.

 

[topmav1]

ok i'm guessing you mean using pickling lime from like mrs wages as opposed to buying kalk from seachem.

Yes

 

[Killerdrgn]

ahh yes, ok I didn't think you originally meant that, but yeah gotcha now.

This is good for like a couple years supply.

http://store.mrswagesstore.com/w502-h7425.html

 

[topmav1]

Thanks

 

[cali_reef]

Pickling lime leaves a brown residue in my kalk reactor, I had to clean the thing once a months or so. I now use bulk kalk from bulkreefsupply.com, no more residue and just keep adding.

Adding salt to your kalk water will cause the ca to precipitate out.

 

[NYreefNoob]

Stirred it by hand.

never use your bare hand and make sure when mixing and putting it in your mouth and nose are covered eye's as well, kalk can f u up. i use 2 ts per gallon in my ato, i have 2 containers thats i use, 1 thats being used for ato and the other is filled with ro, so a day or so before i need to fill ato unit i mix my kalk water with vinegar and mix and let settle for 24 hr's, you will always have some sediment left over, i dont clean mine out till after ive made a few batch, it wont hurt anything, Ms limes pickling is actually a higher food grade then any of the reef brands { go figure } and alot cheaper in the long run

 

[topmav1]

never use your bare hand and make sure when mixing and putting it in your mouth and nose are covered eye's as well, kalk can f u up. i use 2 ts per gallon in my ato, i have 2 containers thats i use, 1 thats being used for ato and the other is filled with ro, so a day or so before i need to fill ato unit i mix my kalk water with vinegar and mix and let settle for 24 hr's, you will always have some sediment left over, i dont clean mine out till after ive made a few batch, it wont hurt anything, Ms limes pickling is actually a higher food grade then any of the reef brands { go figure } and alot cheaper in the long run

Lol. I didnt mean my hand in the water...I use my glass scraper and stir it.

 

[cali_reef]

never use your bare hand and make sure when mixing and putting it in your mouth and nose are covered eye's as well, kalk can f u up. i use 2 ts per gallon in my ato, i have 2 containers thats i use, 1 thats being used for ato and the other is filled with ro, so a day or so before i need to fill ato unit i mix my kalk water with vinegar and mix and let settle for 24 hr's, you will always have some sediment left over, i dont clean mine out till after ive made a few batch, it wont hurt anything, Ms limes pickling is actually a higher food grade then any of the reef brands { go figure } and alot cheaper in the long run

Did you actually had it and all other reef brands tested?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Do not mix kalk in saltwater.

If the the water is clear while you still have residue at the bottom is fine if you have done a lot of stirring. The power will self saturate, so if you 1/2 inch of residue vs 1 inch of residue the clear water remains the same concentration provided that you stirr long enough.

However, if you stir it too much such as using a powerhead all night-a standard way of mixing salt water, then the solution will become less effective as too much oxygen will decrease the effectiveness of the chemical. Hence, the reactor only stirr with a very slow magnet.