kalkwasser dosing

[advanwoerden]

Hello,

I'm using a airlifter to dose RO/DI out of a utility bucket. I tried adding kalkwasser to the water, but it calcified inside the airlifter and caused it to stop pumping. Am I doing something wrong, or is there something I can do to prevent this? Looking forward to your feedback, thanks.

 

[ed51802]

Make sure you not suckin from
Bottom of container
Sent from my SPH-M910 using Reefs

 

[marrone]

Are you putting the kalkwasser right into the top off water? What you need to do it mix it first in a container, with RO/DI water, and then let in settle down. In time the excess powder will settle down to the bottom of the container, leaving clear liquid on top. This clear liquid is what you add to your top off water.

 

[AlohaTropics]

Also helps to mix Kalk in a sealed container. Oxidation will reduce the kalkwasser effectiveness and cause chemical reactions.

 

[jdnumis]

+1 with marrone

 

[ming]

Also helps to mix Kalk in a sealed container. Oxidation will reduce the kalkwasser effectiveness and cause chemical reactions.

While that it true, it doesn't seem to be significant

Limewater can lose potency by reacting with carbon dioxide in the air, forming insoluble calcium carbonate. Since calcium carbonate is not an effective supplement of calcium and alkalinity in reef aquaria, the limewater can become less useful through this process. The rate at which this happens in large containers, such as plastic trash cans with loose fitting lids, however, is much less than many aquarists expect. There is, in fact, little degradation under typical use conditions. Consequently, the dosing of limewater from such large, still reservoirs can be just as effective as, or more so than, dosing using any other scheme.

 

[AlohaTropics]

It's true about the less significant calcium carbonate buildup but I've had experience with dropping ph over exposed time. It was when I would mix about 25 gallons of kalkwasser topoff and let it sit open for use over about 1 week with a timed nightly powerhead that stirred it. A good mixture should have a ph of about 13 but I found my mixture by the 4th or 5th day to drop significantly down to 10-11.