Kalkwasser Opinions!!!!

tdog7879

Member
Im think about using kalkwasser at nitetime to keep my PH levels up and help with the cal. Just wanted to get your opinions on this.
 

natclanwy

Active Member
I think it is great!! I have been dosing kalkwasser to help keep my calcium up for a few months now, its taken me a little while to get my dosing schedule worked out to keep my PH from spiking too high while still maintaining my calcium levels.
PS
I have been using Mrs Wag es Pickling lime to mix my kackwasser, its about $2.75 for a pound instead of $12 a pound for something labeled for aquarium use.
 

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2832078
I think it is great!! I have been dosing kalkwasser to help keep my calcium up for a few months now, its taken me a little while to get my dosing schedule worked out to keep my PH from spiking too high while still maintaining my calcium levels.
PS
I have been using Mrs Wag es Pickling lime to mix my kackwasser, its about $2.75 for a pound instead of $12 a pound for something labeled for aquarium use.
What is your drip rate for the kalkwasser? Also where did you fine mrs wages pickliing lime mix?
 

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2832138
What is your drip rate for the kalkwasser? Also where did you fine mrs wages pickliing lime mix?
You don't want to match the drip rate of other hobbiests, you want your drip rate to match your evaporation rate. It might take a little time to get it dialed in.
Dripping less that you need is better than dripping too much but an automated system is best.
If you drip it into your skimmer intake you can precipitate phosphate while raising Alkalinity and Calcium.
 

tdog7879

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2832150
You don't want to match the drip rate of other hobbiests, you want your drip rate to match your evaporation rate. It might take a little time to get it dialed in.
Dripping less that you need is better than dripping too much but an automated system is best.
If you drip it into your skimmer intake you can precipitate phosphate while raising Alkalinity and Calcium.
Is this the best way to do it? This won't effect the skimmer?
 

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2832160
Is this the best way to do it? This won't effect the skimmer?
If your PH gets high you could get calcification on the pump driving your skimmer.
Other than that the only effect is to lower the PO4 level.
 

natclanwy

Active Member
Here is a link to an great calculator for figuring out how much you need to dose to maintain your calcium and alk levels.
Hopefully this link is okay feel free to delete if necessary Bang Guy:
Reef Chemistry Calculator
You can find the Pickling lime with the canning supplies at the grocery store.
 

tdog7879

Member
is the kalkwasser water need to be clear cause i made a batch about 3 hours ago and it is still a little cloudy?
 

tdog7879

Member
So i started dosing kalkwasser on a slow drip and i noticed after i shake it all up and then let it stand all of the kalkwasser goes to the bottom and i no that your not sopposed to use that and i don't but looking at the top of the jug that it is in.There is a film right at the very top of the jug. Is it ok for this film to get suck up by the drip tube?
 

natclanwy

Active Member
I believe so, if your not I don't know how you would stop it from entering the tank I haven't worried about it and I haven't had any issues.
 
D

dennis210

Guest
The precipitate that settles at the bottom is excess. The water can only handle disolving so much. 2 teaspoons per gallon seem to be the recomended rate. If you add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water you should then be able to mix 2 1/2 teaspoons of kalkwasser mix to the gallon and thus the solution is supposedly super saturated (carrying a load greater than the normal carrying capacity).
Also if you know how much evaporite you replace in your system each week it would be greatly beneficial. Say the sytem is topped up every week with 3 gallons of RO water then drip 3 gallons of kalkwasser per week (about 1 3/4 quarts per day).
When dripping kalk instead of just checking and adding to levels weekly my coral growth explodes!
Dennis
 
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