Dosing kalk… is this right?

[nim6us]

Like so many others I’m trying to get my pH up by dosing with kalkwassser.

I have a 5 gallon RO container, at 2 teaspoons a gallon I’ll add 10 teaspoons and mix. Then I place my dosing line about 2 inches from the bottom so I don’t suck up any settle out. Then run a slow continuous drip making sure to monitor alk and pH for spikes.

Now I’m on this is the part I want to be sure about:

• When my container starts to get low, can I simply add 5 more gallons, 10 teaspoons, and mix?
• Do I need to clean the settle out in between each batch?
• And do I have a to use the solution fully up or can I top up with 5 gallons and 10 teaspoons whenever I want?

 

[Oldreefer44]

Yes you "can" do all of the above. Was what i did starting out. You dont mention what size tank etc which is somewhat of a factor. IME it will eventually clog pumps etc making it cost effective in the long run to get a kalk stirrer and run a pump between the RO water and the stirrer.

 

[rhostam]

Yes. You can do it that way.

However, adding water and kalkwasser "whenever" is going to mean potency won't be as predictable. This would be the case if the RO container doesn't have a lid as contact time with air and RO evaporation will have an effect. I've had drips clog more frequently than I liked, as well.

If you're going to take this approach, then I would consume an entire "batch" of saturated KW. Then, mix up a new batch when it is low taking into account the volume remaining if not empty.

Cleaning out the container every so often is fine.

Are you planning on running this in addition to an auto-top-off?

I recommend a setup similar to what OldReefer44 described. But it does depend on your system volume, evaporation, consumption, etc. I used a modified approach that works well.

 

[nim6us]

@Oldreefer44 Thanks for confirming! The tank is 120g. But I’d like to understand your answer a bit better.

If I’m using a peristaltic dosing pump there’s no mechanical pump parts the solution is passing through. Are you saying just using kalk in general without a stirrer would be hard on my tank return pump and powerheads?

@rhostam Yes I would still be running a separate ATO.

I guess the thing I’m trying to avoid is dropping $400 on a kalk stirrer. If there’s a better way to deliver a consistent kalk dose, that’s low maintenance and affordable I’m totally open to suggestions.

 

[fish farmer]

I dose kalk this way.

5 gallon container that I can seal.

Kalk, I use BRS pharm grade it mixes really well. I rare have much settle and clean it out over couple of runs. I'm using about 1 tsp per gallon right now. I add my RO/DI water to the jug, add kalk, seal and shake. Let settle. That's all the mixing I do for about three weeks worth.

BRS dosing pump on a light timer, goes off every 15 minutes for 5 minutes.

 

[theMeat]

Like so many others I’m trying to get my pH up by dosing with kalkwassser.

I have a 5 gallon RO container, at 2 teaspoons a gallon I’ll add 10 teaspoons and mix. Then I place my dosing line about 2 inches from the bottom so I don’t suck up any settle out. Then run a slow continuous drip making sure to monitor alk and pH for spikes.

Now I’m on this is the part I want to be sure about:

• When my container starts to get low, can I simply add 5 more gallons, 10 teaspoons, and mix?
• Do I need to clean the settle out in between each batch?
• And do I have a to use the solution fully up or can I top up with 5 gallons and 10 teaspoons whenever I want?

Sounds like a plan. Except I’d run it on an ato and a small pump. Have been using hydor smart level for like 10 years now, would recommend. Oh, I clean out my container every few months. Haven’t had an issue that i’v noticed in nearly 20 years

 

[rhostam]

@Oldreefer44 Thanks for confirming! The tank is 120g. But I’d like to understand your answer a bit better.

If I’m using a peristaltic dosing pump there’s no mechanical pump parts the solution is passing through. Are you saying just using kalk in general without a stirrer would be hard on my tank return pump and powerheads?

@rhostam Yes I would still be running a separate ATO.

I guess the thing I’m trying to avoid is dropping $400 on a kalk stirrer. If there’s a better way to deliver a consistent kalk dose, that’s low maintenance and affordable I’m totally open to suggestions.

You could use any container and buy a 25-40$ stirrer and smart switch or timer on Amazon. My IceCap Kalkwasser reactor might have been the worst purchase I’ve made for my system, but the 300$ (Grrrr!) acrylic cylinder i salvaged from it works great now that I’ve removed it from its base and put it on a stirrer.

 

[nim6us]

My IceCap Kalkwasser reactor might have been the worst purchase I’ve made for my system,

I was actually looking at one of those, out of curiosity what was wrong with it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you're going to take this approach, then I would consume an entire "batch" of saturated KW. Then, mix up a new batch when it is low taking into account the volume remaining if not empty.

Perhaps it's just a semantic issue, but the approach he suggested will keep it saturated with known potency. There's no need to use it all up.

"And do I have a to use the solution fully up or can I top up with 5 gallons and 10 teaspoons whenever I want?"

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was actually looking at one of those, out of curiosity what was wrong with it?

I don't like any reactors for delivering limewater (kalkwasswer).

Users frequently discover the water is not as potent (saturated) as they assumed.