Dosing Kalkwasser

sil40sx · Nov 12, 2016

Does it means the picture above is just normal cloudy, and safe to use?

sil40sx · Nov 12, 2016

Also, while you're hear,. I have one last question for you @Randy Holmes-Farley LOL

Let's say I got my levels where I want them consistently with Kalkwasser, say 450 calcium and 8 alk. Question is, what's going to happen when I do my water change? My fresh salt mix is CA 450, then 10 alk, would my tank ca will stay at 450, and alk will raise a tad bit? (3 gallons WC in a 25g tank)

sil40sx · Nov 14, 2016

You forgot about me guys

LOL

cracker · Nov 14, 2016

Sorry sil, That happens around here. Thanks for starting this thread . A great topic. so check out post #40 Randy says a little cloudy water is OK.
Also , If your salt mix has higher levels of Alk & Ca, It should raise a tad. I'm fairly sure the kalkwasser will only maintain levels , not raise or lower them.
So maybe test your water over a period of time and let us know. That would be a good way to find out.

sil40sx · Nov 14, 2016

Ah ok, thanks. I'll keep checking for a few more days. And after a WC.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2016

sil40sx said:
Also, while you're hear,. I have one last question for you @Randy Holmes-Farley LOL

Let's say I got my levels where I want them consistently with Kalkwasser, say 450 calcium and 8 alk. Question is, what's going to happen when I do my water change? My fresh salt mix is CA 450, then 10 alk, would my tank ca will stay at 450, and alk will raise a tad bit? (3 gallons WC in a 25g tank)

If the tank alk is at 8 dKH and the new water is 10 dKH, then a 10% change only boosts alk to 8.2 dKH. Not enough to worry about, IMO.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2016

sil40sx said:
Does it means the picture above is just normal cloudy, and safe to use?

If you leave limewater open to the air, it may stay cloudy from ongoing precipitation of calcium carbonate as CO2 enters it from the air. When sealed up, it will eventually get a crust on top and clear up, but after 24 h of settling, I'd use it whatever it looks like.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2016

cracker said:
Also , If your salt mix has higher levels of Alk & Ca, It should raise a tad. I'm fairly sure the kalkwasser will only maintain levels , not raise or lower them.
So maybe test your water over a period of time and let us know. That would be a good way to find out.

It will raise levels if you add too much but the idea that it "only maintains levels" comes from the fact that you cannot use it to boost calcium substantially because alk (and possibly pH) will shoot too high.

For example, a 60 ppm boost to calcium will shoot alk up by 8.4 dKH.

sil40sx · Nov 15, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
If the tank alk is at 8 dKH and the new water is 10 dKH, then a 10% change only boosts alk to 8.2 dKH. Not enough to worry about, IMO.

Oh, nice to know! Im glad its not too high. I was planning on raising my alk to 10 to match my new salt mix so I dont have to worry about alk swing when doing WC. But good to know its only 0.20 increase for 10% WC.

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
If you leave limewater open to the air, it may stay cloudy from ongoing precipitation of calcium carbonate as CO2 enters it from the air. When sealed up, it will eventually get a crust on top and clear up, but after 24 h of settling, I'd use it whatever it looks like.

I see,. I made a kalk mix in my 5 g container, the lid would seal it nice and tight. I will just use a very small pump to transfer the kalk mix into my ATO reservoir so it wouldn't disturb the precipitation in the bottom.

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It will raise levels if you add too much but the idea that it "only maintains levels" comes from the fact that you cannot use it to boost calcium substantially because alk (and possibly pH) will shoot too high.

For example, a 60 ppm boost to calcium will shoot alk up by 8.4 dKH.

Ok, I'll take a note of this too. But so far so good,. Before I dosed kalkwasser, I was able to set my tank levels to alk 8.00 and ca 475. For the past couple days, every time I test, I get between 8.00-8.05, and 475-480.

Thanks everyone for the help, and inputs. Wouldn't be able to understand this stuff without you guys, I'm a slow learner. LOL! Hopefully while my tank matures, it stays stable.

Thanks again!

bif24701 · Nov 15, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
If you leave limewater open to the air, it may stay cloudy from ongoing precipitation of calcium carbonate as CO2 enters it from the air. When sealed up, it will eventually get a crust on top and clear up, but after 24 h of settling, I'd use it whatever it looks like.

Randy,
For the last 8 months my 32 gallon Kalk Brute would crust over. The last two patches never get the crusting over the top. Why would this be, I don't think it's a problem because I'm still able to maintain my levels. What do you think caused this? I though the crust helped keep the CO2 out and benefits me by improving the pH rising abilities.

Thoughts? Thank you.

cracker · Nov 15, 2016

I'd like to add to bif's question. So You guys are using brute cans so the lid snapped down is enough to keep down Co2 from getting in there? I have 2 small holes drilled into the lid of my can just big enough for the power line and output tubing from the pump. Thanks !
Good luck sil ! Please let us know how your setup works for you .

cmcoker · Nov 15, 2016

Rather than a plain lamp timer you can use a digital timer like this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040718U0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use that timer an avast marine ATO with an aqualifter pump, the timer is set to run for 2 min every half hour. This way the timer keeps too much from going on at once, and the ATO keeps the level from getting too high.

bif24701 · Nov 16, 2016

cracker said:
I'd like to add to bif's question. So You guys are using brute cans so the lid snapped down is enough to keep down Co2 from getting in there? I have 2 small holes drilled into the lid of my can just big enough for the power line and output tubing from the pump. Thanks !
Good luck sil ! Please let us know how your setup works for you .

From what I have read the crust of calcium carbonate on top was supposed to keep out CO2. Yes I have a kid, and a small hole for the line.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 16, 2016

bif24701 said:
From what I have read the crust of calcium carbonate on top was supposed to keep out CO2. Yes I have a kid, and a small hole for the line.

It does help do that, yes.

I used Brute cans with a lid for 20 years to dose limewater as the only source of calcium and alkalinity on my system.

bif24701 · Nov 17, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It does help do that, yes.

I used Brute cans with a lid for 20 years to dose limewater as the only source of calcium and alkalinity on my system.

Why would my Kalk stop developing a crust on top?

This started happening about a month ago.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 18, 2016

bif24701 said:
Why would my Kalk stop developing a crust on top?

This started happening about a month ago.

Water movement, lack of CO2 getting to it, the crust breaks and falls in, didn't wait long enough, or too weak of limewater all are possibilities.

bif24701 · Nov 18, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Water movement, lack of CO2 getting to it, the crust breaks and falls in, didn't wait long enough, or too weak of limewater all are possibilities.

CO2 is possible. I used to mix my Kalk indoors and I'm sure the brute would Have absorbed a lot of CO2. I have started to add vinegar to the Kalk and it seems to still be just as effective. So maybe it's not any problem at all.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 18, 2016

bif24701 said:
CO2 is possible. I used to mix my Kalk indoors and I'm sure the brute would Have absorbed a lot of CO2. I have started to add vinegar to the Kalk and it seems to still be just as effective. So maybe it's not any problem at all.

Depending on how much vinegar and how much lime, it may not be as high of pH and may not form a crust for that reason.