How long can i store kalkwasseer solution

Dlealrious

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Hi guys I'm wondering how long kalk will stay good in a sealed container with dosing line into it. I'm thinking of using a 8g container.
 
I'm only dosing small amounts too so I was hoping solution can last 2 to 3 months
 
I believe Randy has addressed this in the past (perhaps the long past - I think in an article in Reefkeeping e-zine). The fundamental chemistry of the solution is stable, since upon dissolution all you have are calcium ions in a high-pH alkaline aqueous solution.

The issue is interaction of the solution with CO2 in the air. That CO2 dissolves in the kalkwasser and reacts with the calcium to produce insoluble calcium carbonate. That's the summary reaction, btw - technically, the CO2 dissolves to form carbonic acid and then to carbonate/bicarbonate ions, and the carbonate reacts with the calcium to form Ca2CO3.

Typically, one sees a thin film of precipitated calcium carbonate on the surface of an unstirred kalkwasser solution after a day or two. To some extent, that film inhibits gas exchange, so less calcium carbonate is formed. I think that Randy tested the conductivity of a kalkwasser solution and concluded that it was still pretty close to saturation over the course of several weeks.

Whether your solution will remain "good" over several months would take some rather complicated technical analysis and some fairly big guesses as to what the CO2 concentration is in the air around your storage vessel. Another fairly big factor is whether you're going to stir up a saturated kalk solution and then pour off the clear solution as it settles into your ATO container. If so, then the calcium hydroxide content will start at saturation, then slowly decline as it reacts with CO2 in the air. OTOH, if the intent is to mix kalk powder directly in the ATO container so that there's some amount of undissolved kalk powder that stays at the bottom, then the solution will obviously stay at saturation for much longer. However, if you do this, be extremely careful that the ATO pump stays well above the settled, undissolved kalk and it can't stir up the undissolved layer when it turns on. A fair number of tank disasters have been caused by pumping kalk slurry directly into the tank.
 
Keep it tightly closed from the air and it will last a long, long time. Do not stir it.

I dosed from a 44 gallon brute can and it did not deplete over a month or more.
 
As long AS well sealed, at least 2-3 months for me but trick will be to get it stirred well for use
 
Keep it tightly closed from the air and it will last a long, long time. Do not stir it.

I dosed from a 44 gallon brute can and it did not deplete over a month or more.
How do you keep a 44 gallon brute sealed?
 
How do you keep a 44 gallon brute sealed?
You put the cover on.
LOL- JK- I for my seawater use a large bag over the top of rim then place the cover over that
 
Why? It is fine unstirred. If stirring is needed after storage, then you are implying it is being substantially degraded.

I show that unstirred limewater that is closed is stable here:

The Degradation of Limewater in Air - Reefkeeping.com
I find, there is settlement on bottom of container. With that I found it was necessary to blend it before use. Isnt that the purpose of a Kalk stirrer? Hmmm- Maybe im on to something I didn't realize?
 
You put the cover on.
LOL- JK- I for my seawater use a large bag over the top of rim then place the cover over that

That's all I did, both in practice and in my posted study of stability (above).
 
I find, there is settlement on bottom of container. With that I found it was necessary to blend it before use. Isnt that the purpose of a Kalk stirrer? Hmmm- Maybe im on to something I didn't realize?

The settled material may be undissolved calcium hydroxide, or precipitated calcium carbonate. The latter is normal and will not redissolve on stirring. The solids have other undesirables in it and should be left on the bottom.
 
The settled material may be undissolved calcium hydroxide, or precipitated calcium carbonate. The latter is normal and will not redissolve on stirring. The solids have other undesirables in it and should be left on the bottom.
Im going to try that.
 
I was about to post the same thing. I use kalk in my ATO and wait a couple days between new batches until everything settles on the bottom. Everything has been fine. The question I was going to ask is what is the purpose of a kalk stirrer if meant to leave untouched??
 
So you really don't need a air tight seal?
Technically, kalkwasser in a truly sealed container that is gas-impermeable will last forever. An example of such a container is a mason jar. For obvious reasons, though, that's inconvenient. A brute trash can isn't sealed, and gas diffusion is fast enough that having the lid on or off probably won't make much difference so long as the crust of calcium carbonate on the surface isn't disturbed. But one would obviously want to cover a container of any dosing solution being added to a tank for other reasons, one of which would be keeping pet hair out, which may eventually clog a dosing pump (DAMHIKT).

There's another aspect to this that's worth discussing. Kalk powder is a fundamentally extraordinarily cheap chemical. Even if it's purchased as a very pure grade from one of the 'net reef vendors or as Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime as Randy suggested in articles from the late 1990's/early 2000's. And since it's not all that soluble (about 1/4 teaspoon in 1 liter), your average container of ESV kalk powder will last a really, really long time.

So it's worth discussing the longevity of the solution from the aspect of maintaining the alkalinity that's being added to the tank and avoiding the PITA of re-making the solution just because it's been setting for too long, but from the cost perspective, it's one of the cheapest compounds commonly used in reef tanks.
 
Awesome thanks guys. Yes it will be stored in a water container which is sealed pretty good. I'll drill hole for dosing pipe and silicon that in. As I'm only dosing 300 to 400ml a day I just wanted to do a big batch so save changing all the time. Thanks randy and all for yours response
Bit of sps eye candy for your troubles
OI000318.JPG
 
I think you may find it hard to pull a liquid out of an air tight container ...I’m sure we all know this , just been overlooked
 

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