Kalkwasser Calculations

Jizu Puentes · May 20, 2016

I have been dosing kalkwasser in my ATO for a while now at 1 teaspoon per gallon and dosing 1 gallon per day. I ha e recently set up a dosing pump and separated the kalk from the ato. The pump can only put out 2376 ml per day which is less than my gallon per day dose. I was wondering what the difference would be if I added 2 teaspoons per gallon instead of 1. So 2376 ml of 2tsp/g per day versus 3785.41 ml of 1tsp/g per day.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 20, 2016

The effect is linear with the solid added and liquid dosed.

So 2 teaspoons in 1 L added is the same as 1 teaspoon in 2 liters added.

Thus the new dose (2376 mL of 2 tsp per gallon) is more total addition than 3785 mL of 1 tsp/gal.

Jizu Puentes · May 20, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The effect is linear with the solid added and liquid dosed.

So 2 teaspoons in 1 L added is the same as 1 teaspoon in 2 liters added.

Thus the new dose (2376 mL of 2 tsp per gallon) is more total addition than 3785 mL of 1 tsp/gal.

Ok so if I want to stay at the 2376 ml how many teaspoons per gallon should I use to keep the same strength as 3785 of 1tsp / g. Or if I just start doing 2 tsp/gal how many ml per day for the same strength?

Waterjockey · May 21, 2016

Jizu Puentes said:
I have been dosing kalkwasser in my ATO for a while now at 1 teaspoon per gallon and dosing 1 gallon per day. I ha e recently set up a dosing pump and separated the kalk from the ato. The pump can only put out 2376 ml per day which is less than my gallon per day dose. I was wondering what the difference would be if I added 2 teaspoons per gallon instead of 1. So 2376 ml of 2tsp/g per day versus 3785.41 ml of 1tsp/g per day.

If dosing 1 tsp/gallon, and 1 gallon/per day...that means your tank is consuming 1 tsp/day.....so that is the amount you want to dose regardless of concentration (as long as it is below saturation). So just add 1 tsp to whatever amount you are going to dose to the tank per day, and you will have added the same quantity of kalk per day to your tank, no?

Cheers!

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 21, 2016

Waterjockey said:
If dosing 1 tsp/gallon, and 1 gallon/per day...that means your tank is consuming 1 tsp/day.....so that is the amount you want to dose regardless of concentration (as long as it is below saturation). So just add 1 tsp to whatever amount you are going to dose to the tank per day, and you will have added the same quantity of kalk per day to your tank, no?

Cheers!

No. That is teaspoons per gallon of dosed water, not per tank gallon.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 21, 2016

Jizu Puentes said:
Ok so if I want to stay at the 2376 ml how many teaspoons per gallon should I use to keep the same strength as 3785 of 1tsp / g. Or if I just start doing 2 tsp/gal how many ml per day for the same strength?

The dose is far from critical since there are negative feedback loops that prevent higher doses from causing much rise in alk and calcium, but to match you'd dose 1.6 teaspoons per fresh water gallon added.

Waterjockey · May 21, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
No. That is teaspoons per gallon of dosed water, not per tank gallon.

Doh!
Thanks. Should have had my coffee this morning before surfing the forums.

Jizu Puentes · May 22, 2016

Thanks guys I always get a little intimidated when it comes to dosing measurements but once you guys explained it i just did a simple ratio equation and got the 1.59 haha.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2016

Waterjockey said:
Doh!
Thanks. Should have had my coffee this morning before surfing the forums.

No problem. Happy reefing.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2016

Jizu Puentes said:
Thanks guys I always get a little intimidated when it comes to dosing measurements but once you guys explained it i just did a simple ratio equation and got the 1.59 haha.

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

Jizu Puentes · May 23, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

Happy reefing!

Virtualbasil · May 24, 2016

I'm thinking about adding kalkwasser to my ATO but I'm worried it will clog it. I use a float valve to control it.

Jizu Puentes · May 24, 2016

Virtualbasil said:
I'm thinking about adding kalkwasser to my ATO but I'm worried it will clog it. I use a float valve to control it.

What kind of pump are you using for your ATO? I used an aqua lifter pump and never had it clog. Every now and then just remove the tubing and clean it or replace it.

Virtualbasil · May 24, 2016

I don't use a pump it's a siphon and it turns on when the float valve activates.

Jizu Puentes · May 24, 2016

Virtualbasil said:
I don't use a pump it's a siphon and it turns on when the float valve activates.

In that type of setup I don't see it clogging.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 25, 2016

I'd worry about deposits on the valve eventually messing with it, and maybe sticking it open a bit, allowing limewater to continually flow.

Jizu Puentes · May 25, 2016

Do you have a picture of the valve Virtualbasil?

Virtualbasil · May 25, 2016

I will take one when I get home, I mixed in a little kalkwasser to 3 gallons ro water and it's still cloudy ? Is it suppose to be cloudy?

Jizu Puentes · May 25, 2016

Ye

Virtualbasil said:
I will take one when I get home, I mixed in a little kalkwasser to 3 gallons ro water and it's still cloudy ? Is it suppose to be cloudy?

Yesit takes a little time to clear up. It won't be as clear as the unmixed RO water by the way. If you are gravity feeding it make sire it is slow and the sludge at the bottom isn't added to the tank