Kalkwasser - Fluid - Questions???

GoVols · May 17, 2017

We all know that you let the kalk solution settle and use the clear fluid above the settlement at the bottom.

Question #1:
If I pump the clear kalk fluid into another holding tank will the clear fluid not settle anymore so that the bottom of the that holding tank has no settlement or mush?

Regards, GoVols

jason2459 · May 17, 2017

Introduced CO2 during the transfer could easily effect it but essentially yes. Are you particularly worried about the slurry on the bottom?

Mines been building up for many years though I keep saying cleaning it out periodically may be a good idea. Like once a year or so.

GoVols · May 17, 2017

jason2459 said:
Are you particularly worried about the slurry on the bottom?

That is correct.
I can not have slurry building up on the bottom of the final holding tank.

I don't want to add C02.
I just want to pump the clear kalk fluid to a upper tank but if it will continue to produce bottom slurry or weaken the clear Kalk then I need to know before I give it a go.

If I get the green light that it's an all go, then I would like to ask for some more advise pertaining to my setup.

jason2459 · May 17, 2017

Not sure the reasoning or setup but would a kalk reactor be more suitable for your situation?

RUNVS · May 17, 2017

To be honest i keep a powerhead in my kalk tank to keep everything mixed constantly, i have a dosing pump tied to my apex that turns on and off based on my tank ph. Seems to work well and havent noticed any adverse effects. Been running this way for 3 months or so.

GoVols · May 17, 2017

jason2459 said:
Not sure the reasoning or setup but would a kalk reactor be more suitable for your situation?

Yes a reactor may be better but my ATO tank is built inside my 2013 Red Sea S - Series back wall.
Have you seen how the S-Series is built?

jason2459 · May 17, 2017

I would advise against constant mixing and using pH to control the dosing other then being a failsafe shutoff.

Constant mixing will introduce more CO2 and cause more precipitation. I would guess your final product especially towards the end is not fully saturated limewater. You could test by conductivity.

Edit: to add I only stir for something less then a minute with a PVC pipe and let it settle to not be touched again until more water is needed. It does not need further stirring.

And another to add, constantly stirring will not let impurities or unsaturated lime to settle out that you would not want to dose into the tank.

jason2459 · May 17, 2017

GoVols said:
Yes a reactor may be better but my ATO tank is built inside my 2013 Red Sea S - Series back wall.
Have you seen how the S-Series is built?

Nope I haven't so can't really say what I think would be best. You could dose limewater separate from ATO which is what I do now and works out great and in my case better.

I've seen people put water containers in separate cabinets or vases next to the stand.

GoVols · May 17, 2017

jason2459 said:
Nope I haven't so can't really say what I think would be best. You could dose limewater separate from ATO which is what I do now and works out great and in my case better.

I've seen people put water containers in a separate cabinets or vases next to the stand.

Yes, I love my ATO!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, I'm up for the proper way to dose kalk seperatly from my ATO.

jason2459 · May 17, 2017

GoVols said:
Yes, I love my ATO!!!!!!!!!!!!
But, I'm up for the proper way to dose kalk seperatly from my ATO.

That tote above used to be my ATO with limewater. Another member, TMZ, posted about keeping alkalinity more constant/stable through dosing limewater separate from the ATO. So, I bought another container for RODI only ATO use and it runs just the same as before with several safety controls.

The old Rubbermaid tote kept the same contents of limewater and same peristaltic pump I was using which is a spectrapure standalone 250ml/m pump. The key is to keep the dosing under the evaporation rate. It has a timer that lets it run for 1 second every minute 24/7. My ato still kicks on a few times a day.

Even though it's dosing less overall limewater through out the day my pH actually stays higher consistently. I use pH to shutdown my dosing if it goes to high.

My apex programming for the outlet my peristaltic pump is on. The feed timer will stop the dosing when I mix up new water to allow it to settle out again.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
OSC 000:59/000:01/000:00 Then ON
If Output vPH_High_C7 = ON Then OFF
If Output vSumpHigh_A7 = ON Then OFF
If FeedD 120 Then OFF

The outlet my ATO pump is on
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
OSC 000:00/000:30/010:00 Then ON
If Output vATO_On_D4 = ON Then ON
If Output vATO_On_D4 = OFF Then OFF
If Output vSumpLow_A6 = OFF Then OFF
If Output vSumpHigh_A7 = ON Then OFF
If Output Return_2_1 = OFF Then OFF
If Output vATOEmpty_B6 = ON Then OFF

GoVols · May 17, 2017

Jason,
I have an Apex.

Thank You!!!!!

Paul Carpenter · May 17, 2017

GoVols said:
We all know that you let the kalk solution settle and use the clear fluid above the settlement at the bottom.

Question #1:
If I pump the clear kalk fluid into another holding tank will the clear fluid not settle anymore so that the bottom of the that holding tank has no settlement or mush?

Regards, GoVols

Yes. Unless some is still in suspension. FYI much of the remaining settled kalk is spent, of no value, and should be discarded in a week or two. Or 4!

jason2459 · May 17, 2017

Paul Carpenter said:
Yes. Unless some is still in suspension. FYI much of the remaining settled kalk is spent, of no value, and should be discarded in a week or two. Or 4!

How so? I don't remember the last time I've measured out my additions. Usually add (dump in) more lime every couple months. In between I refill my tote every couple weeks with just RODI and stir up the slurry. Conductivity seems to check out just fine. Measuing out additions of lime is a good idea though.

There are some useless content in there. Precipitated lime as CaCo3 (usually from the "skin" that formed on top from reacting with CO2 and stirred in on refills) and other impurities.

jason2459 · May 17, 2017

Great read for anyone looking to use limewater
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 17, 2017

GoVols said:
We all know that you let the kalk solution settle and use the clear fluid above the settlement at the bottom.

Question #1:
If I pump the clear kalk fluid into another holding tank will the clear fluid not settle anymore so that the bottom of the that holding tank has no settlement or mush?

Regards, GoVols

Clear limewater will get a scum of calcium carbonate on its surface that will fall through it to collect on the bottom.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 17, 2017

Paul Carpenter said:
Yes. Unless some is still in suspension. FYI much of the remaining settled kalk is spent, of no value, and should be discarded in a week or two. Or 4!

Limewater in something like a closed trash can retains its potency for weeks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 17, 2017

RUNVS said:
To be honest i keep a powerhead in my kalk tank to keep everything mixed constantly, i have a dosing pump tied to my apex that turns on and off based on my tank ph. Seems to work well and havent noticed any adverse effects. Been running this way for 3 months or so.

Be sure it is tightly closed to the air. I don't recommend stirring limewater after initial mixing because it greatly increases the rate of reaction of CO2 in the air with the limewater, making useless calcium carbonate.

GoVols · May 17, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Clear limewater will get a scum of calcium carbonate on its surface that will fall through it to collect on the bottom.

Thank You.

RUNVS · May 17, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Be sure it is tightly closed to the air. I don't recommend stirring limewater after initial mixing because it greatly increases the rate of reaction of CO2 in the air with the limewater, making useless calcium carbonate.

I use a 5 gallon bucket with a rubber sealed lid. I did not know this I will turn the powerhead off. Thanks guys