Life of Kalkwasser

reef life · Feb 5, 2016

Hey Randy, I started dosing kalk with vinegar. I am using a 5 gallon container with dosing pump. I nearly have the top sealed.(have small vent around tubing) My question is how long will this batch last until i have to mix another? Only dosing 700 ml's per/day which would last aprox 25ish days if the solution doesn't loose potency. Thanks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 5, 2016

How much lime and how much vinegar?

mrtian97 · Feb 5, 2016

what does the vinegar do for kalk, my ATO top off limewater about 1-1.2 gallon per day and I am not using vinegar

reef life · Feb 6, 2016

15 tsps of kalk and 100 cc's of vinegar.

reef life · Feb 6, 2016

Will go with the 45 ml's of vinegar/per gallon next batch. I started easy with the vinegar because of possible cyano bloom.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 6, 2016

mrtian97 said:
what does the vinegar do for kalk, my ATO top off limewater about 1-1.2 gallon per day and I am not using vinegar

It does several things, but I choose to not combine them despite the fact that I dose both to the tank.

Vinegar in the help more solid calcium hydroxide to dissolve, it keeps the pH in the tank from getting as high, and it drives bacterial growth which may help reduce nutrients.

But using enough to dissolve substantially more solids takes quite a bit and you may not want that much vinegar dosed, and it reduces the control over the timing of the vinegar additions. Since vinegar metabolism reduces pH and O2, I prefer it dosed during the day, not just when an ATO calls for it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 6, 2016

reef life said:
15 tsps of kalk and 100 cc's of vinegar.

As long as you are still saturating it with calcium hydroxide, or close to it, the pH will be high enough to prevent bacterial growth and it should be stable for an extended period. I store mine (without vinegar) for as long or longer than you, and it is fine.

The only change from the vinegar is the potential for bacterial growth, so I expect yours is OK for a month or more.
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Be sure it is covered to prevent CO2 from entering, and do not stir during this storage period.

reef life · Feb 6, 2016

Ok, Thanks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 6, 2016

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

Clownfishy · Mar 14, 2018

I know this thread is old but just one other question storing kalk. If air is allowed to enter the storage container, does it have anan effe on kalkwasser? I ask as I generally mix it, leave it to settle for a few days and slowly dose it over a week. Although I seal the container, air obviously enters so will this affect kalk mix in any way?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2018

Air entering the container will tend to deplete the limewater, but I have shown that in a large Brute trash can, even that sort of non-air tight lid is adequate for the limewater to retain potency for a month. It may skin over, but the skin may protect the underlying water.

Definitely do not stir after the initial mixing as that will accelerate the degradation.

This has more:

The Degradation of Limewater in Air - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.htm

Clownfishy · Mar 14, 2018

@Randy Holmes-Farley , you have an article for everything, thank you so much. I am happy now I have read the article that I am not losing potency in the kalk or if I am, very little.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2018

Clownfishy said:
@Randy Holmes-Farley , you have an article for everything, thank you so much. I am happy now I have read the article that I am not losing potency in the kalk or if I am, very little.

You're welcome.

Happy reefing.

Clownfishy · Mar 14, 2018

Am I ok using Jebao doser to dose small quantities of kalk throughout the night? I know most people drip it but I thought this would be a better way to control how much is dosed?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/1729617124...3D710-134428-41853-0%26rvr_id%3D1467023624577

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2018

Clownfishy said:
Am I ok using Jebao doser to dose small quantities of kalk throughout the night? I know most people drip it but I thought this would be a better way to control how much is dosed?

A dosing pump is a fine way to go, as long as you stay under the evaporation limit each day. But small quantities do not do much. You need to dose a lot. Like 1% of the tank volume daily. That sort of thing.

Dosing at night minimizes the pH drop, while dosing during the day may minimize the alk swing, since it may be mostly depleted during the day.