pickling lime vs kalkwasser

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I've been using pickling lime in my atos since the age of dinosaurs ( with success) and I've always rebelled against buying kalkwasser. I've always been curious if kalkwasser makes as much of a mess as pickling lime. the mess I'm referring to is the sediment that remains at the bottom of my ato container and the residue staining that sticks to the sides of the ato containers and my sumps. I know this doesn't harm anything, it's just ugly.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

They are the exact same thing. Both are Calcium hydroxide.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I have been told the kalkwasser leaves less residue. a reefer who is also an attorney told me this. so that's why I'm not sure if I believe him and wanted clarification. thanks.

 

[cmcoker]

I don't see any difference, I had used up all my Mrs wages or whatever. I was already ordering from BRS so picked up their kalk. No discernible difference.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Pickling lime is food grade calcium hydroxide. Some may have had more (or less) exposure to air than other calcium hydroxide sources, which might result in less calcium carbonate formation, but there's no reason to not elect pickling lime.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Thanks everyone. attorneys are liars. lol.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

The pickling lime has to be food grade. But that's it. There is no difference in the residue. The residue is just calcium carbonate precipitation which you will get some even with 2-part.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

I bet he wanted to trade you 5 lbs of pickling lime for 1lb of kalk.

 

[Sabellafella]

I've been using pickling lime in my atos since the age of dinosaurs ( with success) and I've always rebelled against buying kalkwasser. I've always been curious if kalkwasser makes as much of a mess as pickling lime. the mess I'm referring to is the sediment that remains at the bottom of my ato container and the residue staining that sticks to the sides of the ato containers and my sumps. I know this doesn't harm anything, it's just ugly.

The reason this "may" sound or be correct, is some types of pickling lime could have impuritys in it that will precipitate out. Maybe making it seem like theres more precipitant(or crud)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Be sure to not use pickling salt, that's different.

 

[jason2459]

But pickling salt is more then adequate for use to make a calibration fluid for your refractometer.

 

[dgrigor02]

Been using kalkwasser with the resevoir method for over 13years. Unless your able to find it on clearance after canning season or use very small quantities, I found it about the same or a little cheaper to just buy the 5 gallon bucket at a time from BRS. For my 180g system it lasts me about 18months.

Like others have said, if less residue is your goal there is no appreciable differences. The only thing I saw is the residue has more of a grey tint to the carbonate residue from Mrs. Wages vs. BRS. Since the carbonate residue should never makes it to the tank I could care less.