Kalkwasser Drip Question (1 Viewer)

[aqua-nut]

It's taken me a full year of having my large tank to figure out I needed to be dripping Kalkwasser via my top off system. Duh!

So, over the holiday weekend I built a shelf above my sump and mixed up some kalkwasser in a five gallon jug, which is dripping into the sump via a float switch thingy. I let it sit overnight and then put it on to drip

Here's my question:

There appears to be some kalwasser whitish foam and flakey stuff around the float switch. Is this normal? If the flakes make their way into the tank, will it burn anything it lands on?

I know this is really basic stuff, but I'm slow on the draw for this one and I need to get up to speed fast. Thanks for any input you experienced reefers have for me!

 

[AggieBrandon]

Since you are dripping into the sump the kalkwasser should be diluted before it gets into the main tank. I pour my kalkwasser into my reef tank every morning (almost a gallon in a 37 gallon tank) and never see any ill effect to any of my corals or inverts. if you add the powder directly to your tank and it settles on a coral it could burn the coral but since you are adding lime water (diluted kalkwasser) you shouldn't have anything to worry about....except maybe your float switch being clogged or stuck due to the funky kalkwasser residue.

Brandon

 

[aqua-nut]

so the milky substance collecting in one spot in my sump is something to be ignored? Or should I be scooping it out and discarding it?

 

[AggieBrandon]

is it cloudy water or is it a precipitate? You may need to drip the kalk in an area of higher flow or add a powerhead or something when you drip the kalk to get it into solution better.

Brandon