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Mixing Salt & Kalk (1 Viewer)

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Ok... I got myself a 50 gallon trashcan... I put about 30 gallons of water in it.. I added what is supposed to be enough salt/kalk in the water.. I put a powerhead in the trashcan.. My question is, do i need to stir this, or will the powerhead mix it for me? I am going to leave it a few days, until my Refractometer comes in so i can check it.. Thanks


Robert
 
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G

Guest

After 2 hours the water is very cloudy... Will this clear up? This is still in my trashcan...


Thanks
 
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robrog

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A powerhead usually works fine for me when I mix up my salt. I generally let it sit at least overnight, so I think you will be fine there. I mix my kalk seperately with my top off water and do not us a powerhead in it so I am not sure how it will effect the salt mix. Kalk will make the water cloudy though generally leaves some sediment that you do not want to add to your tank. You just want to add the water with the kalk that has dissolved in it. I just started using kalk recently myself though, so I am still new to it.
 
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How much kalk did you use?
Is this for water change or make up water?
 
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G

Guest

this is for water change

i wanted to make like 30 gallons and do a few gallons every other day... But it doesnt look like that will be the ideal thing.. I have a 46 gallon tank, so i figured i could put it all in a trashcan and it owuld be pre mixed.. Reason i put the kalk in there, is because my ph stays low, and couldnt find "pickling lime" at the store..
 
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Guest

i used about 30 tablespoons = 30 gallons of water...

I am begining to think i should dump this out, and just add saltwater, cuz i thkn this is gonna cloud my tank to hell....
 
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rhane71

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kalk is suppose to be added to freash water and used as top off. As water evaporates it leaves behind the salt and there for you only need to add fresh water make up. If you are loosing salt its probably because of your skimmer or something else.

dump out your mix and use fresh water and kalk only, not saltwater and kalk. If you want a seperate drum of saltwater for water changes then thats fine but don't add the kalk to it. hope this helps...

abran
 
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G

Guest

so what would happen if i DID add this water to my tank...


30 gallons of RODI SW, with KALK, 2 gallons a day, as replacement water, then top off with freshwater?

I just dont want to waste all that is in this trashcan...

Maybe if I did 2 gallons a day, the cloudiness would go away after a hour or so, and i will be able to make my small water changes?


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ShaneV

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Test your PH, I would guess its is WAY too high. I would throw it out, the water chemistry is probally way out of whack. The unused kalk would percipitate to the bottom of the tank and could hurt corals/fish.
 
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Guest

Ph out of whack!? YEAH, WAY HIGH... ROFL


I dumped it out.. OK.. So I will just use the trashcan for water change water, with just salt and water...

But as for this KALK... Should I just mix it with my topoff water? I am guessing I will use 1 teaspoon for about a 3 gallon topoff.. I dont have a reactor, or CA champer or anything.. Will that keep my tank cloudy, or make my skimmer go nuts?

Thanks
 
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robrog

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Right now I am using 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. I let the water sit overnight and by the next morning all the excess stuff has precipitated out to the bottom of the container. Then I just add the water and leave the stuff that has settled out in the container. It doesn't affect my skimmer at all. My kalk/top off water goes into my sump and it has never made my tank cloudy.
 
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ShaneV

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I use 1 teaspoon per gallon. Even with the high PH its ok when you use it really slow. I drip mine at a rate equal to evaporation. This keeps my calcium up and salinty even at the same time.
 
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I use a 55 gal open top drum and a micro valve about 5" from the bottom. I fill it once a month and no problems. I use an Ehiem 1260 to mix the kalk for about an hour and then let it settle. I empty and wash the drum once a year. I drilled holes on the sides and made a sight glass out of 1/2" bulk heads, two 90 deg. elbows and clear plastic tubing. Really simple and effective. Its the easiest way to make alot of kalk and drip. Or you can make alot of kalk and use a bulkhead fitting and block valve to make a drain to fill a bucket or jug. Kinda like a old wooden beer keg with a spout near the bottom.

abran
 
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G

Guest

hmm... sounds like too much of a problem...

I think this is what i will do...


Use the trashcan for my water changes...

Use a 5 gallon bucket for topoff, with a spoonful of suger, er kalk mixed in.. Scoop water out with a cup and pour into the tank...


This is a 46gal bow, and i dont have a place to hang a dripper in my hallway.. I also dont have a sump, so thats out of the question as well...

Thanks for all you help guys..
 
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Cakepro

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The kalkwasser will form a crust on top of the water, which is desirable. You don't want to go disturbing that.

I used a 5 gallon bucket and a $1 mini ball valve picked up at Home Depot in the in-yard sprinkler system area to make a drip bucket. It worked super well until I got tired of doing it 5 gallons at a time and did the same thing to a 55 gallon drum. It works perfectly. The icemaker tubing from HD works great on the mini ball valve. You can even get the bucket from HD, and your total DIY top-off unti cost will be under $7.

~ Sherri
 
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Cakepro

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Oh wait, duh, after all that typing I just read that you don't have a sump or room for a drip system. *Sigh*
 
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G

Guest

VERY INTERESTING.... Only like a hundred bucks.. Then I could place thins under my tank.. Would fit very nicely... I read it can pump up to 16 feet vertically.. wow, i think 7 feet would be enough.. Anyone else have any ideas or thoughts on this?
 
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