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What's up with that Kalkwasser? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter dillo
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AggieBrandon
Guest
Do you use a reactor on your tank or are you dosing any other products etc? Many people use Kalkwasser to keep their calcium and alkalinity in check at the same time as topping off their tanks. I personally don't use Kalkwasser on my reef tank because my calcium reactor keeps everything pretty stable. I do have to dose turbo calcium every once in a while to boost my calcium back up though.
Brandon
Brandon
On occasion I do use Tech cb part A and B which I'm sure that keeps my calcium level up to par but I still do not understand the kalkwasser bit because the preceding is so much easier to apply. I just assumed since kalk is harder to administer it must be better. But Why?
AggieBrandon
Guest
Well one plus is that if you use pickling lime to make your limewater solution you can get a pound of the stuff for about 2 bucks or less. I'm not sure why you thank that kalkwasser is harder to apply. All you have to do is mix a teaspoon of kalkwasser per gallon of water and mix it and let the precipitate settle out and then use it to top off your tank. I guess it could be considered hard since you have to slowly drip it into your tank to avoid a big jump in pH but other than that you just replace your evaporated water with the saturated limewater solution. Let me find a few links and I will post them. Great information 
Brandon
Brandon
AggieBrandon
Guest
I see what you are saying. But my tank evaporates about 1 gallon and a half a day. That means I would have to do that everyday. I have a reserve tank for my R/O water which makes up for the evaporation but if I put Kalk in that tank wouldn't it eventually clog the tubes and keep it from filling my tank?
G
Guest
what do you guys thing of this contraption for dripping limewater?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...ll&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...ll&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1
AggieBrandon
Guest
Do you have the reserve tank hooked up to your tank so as it evaporates water your reserve water goes into the tank or how is it set up? Is it on a float where when the level gets high enough the water is stopped from flowing into the tank or do you have a float switch that triggers a pump and adds the water or do you just have a steady drip? Sorry for all the questions but just trying to get an overview of your system. If you use the float method eventually the kalkwasser will cause it to have a slow "leak" or could block the tube completely. I just keep about 5 gallons of limewater mixed up at all times and when I top off my tank in the mornings I use airline tubing to slowly siphon from the bucket into my sump. It goes slow enough to not cause a large pH increase etc.
Brandon
Brandon
No reason to be sorry. I devised a 10 gl. tank (approx.) that has a soliniod controlled by (2) float switches that fills up with r/o water (turns on when it is low and shuts off when it is full) that is fed by a three stage r/o system. Tha reason I made this contraption is so I could buffer it before it went into my tank. (that helps to controll my PH). From there it goes into my sump which is contolled by a mechanical float switch. So from what you said I would think that eventually the kalk would clog my system up. I guess I shoudn't worry about it if I don't have a problem. Maybe I should patent my reserve tank idea.
G
Guest
I have a small tank so I only lose about 1/2 gallon a day. I have part of an IV hose I got from scubamedic. I was thinking I might try to DIY something like it but based on a 2 litter soda bottle. I could hang it behind my tank to drip into the fuge. Just keep it on a steady drip and fill it once in the AM and once in the PM. As you point out I will ikely have to change out the hose frequently because of buildup. Was thinking I could make up two and have one soaking while one was in use.
I also see what you are saying. But woudn't be easier just to add how many ever capfulls of tech cb a+b once in the morning then to mess with filling a jug with premix twice a day? By the way-if you are a marine I admire your commentment to our freedom.
AggieBrandon
Guest
Dillo,
What size tubing are you using to send water to your tank? If it is small tubing I could see that it may eventually get clogged but that is easy to fix...just put on a new piece of tubing. If it is a larger tube I don't think you have much to worry about.
Brandon
What size tubing are you using to send water to your tank? If it is small tubing I could see that it may eventually get clogged but that is easy to fix...just put on a new piece of tubing. If it is a larger tube I don't think you have much to worry about.
Brandon
G
Guest
I got out in '77 but I appreciate your comment. To many people think Freedom is FREE.
The tubing is 1/4" O.D. Your right. I could just replace the tubing if it got clogged but I guess I am just lazy. I do't want to mess with it any more than I have to. As long as the techcb a+b is working I'll keep using it. It just seems a lot easier to me. As the saying goes- "why fix it if it ain't broken?".
I agree Highestbid-Most poeple do not realize how good we really have it here.
I agree Highestbid-Most poeple do not realize how good we really have it here.
For my limewater drip, I initially used an IV set stuck into a 2 gallon Rubbermaid bucket but I didn't like the flexibility of the tubing. I went to Home Depot and bought the same size semi-rigid icemaker tubing, a couple of micro-ball valves from the underground sprinkler section, and stuck that in a 55 gallon drum, from which all of my daily (2 gallons) evaporation is replaced with saturated limewater. No fuss, no muss, other than having to shoot about 60 cc of vinegar through the tubing about once a month.
Hello All,
I thought I would throw in on this discussion. I agree completely that a two part mix can be easier to administer in certain situations. I only switched to kalkwasser as my calcium requirements have increased. I personally like the Ca/Alkalinity balance that is inherent with kalkwasser dosing, particularly at high calcium demand.
I just finished a kalkwasser reactor with automatic addition that cost me all of about $100. It includes a used Kangaroo 324 dosing pump, a used fluidized sand bed, and an Ehiem mixing pump. It is working wonderfully. Will it keep running so well? Only time will tell. At my current demand, I run the Kangaroo at a rate less than my total water make-up requirements and allow my float switch to add additional fresh water as required. I only hope that my calcium demand will outpace my make-up water addition. That would be some impressive growth rates if that happens.
One thing I love about this hobby is that there are not that many rights and wrongs, only new opportunities.
Later,
Trey
I thought I would throw in on this discussion. I agree completely that a two part mix can be easier to administer in certain situations. I only switched to kalkwasser as my calcium requirements have increased. I personally like the Ca/Alkalinity balance that is inherent with kalkwasser dosing, particularly at high calcium demand.
I just finished a kalkwasser reactor with automatic addition that cost me all of about $100. It includes a used Kangaroo 324 dosing pump, a used fluidized sand bed, and an Ehiem mixing pump. It is working wonderfully. Will it keep running so well? Only time will tell. At my current demand, I run the Kangaroo at a rate less than my total water make-up requirements and allow my float switch to add additional fresh water as required. I only hope that my calcium demand will outpace my make-up water addition. That would be some impressive growth rates if that happens.
One thing I love about this hobby is that there are not that many rights and wrongs, only new opportunities.
Later,
Trey
fins
Guest
Trey,
Would like to see pics of your Kalk reactor. Does it drip in?
Would like to see pics of your Kalk reactor. Does it drip in?
