Am I Old School?

[Cod Fish]

I was at a fish store last weekend and I asked the guy at the counter if they had and kalkwasser. "what?" he says. After saying it again a couple times he says "oh, maybe, we haven't had that for years. Your old school". Now I should say that this isn't a pet store with a small saltwater section in the back. This is a large saltwater only store. I use kalkwasser in my top off. I also dose 2 part via dosing pump. Am I missing something? Am I old school?

 

[*reefermadness*]

You are most certainly not "old school." The person you talked to sounds pretty unexperienced IMO. I know quite a few people that still use kalk.

 

[jamey1015]

You are most certainly not "old school." The person you talked to sounds pretty unexperienced IMO. I know quite a few people that still use kalk.

Heck yeah and just go pick up some mrs.wages at walmart.

 

[SpaceSea]

$$$

$$$

I was at a fish store last weekend and I asked the guy at the counter if they had and kalkwasser. "what?" he says. After saying it again a couple times he says "oh, maybe, we haven't had that for years. Your old school". Now I should say that this isn't a pet store with a small saltwater section in the back. This is a large saltwater only store. I use kalkwasser in my top off. I also dose 2 part via dosing pump. Am I missing something? Am I old school?

Nah ... the thing is if they sell kalkwasser and bake soda, they may close their doors (or the owner will have to sell his Porsche).

You have to be a good client with a deep pocket ... and use something more 'hot'.

 

[Cod Fish]

It just had never occurred to me that kalk could be out of "style". I am an avid reader of many coral magazines and online articles and kalk is allways mentioned.

 

[Cod Fish]

Heck yeah and just go pick up some mrs.wages at walmart.

What's mrs wages?

 

[jerpa]

Mrs Wages Pickling Lime, same powder you buy at the lfs but a whole lot cheaper.

 

[karsseboom]

What's the Lfs name?

 

[SpaceSea]

Mrs Wages Pickling Lime, same powder you buy at the lfs but a whole lot cheaper.

Wow thanks Bro ... I think I am heading up for cheap charlie style and save $$$ for new corals

Seriously, I have just bought a 6 heads dosing pump ... Do you know a good alternative for 'Pickling Lime' or 'Kalkwasser' but in liquid form ?

FOR Cod Fish

From http://www.wetwebmedia.com

"
What is Kalkwasser?

Put simply, it's the German translation of "œlime water" or "œchalk water". You may have come across lime water for example in chemistry practical classes at high school. But for whatever reason, it's the German name that's become established in the marine fishkeeping hobby rather than the English names used in science and industry.

Kalkwasser is formed from a solution of fresh water and lime. Commercial kalkwasser powder is sold at a tropical fish shops, but there are alternatives. Many marine aquarists find pickling lime, calcium hydroxide, to be just as safe to use as commercial kalkwasser powder, but much less expensive. Another type of lime, quick lime, can also been widely used. Quick lime is calcium oxide, but when mixed with water a certain amount of heat is produced, so some caution is advised when using quick lime.

How does Kalkwasser work?

The complicated chemical reactions can be easily found in books and technical articles in fishkeeping magazines, but for the sake of this article, I will try to keep things as simple as possible. Advanced aquarists may consider what follows an oversimplification, but I won't tell them if you don't!

The kalkwasser solution contains water, calcium ions and hydroxide ions. The calcium ions obviously help to raise the concentration of calcium in the water, a good thing for animals and plants that use calcium for their skeletons. The hydroxide interacts with dissolved carbon dioxide to form bicarbonate, and together with any remaining hydroxide ions, this raises the alkalinity, thereby buffering pH and inhibiting acidification.
"

From http://www.canningpantry.com/pickling-lime.html

For pickling cucumbers the old-fashioned way for extra crispness and flavor! Makes Cucumber Lime Pickles (recipe on each canister), Green Tomato Pickles, Watermelon Rinds and Citron Pickles. Food grade calcium hydroxide with no additives or preservatives.

 

[smsreefer]

Knowing what Mrs. Wages is would officially qualify you for old school.
[ lol... joke :] ]

 

[jerpa]

Seriously, I have just bought a 6 heads dosing pump ... Do you know a good alternative for 'Pickling Lime' or 'Kalkwasser' but in liquid form ?

Mix the powder with rodi to make limewater then dose it through the pump. Theres a certain amount to add per gallon of rodi that I cant remember off hand. It's just about the cheapest way to make a balanced calcium and alkalinity supplement out there. Read the dosing articles by Randy Holmes-Farley. You will know all you need to about limewater.

 

[Cod Fish]

What's the Lfs name?

The shop is called saltwater Fantaseas. I'm not a big fan. The pickling lime sounds like a great idea but again same stuff from BRS is even cheaper and comes in larger volume. Also the dose should be around a teaspoon per gallon.

 

[reefgeezer]

The shop is called saltwater Fantaseas. I'm not a big fan. The pickling lime sounds like a great idea but again same stuff from BRS is even cheaper and comes in larger volume. Also the dose should be around a teaspoon per gallon.

I buy from BRS just because Mrs Wages is seasonal here and I don't like storing a year's worth. Even w/ BRS price and shipping, it's still a cheap way to supplement calcium and alkalinity. The pH boost is also a plus for my system. IMO, "old school" (read "proven") is good.

 

[allsps40]

I use it in my ATO all the time to help keep ca and alk stable. This method has been used for some time but is not old school or out dated in any way. It is the simplest way to dose ca and alk to a reef tank. BRS rocks.

 

[KafudaFish]

Mrs. Wages should be coming around since gardening season is starting.

It is around $3 a pound right now and at the end of the growing season it will be on sale for $1.

It use to come in a plastic cylinder but now an easy open and close ziplock bag.

 

[swanny]

What's mrs wages?

Or go to BRS and buy kalkwasser for even cheaper than Ms. wages pickling lime.

 

[karsseboom]

The shop is called saltwater Fantaseas. I'm not a big fan. The pickling lime sounds like a great idea but again same stuff from BRS is even cheaper and comes in larger volume. Also the dose should be around a teaspoon per gallon.

Lol I'm from Oregon that's why I asked. Yeah I have talked to that guy before about using kalk and he didn't approve of it.

 

[Rybren]

Also the dose should be around a teaspoon per gallon.

Actually, the dose should vary according to the needs of your tank. You will achieve a saturated solution (max dose) by using two teaspoons per gallon of RO/DI. You can actually squeeze a bit more than 2tsp/gal into solution by adding vinegar to the mix.

In my system, I can get away with 1 1/2 teaspoon/gallon in the winter because the evaporation rate is higher and more gets added to the tank via the ATO. In the summer when the evaporation rate is lower, a fully saturated solution won't meet the demand of my tank and I occasionally have to add some 2-part.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Mrs. Wages should be coming around since gardening season is starting.

It is around $3 a pound right now and at the end of the growing season it will be on sale for $1.

It use to come in a plastic cylinder but now an easy open and close ziplock bag.

Yup clearance section at Walmart will be full of kalkwasser when winter starts.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

FWIW, I have used limewater only on my system for more than 15 years, and I do not see any reason to change to anything else. Putting it into an ATO is a great option for folks.

A two part is also a fine plan, and despite my developing the DIY recipe, I choose to use limewater still.