Aragamilk

[Lyfey]

Randy, I just read your article. Well written and I learned alot about Limewater.

In my situation where I use a 5 gallon water jug rather than your 44 gallon trash can. I have to add water to the jug every 3-4 days MAX. I was reading about the limewater where you say that it is saturated clear water with deposits on the bottom of the jug. How long will it take me to develop these deposits? I suppose I should suspend my ATO pump 3-4 inches above the bottom of the jug to prevent dosing a slurry.

I saw that you reccomended in another thread 1 level teaspoon / gallon of top of water. I have also heard that you cannot add too much kalk to water because it disolves on its own and no mixing is needed. My question is, how much limewater do I need to dose and how often should I add more. I do not have any SPS colonies, they are all small to large size frags. I am scared that I will put too much kalk into my ATO jug and the limewater will be too saturated or I will accidentally dose a slurry or I do not add enough kalk to make the saturated limewater. I do not think I need full saturated limewater for ATO due to the size and intake of calcium/alk of my small corals.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think folks typically see settled solids in any size batch, even the first batch. Yes, putting the intake a bit above the bottom is a good idea.

2 teaspoons per gallon of fresh water is about the max that will dissolve. I recommend that folks start at 1 since it may be adequate, and going may be easier than trying to correct a problem from too much.

 

[Lyfey]

When I add the kalk do I need to shake the jug? Should it disolve on its own? If I find settled solids within the first batch does that mean I need to stir it more? I am a little confused on what I need to do.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Shake it a bit, but it dissolves fairly easily. Then let it settle. I use a powerhead in my large reservoir.

Solids can mean undissolved lime, but that does not mean that it can all dissolve with more shaking, and the solids can also be other things that won't dissolve (like calcium carbonate, which forms when lime reacts with Co2, as from the air).