Dosing kalawaser

[StrategicReef]

You can just use a bucket, put in some extra that sits on the bottom and make sure the siphon does not suck up the powder at the bottom..

 

[ctripi]

Don't mean to hijack the tread but I have a question for those who use an ATO supplying kalkwaser. My set-up is a peristaltic pump and float valve pulling kalk from a 33g garbage pale. My question is how often do you guys supplement alkalinity and what do you typically use. I have mostly SPS and over time my Ca and KH dwindle such that I boost the Ca with CaCl periodically and boost the Alk with baking soda. Does anyone have a better idea or should this be sufficient.

 

[bertoni]

I just use the DIY two-part for my tank that can't get enough calcium and alkalinity from topoff. A CO₂-driven calcium reactor is a common approach for larger tanks, though.

 

[tmz]

That's what I do. The limewater dose for top off and the calcium reactor balance each other off nicely in terms of ph and provide very good levels of calcium and alkalinity continuously. I have not had to tweak with two part in at least 4 months.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11460364#post11460364 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ctripi
Don't mean to hijack the tread but I have a question for those who use an ATO supplying kalkwaser. My set-up is a peristaltic pump and float valve pulling kalk from a 33g garbage pale. My question is how often do you guys supplement alkalinity and what do you typically use. I have mostly SPS and over time my Ca and KH dwindle such that I boost the Ca with CaCl periodically and boost the Alk with baking soda. Does anyone have a better idea or should this be sufficient.

The amount of alkalinity added with saturated limewater will of course depend on the amount of evaporation you get.
The higher the volume evaporated the more saturated lime water you can add and the more the alkalinity.
You can "over-saturate" the Kalk by using some vinegar in the RO/DI but that may creaste a bacterial bloom as vinegar is feed for it.
This chart can tell you the maximum amount of alkalinity per day you can add based on the volume of water evaporated as a % of total tank water.
For example, if you evaporation to total volume is 2.5% (1 gallon per day out of 40 gallon system or 3-1/4 gals on a 130 gal system) the maximum alkalinity you can add is 2.85 dKh per day. (About 1 meq/lt per day)

 

[crazyfish]

so the saturated using vinegar adds less? I thought it was supposed to add more. Do you get more ca but less alk using vinegar?

 

[tmz]

When the calcium hydroxide(limewater) is added to the aquarium water ,the calcium and alkalinity in it converts to calcium carbonate. In doing so it depletes CO2. When white vinegar(acetic acid) is dosed it provides an organic carbon source that is quickly used by bacteria with a release of excess CO2. Adding about 12ml of white vinegar per quart of saturated limewater provides enough CO2 to balance the inorganic carbon used by the limewater.

So you get more calcium carbonate (the combination of calcium and alkalinity your corals use) when vinegar is added. At the 12ml per quart dose your limewater will hold about 35%calcium hydroxide.

It is better to start with a much lower dose of 3ml per quart to see how your system tolerates the acetic acid addition.

 

[tmz]

Correction : should read: 35% more calcium hydroxide.

 

[bertoni]

Vinegar will help dissolve more calcium hydroxide per gallon, to strengthen the mix, if needed, or can be added just to limit the pH swing. Vinegar can fuel bacterial problems, so I'd watch carefully when using it.

 

[ctripi]

Could you please elaborate about the bacterial problems mentioned. For example do you mean cyanobacteria, livestock pathogens or nutrient cycle disruptions?

 

[bertoni]

I wouldn't worry about pathogens. Cyanobacteria might consume some of it, but more likely, standard bacteria would be the primary consumer. The tank might get a bit of cloudy water or perhaps a bacterial film.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11501490#post11501490 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crazyfish
so the saturated using vinegar adds less? I thought it was supposed to add more. Do you get more ca but less alk using vinegar?

It adds more... Read the chart as: It requires less evaporation (less volume) to achieve the same addition or you can have more alkalinity with the same evaporation.

The addition will still be balanced at 20 ppm of calcium per 1 meq/lt of alkalinity. What the vinegar does is to allow for more calcium hydroxide to dissolve in the water.