I read Randy's article about Kalkawasser and decided to try it. I run the RO/DI water in to a 5 gl container. I then add only 2 tbls of kalk to the ~4.5 gl. I wait between 36 and 48 hrs., but the water doesn't really clear and it doesn't separate much to the bottom. It's still cloudy when i add it to my top off resevoir, which is then filled with cloudy water. it takes about 3 days to go through the 4.5 gls, but it doesn't really settle there, either, it's cloudy all the time. I have been doing this for about 3 wks and now even the tank (75 gl) isn't totally clear (not really cloudy, per se, but not as perfectly clear as I like. What am I doing wrong here? Does the top off water need to be as warm as the tank water? (Add a heater to the top off resevoir?)
Dripping Kalk Question
- Thread starter dwilly
- Start date
jdieck
New member
First check that your calcium and alkalinity levels require the kalk addition, if they are high, some calcium carbonate will form and stay like whithe particles in the water column.
Second, 2 leveled tablespoons (6 teaspoons) in 4.5 gals is not saturated so do not expect to have much sediment. If you want to insure saturation you need two leveled teaspoons per gallon.
Water is usually slightly milky until you add it to the tank. As mentioned first tank should not be cloudy unless your alkalinity and calcium are high as well as your PH with low magnecium. (by high I mean more than 4 meq/lt alk, more than 500 ppm calcium and PH above 8.3 with magnesium below 1100 ppm)
Second, 2 leveled tablespoons (6 teaspoons) in 4.5 gals is not saturated so do not expect to have much sediment. If you want to insure saturation you need two leveled teaspoons per gallon.
Water is usually slightly milky until you add it to the tank. As mentioned first tank should not be cloudy unless your alkalinity and calcium are high as well as your PH with low magnecium. (by high I mean more than 4 meq/lt alk, more than 500 ppm calcium and PH above 8.3 with magnesium below 1100 ppm)
The calcium is pretty consistent at about 420, the ph is between 8.1 am and 8.3 pm, but the alk has been fluctuating between 6.7 and 8.6. (I'm testing about every 2 days and before and after weekly water changes) Mag has been between 1100 and 1200, I think that should probably be higher. The ph was in the mid to high 7's before I started adding the kalk. It went up right away which is why I have been adding so little. I have also used some (cooked) baking soda to help raise the alk. (small quantities, about 1 tbls after each water change - I mix it w/ sump water and pour it back in the sump.)
The calcium is pretty consistent at about 420, the ph is between 8.1 am and 8.3 pm, but the alk has been fluctuating between 6.7 and 8.6. (I'm testing about every 2 days and before and after weekly water changes) Mag has been between 1100 and 1200, I think that should probably be higher. The ph was in the mid to high 7's before I started adding the kalk. It went up right away which is why I have been adding so little. I have also used some (cooked) baking soda to help raise the alk. (small quantities, about 1 tbls after each water change - I mix it w/ sump water and pour it back in the sump.) I'm trying to get the tank more consistent before I move to sps, right now it's only lps from my old 30. This 75 went live Dec 3rd, but 60% of the rock is 3+ yrs old from the old tank.
