Extremely lazy -- please help (Kalk mixing w/diagram)

[Angel*Fish]

Here's a drawing of my rather primitive, but satisfactory kalk mixing container - I assume that the sediment down at the bottom is undissolved kalk. However it seems there could also be an accumulation of impurities or other "stuff" down there too....

When there's a bunch of this sediment it seems like just adding water & stirring would be adequate to mix up a fresh batch of saturated kalk water - May I? If so, how often should I bite the bullet & rinse it out?

 

[steve the plumb]

You can rinse it out once a month.You might want to drill a hole on the side of your container.half to one inch above the bottom of the container.This will keep the crude on the bottom of the container.Let the kalk water settle for 4 hrs before dripping it.Some people don't wait that long(no Time)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

{B] I assume that the sediment down at the bottom is undissolved kalk.[/B]

It often is all or partly undissolved lime, but also can be calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and other impurities that won't dissolve.

In my large reservoirs (44 or 88 gallons), I rarely clean them out, but the sediment is not a problem in them. It might become more of an issue in yours if it gets up the the outlet or takes a long time to settle.

If you can measure the conductivity of the limewater, you can know if you have lime solids that have dissolved to make what strength limewater. pH can be used, but is a crude tool.

These may help:
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm


The Self Purification of Limewater (Kalkwasser)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/chem.htm

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.htm

Magnesium and Strontium in Limewater
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2003/chem.htm

 

[Angel*Fish]

Thanks for all those links! I haven't read all of it yet, but I can tell they will answer all my questions. Looks like I should just go ahead & rinse it ever so often- it's not that much trouble, my container is just 2 liters

BTW, I just bought the new Vol. 3 Sprung & Delbuck(sp?) Book I noticed lots of stuff credited to "Randy Holmes-Farley" - very impressive. As soon as I have time I'm going to digest the chapter that discusses Alk. vs Ca issues -

Thanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Rinsing it once in a while is a fine plan.

As soon as I have time I'm going to digest the chapter that discusses Alk. vs Ca issues -


I haven't read it, but I hope it is good.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6999308#post6999308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Rinsing it once in a while is a fine plan.

As soon as I have time I'm going to digest the chapter that discusses Alk. vs Ca issues -


I haven't read it, but I hope it is good.

Well, you are used rather heavily as a source, you might want to check and make sure you are quoted properly when you get the time

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks, maybe I will.

Happy Reefing.