Finally got a kalk dripper made!

[kpc01]

Been wanting to do this but just hadn't gotten to it in a while. I used a 1 gallon jug and my wife hooked me up with an IV dripper, she can set the drip rate to anything I want so thats cool. The other thing I found cool was that she can "T" any other dose items to it, so my question...is there anything else that would be beneficial to drip?

I like not having to suck on it to get it started...thats a nice feature too

 

[kpc01]

also, I read somewhere I should mix 1 teaspoon per gallon of RO...anyone agree/disagree? I was planning to drip about one drip per second on about a 260g system.

 

[sbeason]

TLF kalkwasser suggests 1 teaspoon per gallon of RO. 1 drip per second on a tank that size should be fine.

 

[beapeams]

Also, you might want to add Vinegar to the mix. Go to the reef chemistry forum and Randy has an article on the benefit of adding Distilled White Vinegar to the mix. I have been dripping Kalk for about 8 months now and the 1 gallon drip is driving me nuts. I am going to convert a 5 gallon bucket so that I don't have to mix it as offten. I have about two gallons of Evap a day so toping of with a one gallon container is getting a litttle old.

 

[DrBDC]

Saturation is 2 teaspoons per gallon. I usually add an extra 1/2-1 teaspoon just so that it will saturate and impurities will settle out of the solution. If your ca/alk demand is not being met by that amount of kalk, then adding 45 ml of vinegar per gallon will allow 3 teaspoons per gallon.

Vinegar can be a carbon source to fuel bacterial growth so be aware that some clouding can occur although many use carbon sources on purpose to help with nitrate/phosphate removal.

Whether you do unsaturated (less than 1 teaspoon/gal), saturated (2 teaspoons/gal) or supersaturated (3 teaspoons/gal w/45 ml vinegar) I would highly recommend making the original solution to saturation level and then diluting it if you wish, that way you can precipitate out any heavy metals and other impurities. This is the main issue I have with kalk reactors is that they allow all impurities to make thier way into the aquarium. The copper alone is enough even in food grade kalk to be a considerable risk.

 

[inwall75]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9448744#post9448744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC
I would highly recommend making the original solution to saturation level and then diluting it if you wish, that way you can precipitate out any heavy metals and other impurities. This is the main issue I have with kalk reactors is that they allow all impurities to make thier way into the aquarium. The copper alone is enough even in food grade kalk to be a considerable risk.

I COMPLETELY agree.

Almost all of our (non-fish) Kalk here in St. Louis comes from a company from Ste Genevieve. Pull out your Missouri map and take a look at how close that is to the Doe Run lead pollution mess in Herculaneum and Leadington. Also look how close that is to the Iron smelters in Ironton. Also look at how close that is to Park Hills with the zinc and copper mines.

Something to think about IMO.

 

[beapeams]

I use the Seachem Kalk. I know you can get Bulk cheapear but it has always done me fine. You can order a nice size container on line for under 20 and I dose every day and I still have Half of it after 4 months.

 

[inwall75]

I used TLF Kalk for a while but switched to Warner Marine Kalk because they use lab grade Calcium Hydroxide. It's probably overkill but who knows.