Kalk in Ato question

[PirateLove]

Do I need to clean all the leftover Kalk off when I refill it for the next week? Or just add another 5 gallons with more Kalk mix?

Also I have a nice synergy reef Ato container. Will Kalk eventually discolor and ruine it?

Thanks

 

[thegrun]

When I used kalkwasser I would clean out the sediment at the bottom of the reservoir once or twice a year. It is primarily undissolved kalk, but other impurities will also settle so periodically they should be removed. I know some reefers who simply dump a full bag of kalk into the reservoir and then add straight RO/DI water to their reservoirs and stir it up until almost all the sediment has been used up.

 

[PirateLove]

Thanks for the help thegrun.

 

[cloak]

What if your only using half the recommended dosage and you don't clean out your reservoir each time. (1 Teaspoon per gallon) Does the solution get stronger and stronger each time due to the residue? Five gallons usually lasts me about 7-10 days depending on the weather, but I don't mind cleaning my reservoir each time though.

 

[homer1475]

I clean mine out after every fill. I get very little that settles out, but I do mix it up very well.

 

[uncleL]

I premix my kalkwasser in a separate container adding a little white vinegar it will help it dissolve and looks like milk. Then add it to my auto top off container

 

[Sk8r]

No. I don't even measure. I just add more ro/di, and add more kalk when there's nothing lying at the bottom. THe reason I can get away with this is that ONLY 2 tsp per gallon CAN dissolve in a gallon of ro/di. SO you can't overdose, and all the residue will do is dissolve when more ro/di comes along.

THERE IS, however, a certain amount of impurity in, say, Mrs Wages Pickling Lime [what I use], so eventually you do need to take the container and hose it out clean. I do that about every 6 months.