kalk in top off water

[toothman]

It would seem like a easy method to add kalk.
But there must be some reason to not add it directly to water top off tank.

It would seem that you could just put a pump in the tank and have it on a timer that goes on and off. And of course a seperate pump to work the float switch demand.

 

[Pandora]

But why would you want to do that, is it in the hopes that you will have a more stable addition regimen? Evaporation rate doesn't change all that much, so I don't really think spikes are a huge concern; and if the second pump isn't hooked in with the float, you risk a small flood.

Some people do have their kalk attached to a peristaltic pump or IV drip that is working slowly, so that there is even more stability; but then you also have to match that to the evaporation rate.

 

[toothman]

Making sure we are on the same page. I have a 40 gal tank that is filled with ro water with a pump attached to a electric float switch. This tank gets filled about once a week with the ro machine.

I am not sure where the flood would come in even if the entire 40 gals were added to the sump it would not overflow it. It is a big sump with a couple of added tanks.

I guess I really do not know if the kalk will be mixed properly in a water change tank

 

[MIKE NY]

mix the kalk first before adding it into the change tank. I'm using a 25 gal rubbermaid with kalk premixed and put in there for all my topoff using a float switch. My evaporation rate changes with the seasons and the float level automatically adds the proper amount of top off to keep up. The only problem I foresee is if the floatswitch sticks down and the pump dumps all the kalk water in, but it hasn't failed me yet...over three years. I just keep everything clean.

 

[pnsnowboard]

yea im still trying to decide what to do about top off

 

[RevHtree]

Not to hijack the thread or anything but I have a container of about 4 gallons that auto tops off my tank. I have to fill it up about ones every 5 days. Could I be filling this with kalk water?

I have been getting ready to install like a drip method for dosing kalk, but with an auto top off I could do it that way correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Auto top off with limewater is a great method. It is what I have used for more than 10 years.

The biggest limitation is that it must be added slowly. One cannot dump in a gallon in 2 minutes. I use a slow Reef Filler pump (few gallons per day max) along with a float switch controlling it.

This article has more info on limewater:

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

 

[kevin gu3]

Also I would add the lime after the pump, not before. The pump lasts longer that way.

 

[RevHtree]

So I should find some pickiling lime and use that instead of kala? I like this idea. Cheap on the pocketbook.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So I should find some pickiling lime and use that instead of kala? I like this idea. Cheap on the pocketbook.

It is no better and likely no worse.

 

[RevHtree]

Also I have the powerhead delivery method for my top off. Do you think this is ok? It only does a couple of ounces of water each time it's kicked on.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Also I have the powerhead delivery method for my top off. Do you think this is ok? It only does a couple of ounces of water each time it's kicked on.

To a 125 gallon tank? That is OK as long as the sump flow is not too slow.

 

[PRC]

I've been adding kalk in my topoff water for a couple years now, no problems. I use a float switch in my sump controlling a solenoid valve on the kalk/topoff tank. I figure the solenoid valve is probably more reliable than most powerheads. The peristaltic pumps are very reliable but also very expensive.

 

[BCool]

So with lime water as a top off, what other additives do you guys use? You probably dont' have to add any Alkalinity or calcium, do the levels stay stable with just lime water top offs? Water changes should help with trace elements right?

 

[Pandora]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6530384#post6530384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BCool
So with lime water as a top off, what other additives do you guys use? You probably dont' have to add any Alkalinity or calcium, do the levels stay stable with just lime water top offs? Water changes should help with trace elements right?

Depends on the salt you use, but mostly you're right. Very rarely dose very small amts of mag, iodine & strontium in mine, but you should always be testing for anything you put in, since some can be toxic if overdosed, like iodine. I really have cut a lot of this down since going from SPS to predominantly soft & LPS.

 

[PRC]

Nothing but kalk

 

[Sea-nut]

I use a timer that I bought at HD. It comes on for 2 min each hour starting at 10PM ending at 11AM, It dumps 1.5 gallons total (14 oz per 2 min ). Is this too much?

 

[MIKE NY]

The biggest limitation is that it must be added slowly

exactly...on smaller systems that is very important because of the high PH of limewater which is about 12. Mine goes into a 50 gal sump with a flow rate of about 1600 gph.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So with lime water as a top off, what other additives do you guys use? You probably dont' have to add any Alkalinity or calcium, do the levels stay stable with just lime water top offs? Water changes should help with trace elements right?



The only other things are iron for macroalgae, silica for sponges, and magnesium if and when it is necessary.

This article may help:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

It dumps 1.5 gallons total (14 oz per 2 min ). Is this too much?


14 oz per 2 min may be too fast. , IMO. Adding 1.25% of the tank in saturated limewater volume pushes pH up by more than 0.6 pH units.

 

[dkh0331]

Using kalk in your top-off is fairly common. As with Randy, I've been doing that for many years. I have been using a $12 Aqua lifter pump with an adjustable $1.00 air valve so the kalk solution drips slowly into the sump. I do have to run a warm water/vinegar solution thru the aqualifter once a month to keep it clean and running properly. I will be switching to a peristalic pump when I redo my sump in a few weeks.

HTH

David