Kalk question...

[scottkel]

I have a question about how everyone is using their kalk (and/or pickling lime)... Once you mix the solution, are you re-using the "settled" white powder again?

What i have been doing is this - i have a 1 1/2 gallon jug that i mix my solution with stirring for 10-15 minutes. I let the solution settle (typically overnight) and a am using an aqua lifter with an airline valve to drip into my sump. Once the solution finishes dripping, i rinse the jug and dump and make-up new solution with more powder...

Is this necessary? Is anyone just adding more water to the settled powder and comtinue to use? Will this work?

Please let me know what you are doing...

Thanks!

Scott

 

[crumbletop]

You can do it either way. I use a kalk reactor (DIY) and it has powder sitting at the bottom for a while until it all gets mixed in over time (maybe a month). In your case, it doesn't really matter much either way. The only negatives I can think of for you is a) you don't want the stuff to clog your tubing and the powder at the bottom could hasten that, and b) you don't want to be topping off/dripping the slurry into your tank unless you are being real careful to avoid pH spikes.

 

[waynesworld]

I just fill up the jug again and reuse it tell it is gone.

 

[ocd_mariner]

Im pretty sure the water can only be saturated with so much kalk. What cant be absorbed stays in powder form at the bottom. I don't think there is any reason you cant reuse it.

 

[c_stowers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11130830#post11130830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ocd_mariner
Im pretty sure the water can only be saturated with so much kalk. What cant be absorbed stays in powder form at the bottom. I don't think there is any reason you cant reuse it.

Yep. What is not used (dissolved) will settle to the bottom. Some of the crust you see on the top is the kalk that reacted with the CO2 in the air. Some impurities in the Kalk will also remain in the bottom. Depending on how much you use, you can use it a few to several times before dumping it.

 

[Sk8r]

YOu fill a kalk reactor about once a month: it periodically stirs up what sits at the bottom to make the filmy kalkwasser, which is what drips in. I just keep adding to mine for 2-3 months, then rinse out the system. As long as it's willing to be stirred up and dissolve, it's ok in a sealed reactor. I think the only issue in an 'open' system would be exposure to air.

 

[KAiNE]

I use a 44 gallon trash can (just upgraded from a 30g). I use a dosing pump but could gravity drip it if i raised the can. I only clean out the can about once every 6-8 months but i don't pull from the bottom (about 3" from the bottom). I do not wait till its fully empty to refill, just when its pretty low. I stop the pump, dump in a can of kalk then refill the can. I only wait maybe 15 minutes for it to settle then turn the pump back on, if i wait longer I will forget. The crust that forms should stop further reaction to co2 so I do not disturb the can until its time to refill.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/chem.htm

The degradation of limewater in air - http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.php

There are times when i am out of kalk that i just add water to the can, according to ph and my salinity monitor it is still almost full strength.

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks for those links, Kaine. That was exactly what I needed.

I do have a question, though... whats the difference between dosing kalk and dosing two-part? Do they both do the same thing, or does each have a bit more specific purpose?

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Re: Kalk question...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11130126#post11130126 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottkel
I have a question about how everyone is using their kalk (and/or pickling lime)... Once you mix the solution, are you re-using the "settled" white powder again?

...

Thanks!

Scott

Just found this in the article Kaine posted, Scott:

"In general, it is a good practice to leave residual solids on the bottom of limewater reservoirs rather than cleaning them out every time, as they may actually help purify the water by these precipitation mechanisms. Once the solids discolor, or have been collecting for 6-12 months, however, they should be discarded."

I thought that may help answer your question. Its just above the bold headline "What Else Is In Limewater Besides Calcium And Hydroxide? Mg++ and Sr++" FWIW.

Brandon

 

[scottkel]

So it sounds like I should be able to re-use the settled solution...

If i understand this correctly, here is what it sounds like can happen:

I will mix up a new batch of kalk/water.
Allow mix to settle, and begin dosing.
Once the "water" has completed dosing, I can then add water and re-mix solution, allow to settle and start the dosing again...

Is this correct? It sounds like the water can only become but so saturated with the kalk - is this why the mix never always disolves -no matter how much i stir and mix?

Thanks so much for all of your responses...

Scott

 

[KAiNE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137121#post11137121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
Thanks for those links, Kaine. That was exactly what I needed.

I do have a question, though... whats the difference between dosing kalk and dosing two-part? Do they both do the same thing, or does each have a bit more specific purpose?

Brandon

They both will add alk/ca but kalk to a lesser degree, unless you are evaporating a huge amount to be able to dose enough. I use kalk mainly for the ph boost but i still have to add 2part to fully maintain proper levels.
On my fowlr I use maybe quarter strength limewater to maintain and boost ph. I dose this via an ATO and 20g tub.
I very rarely have to add 2 part to that tank.

Here is an article that explains the differences better than i - http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm