Kalkwasser question

[aerius007]

I have a 95% jug full of ESV kalkwasser. I'm not sure of the age as it was given to me by someone getting out of the hobby. He wasnt in the hobby very long so its not older than 2007. I followed the instructions, mixed one gallon with one teaspoon and let sit overnight for everything to settle. I than started a siphon from the middle of the jug and found no clear solution, still cloudy. There was a film at the top of the solution and calc at the bottom as described in the instructions. I tested the ph with my acjr, and it shot up to 11, I believe the max of that unit so I would assume the ph was over 12.

Can I take that cloudy solution and filter it through a coffee filter or is it just not good stuff? I did use rodi water.

 

[HighlandReefer]

The kalk should still be good as long as the top was on tight.

Perhaps letting it settle for a while longer may help. The stuff That will not dissolve when mixing only 1 teaspoon per gallon of RODI should be precipitated calcium carbonate and other contaminates. You do not want to dose the bottom precipitates.

 

[atxryan]

Like most, I dose kalk in my ato. before, I mixed in 5 gallon batches and I never really saw a clear colum like the directions indicated. Most advanced users of kalk mix in their ato container. I use this method and have had great effects. I am not concerned with dosing the sediment at all. Unless it lands directly on you coral, there will be no negative effect on your reef. In my case, my ato/kalk is pumped into my overflow that flows to a filter bag in my sump before being pumped back to the display. as long as you have an accurate ato system, dont worry about the ph.

 

[tmz]

The 11 ph is actually low for fully saturated kalkwasser(2tsp per gallon) . Fully saturated it's around 12.4 ph.

 

[aerius007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15108915#post15108915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tmz
The 11 ph is actually low for fully saturated kalkwasser(2tsp per gallon) . Fully saturated it's around 12.4 ph.

As stated previously, to my knowledge, 11 is limit of the probe I am using.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Fully saturated kalk is 2 teaspoons kalk per 1 gal. rodi. Your are mixing it at only 1 teaspoon. pH is not a good way to test kalk for its saturation.

 

[aerius007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15109754#post15109754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighlandReefer
Fully saturated kalk is 2 teaspoons kalk per 1 gal. rodi. Your are mixing it at only 1 teaspoon. pH is not a good way to test kalk for its saturation.

My apologies, I actually mixed 1 teaspoon with 1/2 gallon. I didnt have a gallon jug, only a 1/2 gallon container. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[HighlandReefer]

If your concerned about whether your kalk is fully saturated, you can always add 3 teaspoons per gallon of rodi water. You may waste a little, but it will be saturated even if your kalk is not up to its full capacity.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Using a conductivity meter is the best way to test kalk for its potency.

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

From this article:

"Conductivity, on the other hand, is ideal for measuring the concentration of dissolved ionic material in the presence of solids. I use it, for example, to determine the concentration of dissolved salts in the presence of particulate pharmaceuticals. It has also been used to measure the potency of limewater as it reacts with carbon dioxide.12 In a previous article I showed how and why conductivity can be used to measure salinity13 and the basic explanation is the same here. In short, conductivity is a measure of the charged ions in solution as they respond to an electric field. In limewater without impurities we have:"

 

[atxryan]

adding extra kalk is good advice if you want to make sure you are dosing 100% saturated water.

 

[aerius007]

I was mainly worried about it not being clear. Shouldnt the good solution be clear and not cloudy?

 

[HighlandReefer]

Perhaps the kalk is not good and you should buy new. If the kalk you have was left open without a top & moisture got in then a lot of precipitate could have formed which will not dissolve.

 

[tmz]

Yes, after the crust on top ,there should be clear liquid. an hour or two after stirring.

 

[atxryan]

I have never had CLEAR kalk water

 

[HighlandReefer]

If you are adding too much kalk which surpasses saturation, it will cloud the water a bit because the left over kalk will not dissolve. The extra kalk particles can stay suspended in the water for quite a while since they are so fine.

 

[bertoni]

A number of people have reported having cloudy kalkwasser, but I haven't heard of any problems caused by it. I've never even checked, personally.