Kalkwasser

[JCnflies]

I bought my first container of kalkwasser mix and am a bit uncertain about how to use it. If you can answer any of these questions I would appreciate it.

1) When I skim the film off the top, I never get it all. I am using a small fish net. Is there a better way?

2) Is it a big deal if a bit of the film gets into the tank water?

3) Is there anything els that is important to know about kw?

4) This may sound weird, but does it stain clothing?

Thx much.

 

[jnfallon]

The reef chemistry forum is your friend.

Limewater (kalkwasser)

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

The Self Purification of Limewater (Kalkwasser)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/chem.htm

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm

Magnesium and Strontium in Limewater
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2003/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

 

[Spracklcat]

Thanks Justin!

FWIW, I dose kalk by adding a slurry ala Calfo: I put my daily dose in a plastic cup, add a cup of tank water, mix well, then shoot the cloudy mix directly in the tank in an area of high flow. Works just fine--animals none the worse for the addition (surprisingly), and is easy and fast. I tend to do it at lights-out just because it' si convenient, and because the tank pH is likely to start dropping then anyway, so the kalk helps balance it out.

Chris

 

[teen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9162788#post9162788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spracklcat
Thanks Justin!

FWIW, I dose kalk by adding a slurry ala Calfo: I put my daily dose in a plastic cup, add a cup of tank water, mix well, then shoot the cloudy mix directly in the tank in an area of high flow. Works just fine--animals none the worse for the addition (surprisingly), and is easy and fast. I tend to do it at lights-out just because it' si convenient, and because the tank pH is likely to start dropping then anyway, so the kalk helps balance it out.

Chris

i didnt read the threads above yet, but i always thought it was important to let the mix settle then slowly drip the clear water that forms at the top of the solution, thus avoiding the cloudy stuff at the bottom??

anyway if your way is working it sounds easier then the way im doing it.

 

[Spracklcat]

Yep, that's what I thought too, and that's how I used to do it, but I've been using this method for a long time now and it's just fine. Your water is a bit cloudy for a short time after you add it, but if you don't care about that then there is no problem.

 

[teen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9162968#post9162968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spracklcat
Yep, that's what I thought too, and that's how I used to do it, but I've been using this method for a long time now and it's just fine. Your water is a bit cloudy for a short time after you add it, but if you don't care about that then there is no problem.

what type of corals do you have in your tank that you've been doing this with?

how fast does it bump up your calcium/alk?

 

[Spracklcat]

I've never done a before/after Ca/Alk test actually, but using this method both stay pretty stable if I remember to dose regularly. I honestly don't test often, and instead use coral growth and helath to gauge my tank. I have SPS (Montipora capricornis), LPS, softies, inverts, fish... and also, it's a small tank (29g, no sump/fuge), so you'd expect if there was a problem with dosing this way it would occur in a maller tank sooner than a larger one, but it works just fine.

 

[teen]

yea, i have a 30 gallon with a 40 gallon sump. i only test calcium and alk before and after drippoing the kalk. mix and it usually bumps it up a decent amount overnight.

anyway, im going to try this tonight and see what happens. how much kalk mix are you adding to your tank?

 

[teen]

oh, and did you say anthony calfo taught you this? is there an article somewhere or did he tell you in person?

 

[eboonaman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9163517#post9163517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by teen
oh, and did you say anthony calfo taught you this? is there an article somewhere or did he tell you in person?

I'm betting probably BOTH....

 

[billsreef]

Actually Sprung started writing about that method quite a few years ago in his old FAMA column. That's when I started doing the kalk slurry

 

[pyro383]

I drip from a float switch that takes from the top of the kalk reactor.

 

[Spracklcat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9163878#post9163878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eboonaman
I'm betting probably BOTH....

Thanks Chuck

Yes, I have heard it in person mostly (helps to have an aquarist around the house), but as Bill said it is pretty well known.