mixing kalk

[mushroomhead]

Is there some kind of chemical reaction that occurs when you mix kalkwasser? Three times, the 5 gal bottle I used for storing my water have cracked on the bottom when I used them for mixing kalk.

 

[spleify]

I usually makes plastic really brittle

 

[reefworm]

I didn't know that! I'll have to keep an eye open for it.
thanks for the heads up

 

[mushroomhead]

My local LFS recomended mixing my kalk in these 5 gal bottles, then using it for my make-up water. Seemed prety simple, but maybe my bottles were too old. What are other people using?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Limewater (kalkwasser in German) will degrade polycarbonate, and so that type of plastic container is unsuitable.

It will have no impact on polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. Brute trash cans are fine.

 

[reefworm]

Is there a way to tell what type of plastic the containers are? Right now I'm using 1 gal. jugs that contained juice/gatorade - recycle symbols are 1 and 2. I'm assuming the IV drip bottle from Kent for the purpose is OK.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The Kent bottle is apparently fine.

You cannot tell polycarbonate by looking at it, but many clear plastics are polycarbonate, including many large drinking water bottles that are refillable. It and other plastics are recycling code 7.

Codes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are all certainly fine with limewater. 7 may or may not be, depending on what it is. Not sure on 1, as it may slowly degrade too.

 

[afboundguy]

I mix mine in a 5 gallon bucket and use a large juice container as a dripper and haven't had a problem with them...

 

[rezaktp]

Use a 5 gallon bucket that your salt mix comes in!

 

[ser_renely]

tagging

 

[reefworm]

rezaktp - good advice, but I'm very limited for space.

thanks for the info Randy, as always!

 

[DaveG99]

lots of people use the tupperware type containers used for keeping powdered drinks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

thanks for the info Randy, as always!

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.