mixing lime water

[BPKlein]

I am going to start using lime in my top off, but I have a couple of questions. To start with...I am making the change to lime from BRS recipe #1 two part to help get the ph up some more consistently. Currently the ph is always 8.0 - 8.1.

I have read every article pertaining to lime on this site, but can't find information on how to mix it. 35 gallon brute trashcan with a bulkhead about 3 inches off of the bottom. So I put the water in the can (about 25 gallons) add 25 teaspoons (that is what I am going to start with) Mrs. wages to the water and mix with WHAT? Then when the next batch gets made I will leave the crud on the bottom of the can, add 25 more gallons of water, 25 more teaspoons and mix with something that won't stir up the crud on the bottom. Just don't know what that something is. The powerhead I was going to use to mix seized in about 5 minutes. I don't have an indoor place to store water, so my RODI storage is in the garage. No problem, it doesn't get cold enough to freeze and when added to the top off reservoir it warms up in the house. Can the can containing the lime water also be stored in the garage? The lower temps will lower the ph of the lime, but hopefully not enough to harm anything. Yes or No?

Thanks for the help,

Bryan

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Add the water, the lime, stir briefly, let it settle, perhaps overnight, and you are done.

You can use a powerhead, the water motion from pouring buckets in, a plastic paddle, or just about anything. It does not take much stirring. A few minutes is fine. Overnight stirring is also fine.

You can leave the crud, and you can stir it up next time, if you want, in case there is active compound still there. Or you can try to leave it settled out. You optimally want to not dose much of it.

Maybe suspend the powerhead a bit off the bottom. I use powerheads (Hagen 802) just fine, unless there really gets to be a lot of undissolved mud that can clog the intake.

Yes, garage is fine. Lower temp will not lower the pH. It may raise it as it is more soluble at lower temperatures.

 

[BPKlein]

Thanks Randy...As always we appreciate the amount of effort you put into this site.

Bryan

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're very welcome.

Good luck.

 

[David Grigor]

I use a 20g high glass tank, add the lime first then dump in the water with a gallon pitcher, dumping in the water last mixes it up. One less step.

 

[DGL]

These are the rule of thumb I do pertaining to Kalkwasser. I dose my 180 gal. display tank as well as my 160 - 200 gal. frag system almost daily with Kalkwasser. I use a 2-1/2 gal doser for each system to which I add apporx. 1 tbsp of Kalk, stir gently for about a minute, let it settle till clear and begin dripping about 30 drops per minute. The basic guidelines I use are detailed below.

I personally don't like to use large containers for dosing. Float valves can stick from calcium build up and for me, the older the Kalk solution the worse it seems to perform.

David


KALKWASSER is very easy to use. It is important to make your Kalkwasser solution using purified freshwater. You certainly don’t want to chance introducing impurities such as phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, etc. into your pristine reef environment. Kalkwasser solution is best used for your "make-up and/or top off water" that is lost through evaporation. The use of a drip doser is recommended for the addition of Kalkwasser to the reef aquarium, although many hobbyists have great success using a Kalkwasser Reactor. The drip method is just a much simpler and cheaper method. IF YOU ARE USING A KALKWASSER REACTOR, COMPLETELY SHUT THE UNIT OFF & CLOSE ALL OUT PUT VALVES WHEN YOU RE-FILL AND/OR CLEAN THE REACTOR!!! THEN, AFTER RE-FILLING WITH FRESH KALKWASSER, RESTART THE REACTOR & SLOWLY RECALIBRATE OR ADJUST THE OUT PUT OF YOUR REACTOR. THIS WILL HELP YOU AVOID AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE OF KALKWASSER INTO YOUR AQUARIUM.

Before you begin using Kalkwasser you need to know the Calcium and Alkalinity levels of you reef aquarium. This should be accomplished by the use of reliable Calcium and Alkalinity test kits. Calcium level of 380 - 450 PPM and Alkalinity of 7.5 â€"œ 10 dkH are recommended.

Depending on the size of your reef aquarium you can use a drip container from 1 quart to 5 gallons in size, the larger the aquarium the larger the doser; examples: { 55 gal. 1qt. container is fine, 125 gal. to 250 gal. a 2 ½ gal. container is fine, etc. }. The drip line coming out of your container should be 1" to 1 ½" above the bottom of your container. This will allow an area for the sediment to settle into, so when you begin to drip your solution you will leave all sediment behind. It is recommended to mix and drip or dose your Kalkwasser solution from the same container, "keep it simple." You can add from ½ teaspoon to one tablespoon of Kalkwasser powder per gallon of purified freshwater. Add the desired amount of Kalkwasser to your container and vigorously mix for about one minute. DO NOT USE AN AIR STONE!! Allow this mixture to sit for 15 to 30 minutes so the sediment has a chance to settle to the bottom of your container. When you use Kalkwasser you will always have sediment, it is the nature of the chemical, it is not intended to dissolve completely. Once the sediment has settled out begin dripping the Kalkwasser solution at a rate of 30 - 40 drops a minute into your sump or an area of high water movement in the aquarium. A drip vale can consist of a roller type valve or something as simple as a plastic airline valve. When you have finished dripping the Kalkwasser solution, simply rinse out your container. Kalkwasser solution can be used for all or most of the make-up water in your reef system. Monitor your PH, Alkalinity and Calcium on a regular basis. The only time you shouldn’t use Kalkwasser solution is if Calcium, PH or Alkalinity begin to exceed recommended or safe levels in the aquarium! The amount of KALKWASSER you drip or dose on a daily basis will depend on the amount of Calcium used by your individual system. The heavier your system is populated the more Calcium it will use. You should use your Kalkwasser solution within 24 hours of making it, after this it gradually loses its effectiveness. The best time to add Kalkwasser solution is in the evening after your lights are turned off or early in the morning before the lights are turned on. The PH of the reef aquarium generally will drop when the lights are out, "the reef night," by dosing during this time it helps to maintain a more constant PH level.

NEVER POUR OR ADD KALKWASSER DIRECTLY TO YOUR REEF AQUARIUM!!!! THIS CAN CAUSE A PH SPIKE IN YOUR SYSTEM!!!