Mrs.wage's Pickling Lime

[DrBDC]

Saturated limewater is right about 2 teaspoons per gallon so a tablespoon will take it just over saturated and any impurities will precipitate out(which is good). That's how I use it myself. I didn't drip it for long but whenever you're messing around with the tank or just checking it out reach over and squish the end of the tube and a little buildup will break off. I found using the air valve higher in the drip tube with airline after it kept the valve from clogging and most buildup would be on the end of plain hose vs. in the valve.

 

[DrBDC]

Oh, and if you have room there are Kent dosing jugs available which you can set up with the same drip tube style but it will have some gravity force on it which helps to keep the tube flowing. They require a place to set them up at though. After a while you'll probably get tired of the drip and be looking for some form of peristaltic pump like a litermeter or other brand.

 

[akrimmel]

so will the limewater work for cal and alk everyday set up as adrip to use in the gallon jug for topoff as well?

 

[akrimmel]

was considering that as well the dosing pump if i can set up a shelf to what i need. although the dosing pumps dont need gravity or do they?

 

[akrimmel]

i have the gallon jug setting on the brace on the display and the drip is running into the sump, that is why i was asking if the pumps need gravity?

 

[mpcart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7801895#post7801895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by akrimmel
so will the limewater work for cal and alk everyday set up as adrip to use in the gallon jug for topoff as well?

I'm not sure if I understand your questions but you would use the kalkwasser as your top-off water. If you evap 2 gallons a day then you would try and drip 2 gallons of kalk per day.

Yes, the kalk will replace both the Calc and Alk portions of the B-ionic two part.

-Mike

 

[akrimmel]

yes mike that is what i was asking just have to figure out what evaps per day as opposed to what i am dripping per day, that is great new to find out that a $5 lime powder is the same as the $30 esv bionic i was using 2 part system.

 

[akrimmel]

next question like all things we add to top off water or whatever, i have noticed that the lime in the mix i drip continues to settle to the bottom after a few hours? so how effectively of the 2 teaspoons of pickling lime i add to the one gallon rodi water is actually getting dosed to the drip. is it wrong to shake up the residue at the bottom to get more out of it????????????

 

[DrBDC]

You can put the mixing container on a small powerhead or such for about 1/2 hour w/o worrying about degradation. But don't disturb it after. So mix, let settle a bit, then decant into your dosing container. The degradation over time tends to be against mixing a very large amount and then continually disturbing it to pour into a smaller drip container. It would be best to mix the amount you are going to use each time you refill the drip container.

 

[akrimmel]

thats what i do but it tends to settle in the milk jug after about 2 hours or so, do i just let it stay on the bottom of the drip jug or swish it once a day. one gallon takes two days to drip.

 

[mpcart]

The solids on the bottom of the container are impurities in the lime or lime that has precipitated out because the solution is saturated. It's a normal part of making kalkwasser.

I think the only reason to periodically use a powerhead for mixing would be if you had a kalk reactor that was introducing non-saturated water in the the reactor that needed to be mixed with the pickling lime. Since you are making a new batch every couple days, just shake the jug after the batch is made and let it settle.

There is a section in the previously referenced article called "What Gets Left Behind On The Bottom Of The Limewater Container?" that explains it a little better.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php#10

Hope that helps.

-Mike

 

[DrBDC]

Here's a chart on degradation of limewater over time. You shouldn't keep agitating it after a certain time as you'll see how it breaks down potency if you do.

Here's a good article too:

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

 

[Kathy55g]

Drip into the intake of your protein skimmer, and you will help to remove phosphates, too.

 

[akrimmel]

Kathy55g
i am running a phosban reactor but thanks for the info.

and dr, and mpcart thanks for the advice and knowledge.

im confused how do you raise the KH of the tank or is that the same as ALK? also limewater does it raise/decrease the PH of the tank?

 

[DrBDC]

Limewater will increase the pH. For good mixing what Kathy said is a good idea.

dKh and alk are the same. Don't use limewater to raise ca or alk though. It's really to try and maintain your ca/alk type supplement. If you need to raise your levels it's best to do that with a cacl and baking soda type supplements or a 2 part type. Then once your have your levels where you want them begin the kalk addition. If not using kalk for ALL your topoff/evaporation needs, I'd drip it at night to lessen the nightime pH drop. But either way only drip or add very small amounts at a time or your pH will jump through the roof.

 

[akrimmel]

i know you can use baking soda for what you said but what can you use to raise CAL like the DIY limewater solution, as i am trying to save money and do away with the ESV-BIONIC 2 part system?

 

[DrBDC]

If you can find some Prestone driveway heat in a store but this time of year?? Maybe try autozone's and ask if they have any in back not on display. harveysalts.com or harveysalt.com you can order the dowflake or dow pellets. That's where I got my MgCl for my mag supplement at and they had the other on the web page too.

 

[akrimmel]

what size bag of the flake do you reccomend?

 

[DrBDC]

I'd probably order the biggest bag available and store the excess in some IO buckets (they have the rubber seal). But if in an apartment or a place with no storage, then,,,,,,,,,, Here is an article on the homemade 2 parts which you can make the supplement from:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

And then use this calculator to find how much to add to correct any tank imbalances:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Don't forget to order MgCl when you order the CaCl and maybe lessen the per/bag shipping.

 

[DrBDC]

BTW a lot of people around here seem to be looking for the MgCl and you may want to post a thread about group buy on them and split up the shipping charges.