??' on Kalc dosing

W

wetone

Member
I have a 5 gal bucket setup to dose Kalc to my sump via a float switch for evaporation top off.
I have a bulkhead in the bottom of the bucket that takes the kalk from approx 1" from the bottom. I add RODI water and kalk powder to the bucket, stir it good and let it sit for a day or two before using, it forms a crusty film on top...once set, I open the valve and let it go via evaporation, until it gets down to the last inch and then I refill and start again.........my question is on the bottom of the bucket there is white powder, is that residual kalk powder that did not get absorbed and I can reuse this or is it no good? I always add new kalk powder when mixing and usually clean the bucket about once amonth....am I throwing out (wasting!!) useable kalk powder??

thanks
 
Some will be undissolved kalk. A lot will be precipitate and impurities. I wouldn't reuse it.

Is your kalk dripping in slowly? It wasn't clear from the description, but it should be.
 
Oh also, what kind of float switch? You have to be careful running kalk through floats with moving parts. The kalk tends to clog them causing failure.
 
Some of it will be kalk that is usable, some of it will be impurities that settle out. It's a good idea to go ahead and rinse it every 6 months or so though just to keep the amount down. If you mix the kalk to saturation (2 teaspoons/gallon) it will just settle back out again if it's impurities. I use a plastic 55 gallon drum and have gone about 1 year so when it gets warmer, it will get rinsed out.

Kalk through a manual float switch isn't real safe though. It's much safer with an electric float switch controlling a peristaltic pump.
 
DrBDC is right. While I wouldn't go out of my way to use it, I wouldn't obssess over cleaning it out either. Although I'd do it more often than every 6 months.
 
Its goin in pretty slowly, only when float switch lowers enough to open valve due to evaporation.
I use a regular plastic float switch.....I realize the kalk can clog the float switch, I clean it and soak in vinegar pretty often to make sure no build up impacts the operation.

I do add the 2 tea/gal mix to the new water...sometimes I add alittle less because of the residual in the bottom....I havent noticed a big drop off in my ca levels, I do supplement with turbo calc, but I "think" that need is because of the growing number and overall growth of the SPS and coraline in the tank:p
 
It sounds like you are doing everything good. By slow I'd be shooting for drip drip drip rather than a slow pour. If you've got that going well I'd say you're doing everything right.

And yes, kalk will not keep up with a stocked stony tank for sure. Its cheaper than 2 part though and has some benefits 2 part doesn't. I personally use kalk and two part for my tank as well. Don't know anything about turbo calc, I assume that's a 2 part?
 
Kent Turbo Calk is a granular additive thats mixed with tank water and added for "boosting" ca to desired level, as opposed to maintaining it.
I have been looking a Ca reactor lately, but didnt want to part with the $600 for the entire setup, especially since this is working well for me and I spend approx $25 yr on Kalk and turbo calc......I might have to just check my doses as my demand goes up
 
I think you're fine. I run a 265g tank on kalk+2 part. Prior to this upgrade, I ran my 125g on kalk+2 part for years.

Do some other research around here (from someone more knowledgeable about turbo calc). Make sure its adding alkalinity as well. Kalk is balanced, not sure if turbo calc is both parts or just calcium. If its just calcium you won't be replenishing enough alk. Other than that, I see no reason why you can't do things like you are forever!
 
Turbo Calcium is just calcium chloride. It supplies no alkalinity. If limewater alone is not adequate to meet demand, I'd recommend a two part (unless the problem is caused by a low calcium salt mix, then calcium chloride is a fine way to make one time corrections).
 
Randy's the one to know! You might think about switching to kalk plus a 2 part. It should be almost the same as what you are doing now, except you were missing whatever alkalinity you needed to add beyond the kalkwasser.
 
JUst asked this same question in the Chem Forum about the left over milk, Randy answered it correctly, some Kalk but junk as well, go to it but the bottom line is dump it.
 
Could you give me some detail on how you have this setup, I would like to setup a 30g drum with kalk.

Thanks
Mark

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11937986#post11937986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC
Some of it will be kalk that is usable, some of it will be impurities that settle out. It's a good idea to go ahead and rinse it every 6 months or so though just to keep the amount down. If you mix the kalk to saturation (2 teaspoons/gallon) it will just settle back out again if it's impurities. I use a plastic 55 gallon drum and have gone about 1 year so when it gets warmer, it will get rinsed out.

Kalk through a manual float switch isn't real safe though. It's much safer with an electric float switch controlling a peristaltic pump.
Click to expand...
 
I dose limewater from an 88 gallon reservoir. It is actually two 44 gallon brute trash cans plumbed together with bulkheads.

I pump it with a Reef Filler pump set just a bit faster than the daily demand for top off water ( a few gallons per day) and is controlled by an Omega Engineering LV-1201 float switch in my sump. Here's a link to the switch:

http://www.omega.ca/shop/pptsc.asp?ref=LV1100_1200
 
Thanks for the reply Randy,

But I still dont understand how you have it setup, I currently have a 30g reservoir with plumb to a mag-5 pump controled by a floa switch and timer to prevent the float swith sticking and flooding.

My plan was to add kalk to the reservoir, topoff the tank from the reservoir until it reaches the last few gallons and then start over again.

Is this how you have your setup?
 
what 2 part does everyone use...i use kalk now but and have ok ca levels 380- 425. i would like to stabilize it alil more. i just wanna know if the 2 part would help with doing that along with still adding kalk?
 
thanks guys...do you know where a good place to buy these products. and i keep my ca level around 380-425 i would like it alil higher so would the 2 part help that
 
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