Pickles? Limes?

JxMetal

JxMetal

New member
So the calcium reactor is just not wat I necessarily need I've decided.(and so has my wallet) My new thing will be using Pickling Lime. So here's a few questions.

Do you add 1 teaspoon per gallon of top off water?

Since I use 1 gallon milk jugs for my topoff water can I just pour a whole gallon straight in without any ill effects?

Here's what I believe is the step by step for me-

1. Make a gallon of water
2. Add a teaspoon of pickling lime.
3. Make sure it's mixed.
4. When needed, just pour in a gallon of top-off water containing pickling lime.


Is this incorrect?

I'm also concerned with how I know that I'm adding the right amount of pickling lime.

My calcium is 410 right now and I top off with 1 gallon a day. And my total water volume isw about 60 gallons........
 
No. You can't poor a whole gallon in at once. It will have too drastic an effect on your ph. You need to drip the pickling lime in.

Check out the sticky on the chemistry forum. Dr. RHF has several great articles on using pickling lime. One of the articles in RK mag shows a very simple doser using a coke bottle and tubing. I think it would work great on a small tank like yours.

Once again - DO NOT DUMP A GALLON OF KALKWASSER IN YOUR TANK AT ONE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

-Mike
 
Step away from the pickling lime...

A Kent Aqua Doser works well also. I wouldn't add more than about 1/8 gallon at a time of water with pickling lime. You can start with 1 tsp/gallon, and if that's keeping your calcium and alk where you want it, then that's good. If not, you can add a bit more.
 
I'm not pouring in a gallon of pickling lime, I'm adding a gallon of water mixed with a teaspoon of pickling lime.

Or is that still bad?

:lol:
 
Yes. It's the same thing and still bad. Dissolve one teaspoon pickling lime per gallon of water = kalkwasser. You must drip the kalk - not pour it in.

Read the articles. :)

-Mike
 
I can't count the number of tanks that were destroyed with improper kalkwasser dosing, accidents, etc, etc. Read very carefully and don't start tonight.
 
You are absolutely right, I finally got to the article "What your Grandmother...." and it's much more clear there.

I guess I'll make a dripper tomorrow. That'll be fun......I guess. Then I need to make a place to sit the bottle.

I'm crafty....I know.


NEXT QUESTION!!!!!!!

How do I know how much to regulate the drip frequency to? :o
 
Let's see, to drip exactly one gallon a day, it should sound like this...

drip-drip-drip-drip


Actually, you just have to play around with it until you've got it so it keeps up with your evaporation. Mine is never right, and in fact, I'm pretty sure it's dripping air right now. I'd better go add more water to the Aquadoser.
 
:lol: I won't be using an aquadoser thingy as I dont have room for it.

Or maybe I will make a shelf so I can use one.........hmm....

Tom, how much water do you go through per day? I have to top off a gallon a day.
 
I go through about 1 1/2 to 2 gallons a day.

My wife HATES my aquadoser because she has to put my daughter's play kitchen in front of it to hide it. If you want an aquadose, just get married, have some kids, then hide it behind the kids' toys. No need for any fancy shelves or cabinets.
 
Approx. 10"x10" x 8.5"H

I'm sure somebody who was halfway decent at making stuff could build one themselves, which is why I bought one.
 
And now I have ANOTHER problem.

The instructions for the Aquadose 5 gallon state "To dose Kalkwasser: Always mix in another container (as directed), and let stand until full settling occurs. Add only the clear calcareous water to the AquaDose unit, do not add the precipitate. Set drip rate to dose in about 24 hours"

So it says drip my whole solution in 24 hours?

I don't understand why I can't just dose the 5 gallons over a 5 day period.
 
Where'd you find that Tom?

I want to know the 5 gallon dimensions also, I think I can hide it in the closet next to the tank.
 
I got mine from Fade.


Hmmm...I didn't get directions with mine. I've got a six gallon water container that I mix it in, then have to pour it in my aquadoser every couple of days. When I add it to the aquadoser, I add everything but the gunk at the bottom (the precipitate)

I'm not sure about the dosing everything over 24 hours. I don't do that.
 
And adding pickling lime at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per gallon is fine?



(I meant where'd you find the dimensions) :lol:

Anyway, I just bought a 5 gallon one. We'll see how this works out. I've only read good reviews.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9880279#post9880279 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JxMetal
And adding pickling lime at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per gallon is fine?



(I meant where'd you find the dimensions) :lol:
Click to expand...

OH...To find the dimensions took a lot of searching...for the tape measure.

1 tsp to one gallon of water -- there's a lot of reading to do about CO2 dispersal, adding a bit of vinegar to help disperse the CO2 (I think--I don't do that), etc. that you might want to read up on.
 
Are you talking about adding 1 gallon, and 1 teaspoon of pickling lime to a 58 gallon tank do you have a sump/fuge too?

Before I had my top off hooked up I use to add 5gallons, and 5 teaspoons every night to the 240. Now I didn't dump it in all at once but it was with in 10min's.

My topoff feed through my Kalkreactor, and it adds anywhere from 1/2 - 1 gallon of water every time it tops off, and it is more saturated than 1 teaspoon per gal.

If anything start with 1/2 a teaspoon, with a small air line that drains in to a high flow area in the sump (if you have one) and just let it siphon slowly. This is how Rich, and stupid add it to their tanks, and that is how I did it on my 10 gallon Nano for many years.

You do have to be careful adding pickling lime to a tank, but I really do not see adding 1 gallon on 58 gallon tank being added with in a 10min rage being a problem at all.

JMHO
 
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