Pickling lime & my ATO

[DaveWF]

Ok, can someone spell it out in layman's terms what exactly I can do with my ATO and what benefit it will have for my tank? (besides that actual topping off part, I totally get that!)

 

[Dre59]

Using kalk will help maintain ALK & CAL levels set. Which means less dosing IMO for 2 part (in some tanks)

Read this as it has great info

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

Keep in mind that you will have to keep checking levels until sweet spot is found..

2 TSP per 1 gal.. I will try less and keep adding as your testing levels.

 

[arioch]

For myself, I knew I was dosing too damned much of 2-part already, so I jumped right into the deep end and put a nilsen reactor between the ATO reservoir and the sump, for fully saturated kalk top/off.

 

[ptr13]

+1 on kalk top off, keeps pH constant and all parameters.

 

[kawicivic]

I use kalk bc I travel frequently and cannot dose two part as easily. Get your levels where you want them then use kalk to keep them there.

 

[jkf1983]

+1 for kalk... I would actually go with the kalk and vinegar method though. Good article below on the subject.
http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html

 

[gig]

I just recently changed from "dripping" kalk + a topoff via float switch to just running my kalk thru the topoff via float switch. I'll see how things go now. I jsut need to keep consistent on adding kalk to my PM stirrer.

 

[DaveWF]

Ok, so I picked up a pound of Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime and refilled my ATO container. It holds a little over 3 gallons. I added 2 mildly heaping teaspoons of lime. I have a powerhead in the container to keep it mixed but after a few hours the water appears kinda cloudy and there's a film on top. Is this typical?

 

[gig]

Ok, so I picked up a pound of Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime and refilled my ATO container. It holds a little over 3 gallons. I added 2 mildly heaping teaspoons of lime. I have a powerhead in the container to keep it mixed but after a few hours the water appears kinda cloudy and there's a film on top. Is this typical?

I would point the powerhead to the bottom of the container, to mix it up as it settles. but i would also put the powerhead on a timer to mix the container 4-6 times per day.

preferably you want it to be a clear "supersaturated" mixture.

 

[wipe]

Ok, so I picked up a pound of Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime and refilled my ATO container. It holds a little over 3 gallons. I added 2 mildly heaping teaspoons of lime. I have a powerhead in the container to keep it mixed but after a few hours the water appears kinda cloudy and there's a film on top. Is this typical?

I think it should be stirred and left alone the more aggitation makes the kalk mix with CO2 in the air and it becomes calcium carbonate or "chalk". The chalk is useless to your tank.

 

[Eric The Red]

Ok, so I picked up a pound of Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime and refilled my ATO container. It holds a little over 3 gallons. I added 2 mildly heaping teaspoons of lime. I have a powerhead in the container to keep it mixed but after a few hours the water appears kinda cloudy and there's a film on top. Is this typical?

You can expect a certain amount of cloudiness, but you may have added more kalk than can be dissolved causing additional cloudiness. The kalk is saturated at 2tsp per gallon, which would be 2 level tablespoons for 3 gallons.

Personally, I don't mix or stir it after the initial mixing. I keep my tubing about 2 inches from the bottom of my ATO resevior so it doesn't suck up any of the precipitated gunk at the bottom. It just seems easier this way because you are not supposed to shake or stir the solution before dosing...which can be sorta hard to time if there's a pump in the resevior always keeping the unwanted parcipitate in suspension.

 

[Eric The Red]

i think it should be stirred and left alone the more aggitation makes the kalk mix with co2 in the air and it becomes calcium carbonate or "chalk". The chalk is useless to your tank.

+1

 

[spoofer]

+1 same here

You can expect a certain amount of cloudiness, but you may have added more kalk than can be dissolved causing additional cloudiness. The kalk is saturated at 2tsp per gallon, which would be 2 level tablespoons for 3 gallons.

Personally, I don't mix or stir it after the initial mixing. I keep my tubing about 2 inches from the bottom of my ATO resevior so it doesn't suck up any of the precipitated gunk at the bottom. It just seems easier this way because you are not supposed to shake or stir the solution before dosing...which can be sorta hard to time if there's a pump in the resevior always keeping the unwanted parcipitate in suspension.

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