Pickling Lime

[BigScott]

im just wondering if anyone out there uses this or has used it.. i think travis stevens does or did at one time or another i need some feed back on this, the pros an cons..thanks for the input

 

[chaderic26]

Pickeling Lime Info



I use it all day every day.:strooper:

 

[dugg]

I used to use it for my top off water. I quit using it because it was constantly building up in my pumps and powerheads. It ruined a few magdrives and a few Seio's. If you keep up with cleaning your pumps i suppose it's ok, but if you don't it will cause a problem. It builds up on the magnets on the impeller shafts and freezes them up. Iddin't go by the tablespoon per gallon though, i mixed mine with a full bag of lime and just added more RO/DI each time until the lime was used up. That gives it maximum saturation. I also used sediment filters on my drip line so there was no sediment making it to the tank at all. I now just use the 2 part solution daily.

 

[chaderic26]

If you over saturate or don't keep up with your magnesium the kalk will tend to precipitate on to pumps and heaters and such. When I first started dosing I had it happen a little but not so much any more.
I just worked out my daily demand.

Also using vinegar with it seems to help with that.

 

[g.junge]

Pickeling Lime Info



I use it all day every day.:strooper:

Is this article still relevant. I noticed the date is back to 2005 anyone sure if there are any updates to using pickling lime. I am very interested in using a lime water drip.

 

[chaderic26]

Still relevant. I don't use it any more, but worked well when I did. It comes in a bag now instead of that jar. You can find it at walmart by all the caning stuff.

 

[eddybabyhd]

I still use it, in a kalk reactor though.

I have to, otherwise I cannot maintain CA/PH without dosing.

 

[Colin]

I use it all the time in my ATO. I mix 2 tablespoons per 5 gallons DI water. My tank is great. It can precipitate on pumps if you're not careful.

I use the stuff from Bulk Reef Supply. It's much more economical and easy to find. Pickling lime tends to be seasonal, so if you go that route buy a lot while they have it in stock. Or just order it from BRS.

--Colin

 

[Lytehouse]

Scotty,

Long time no hear,

Are you back in salt?

 

[blakers82]

Pickled limes are pretty gross.

Pickling lime helps pretty corals grow. Sorry for my boredom.

I use it in my 32gallon top-off. I "aim" for a healthy tsp per gal. chaderic26's:wavehand: link includes the information I've gone by. It seems some feel limited to a kalk reactor when this article indicates that you aren't losing significant potency in a larger reservoir. My calcium reactor alone had my PH pretty low and I've got a decent amount of SPS so adding the lime to the ATO was very helpful.

 

[Glazner]

chaderic26, thanks. Great read and thanks for saving me some money over the aquarium brand Kalkwassers. Just wondering why you don't use it anymore.

 

[BigScott]

no lyn im not , someday..i miss my saltwater..but i got a ton of tanks now tho.. hehehe as usal..6 fresh water ATM..6 more to come soon..good to see you lyn.. just trying to get rid of my 40 long sump..

 

[chaderic26]

@glazner, I stopped doing it because when I did it, I used to drip it in to my 55 gallon tank back in the day, so it wasn't that bad to use. I wouldn't mind using it now but the space constraints of having the tank in the lobby at my work and the size of my tank make it harder. I guess I could have used a kalk reactor, but I decided to use 2 part after seeing others have good results with it. It's pretty cheap too.

You also have to be conscious of ph issues. But the upside to that is when I used It I had no algae issues. I'm pretty sure due to the phosphates precipitating out of my water from the high ph.

 

[Glazner]

ok, thanks. I have a calcium reactor so usually fighting low PH. May give it a go. Thanks again.