I added some of BRS Kalkwasser to my ATO reservoir to help stabilize pH and alk. My question is should I put a small water pump in there to continually circulate the water? There is a white film on top of the water. I added Kalk because my Acros are slowly losing their colors. They aren't dying but they are definitely a little browner than when I originally purchased them.
Proper use of Kalkwasser
- Thread starter sharky71
- Start date
No you don't want to stir it in this case as it is exposed to air. The film you have in it will actually protect what kalk was added.
What is really important is raising what ever method you are using off the floor of the reservoir to pull water out of it. Be it a tube / pump etc. The residue in the bottom you must never suck up.
Every so often you will need to clean the reservoir to avoid to much of a build up, maybe every time you refill it even. Maybe someone else can comment on that.
Darkstar22
New member
I use a 10G tank for my ATO reservoir, and add the kalk, stir it really well, and then let it settle. The tube that siphons the kalkwasser into my sump is about 1/2 inch off the bottom of the tank so that it doesn't suck up the residue. I clean the reservoir about once a month maybe. Other than that I just keep it full of RO/DI water. Not much too it!
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Correct. I use kalk and I turn off the LMIII (ATO for me) and while the brute fills with water. I then add the kalk, stir, and once water stops is not cloudy I seal the top and turn the LMIII back on for the pump to the lime water.
Darkstar22
New member
I don't turn it off, and if my drip turns on during the kalk being saturated it goes in the tank. Of course it settles quickly, and whatever does go in during that time I don't see any detriment to water quality. Just my observation.
Dog boy Dave
New member
IF you mix the RO water after it hits the lime it will quickly reach saturation and settle out. Ph should be high close to 12 i think. ( I havent checked in years) You should not allow the top of the container to be open to the air as this increases co2 intake which is bad. That is also why you should not mix continuously. However, i have read and my experience supports that adding milky lime water to a salt water tank poses no more threat to the system than adding lime water that is saturated. The ph does not rise beyond saturation anyway and the excess lime just settles. The same methods IE, slow drip to add to system is safe for clear or milky lime water.
I have addded lime water for years just by keeping some pickling lime in my top off tanks. The pickups are never set at the bottom of the tanks and I drip my replacement water in anyway. Every six months or so i empty the slush from the bottom of the tank and add a cup or so of pickling lime for every 5 gallons of top off volume. The excess settles and sinks phosphates. The residue turns gunky grey and i throw it away every six months or so. Pretty simple, bout the only way to mess it up would be to let to much air circulate which causes the ca to precipitate and drop or to add it too fast to your tank which could cause a temp ph rise.
I have addded lime water for years just by keeping some pickling lime in my top off tanks. The pickups are never set at the bottom of the tanks and I drip my replacement water in anyway. Every six months or so i empty the slush from the bottom of the tank and add a cup or so of pickling lime for every 5 gallons of top off volume. The excess settles and sinks phosphates. The residue turns gunky grey and i throw it away every six months or so. Pretty simple, bout the only way to mess it up would be to let to much air circulate which causes the ca to precipitate and drop or to add it too fast to your tank which could cause a temp ph rise.
