Where to get Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime in Knoxville?
- Thread starter Engloid
- Start date
In what I'm reading, and the calculators online, it looks like I will need about 6 gallons of limewater to get my alkalinity up from where it is...3.42. My Calcium is at 380, so it would take almost 6 gallons to raise it up to 420, which is still acceptable. However, it says that my pH will rise significantly by adding this much.
My pH is currently at 8.0 and holds very steady there.
I have never used pickling lime before, but here's how I gather it to be done:
Mix 2tbsp of lime per gallon of water, and mix it. Dissolve all possible. Siphon off all the clear liquid and do not use anything that settles in the bottom of the container.
Therefore, what I plan to do is mix up about 3 gallons of this, and add in one gallon today. This is in a system with about 140 gallons of water. I will then, unless this raises levels significantly, add in another gallon every other day until I see pH getting to its limit at about 8.3, or I reach the desired calcium and alkalinity levels.
Sound like a good plan?
My pH is currently at 8.0 and holds very steady there.
I have never used pickling lime before, but here's how I gather it to be done:
Mix 2tbsp of lime per gallon of water, and mix it. Dissolve all possible. Siphon off all the clear liquid and do not use anything that settles in the bottom of the container.
Therefore, what I plan to do is mix up about 3 gallons of this, and add in one gallon today. This is in a system with about 140 gallons of water. I will then, unless this raises levels significantly, add in another gallon every other day until I see pH getting to its limit at about 8.3, or I reach the desired calcium and alkalinity levels.
Sound like a good plan?
This will blow your pH out the roof unless you have a very large tank. I have a 24 gallon system and 10 ml raised my pH from 6.5 to 8.6.
If you need to raise your alkalinity I suggest you try calcium chloride or something similar. Kent's and Seachem both make very good products to raise your calcium levels without affecting your pH. Seachem's Reef Builder is a good product and I believe it is calcium chloride based.
Good luck!
If you need to raise your alkalinity I suggest you try calcium chloride or something similar. Kent's and Seachem both make very good products to raise your calcium levels without affecting your pH. Seachem's Reef Builder is a good product and I believe it is calcium chloride based.
Good luck!
After reviewing my results a bit, since they were way off...I discovered that I messed up. Alkalinity is at 3.42 meq/L. kH is 9.6. My mistake. I previously said that it was 3.42kH, but it is 3.42 meq/L.
Therefore, I need to raise my calcium, but alkalinity is ok. Here's a thread I started in the Reef Chemistry forum:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1893689
Therefore, I need to raise my calcium, but alkalinity is ok. Here's a thread I started in the Reef Chemistry forum:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1893689
cee
New member
I seem to recall we had this discussion awhile back in another one of your threads...
Cool. I'm open about any time, so just let me know when it's a good time for you.
Update:
I bought a can ot Kent Turbo Calcium. It took 8 teaspoons, over two days, to get calcium up to 420.
Here's my current test results, and this is after a 10% water change yesterday:
Calcium = 420
KH in dKH = 8.6
Alkalinity in meq/L = 3.09
Phosphate = .5ppm
pH = 8.0
Ammonia = 0
nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0-5ppm
Salinity = 1.024
My nitrate always tests between 0 and 5 ppm. I may need to take a sample to a store and verify that my test is correct.
Phosphate is always at .5ppm. As discussed before, is likely that, since the lady that owned the tank before me used tap water, it's leeching from the rocks and will just have to be dealt with until it slowly comes out. I'm not having problems with algae at all though. Only had a couple rocks that had cyano on them, and the chemiclean wiped it out in a day.
My salinity has been bouncing a little, from 1.024 to 1.026, due to salt creep and water changes. Is this too much of a swing?
Therefore, I think I'm on the right track now. I need to work on getting some sort of drip doser to at in Kalk, and rig up an auto topoff system. That should help out with the salinity swings and regulating calcium.
Any comments, criticism? Ideas?
I bought a can ot Kent Turbo Calcium. It took 8 teaspoons, over two days, to get calcium up to 420.
Here's my current test results, and this is after a 10% water change yesterday:
Calcium = 420
KH in dKH = 8.6
Alkalinity in meq/L = 3.09
Phosphate = .5ppm
pH = 8.0
Ammonia = 0
nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0-5ppm
Salinity = 1.024
My nitrate always tests between 0 and 5 ppm. I may need to take a sample to a store and verify that my test is correct.
Phosphate is always at .5ppm. As discussed before, is likely that, since the lady that owned the tank before me used tap water, it's leeching from the rocks and will just have to be dealt with until it slowly comes out. I'm not having problems with algae at all though. Only had a couple rocks that had cyano on them, and the chemiclean wiped it out in a day.
My salinity has been bouncing a little, from 1.024 to 1.026, due to salt creep and water changes. Is this too much of a swing?
Therefore, I think I'm on the right track now. I need to work on getting some sort of drip doser to at in Kalk, and rig up an auto topoff system. That should help out with the salinity swings and regulating calcium.
Any comments, criticism? Ideas?
update on my water works:
About 4 days ago, I converted a canister filter to a phosphate reactor. It just perfectly fit 2lbs inside of it.
Three days ago, I started dosing some limewater to make up for evaporation, with a drip to slowly add it. I put 12 teaspoons in 4 gallons of water. This is in accordance with BRS's website (3 per gallon).
Last night, I hooked up the calcium reactor I bought from Travis, so I can get that under control. I put on a drip that was about 20-30 drips a minute. I got the pH controller also, but still have to get a C02 bottle, regulator, and a probe to use it. Until then, I will need to be very careful with the calcium levels achieved from the reactor, correct? But I am still safe to use Kalk?
Today, I looked into my sump where the limewater was dripping in, and there was a crunchy film on top of that section of the water. What does this indicate? When I broke some of it up, it now has made my display cloudy. I'm now thinking I should have used a net to scoop it out.
My current water tests show:
pH = 8.0 Still doesn't seem to change no matter what I have done so far. I'm beginning to think I need to check with another test kit to verify mine is correct. Anybody nearby and want an excuse to come check out my tank? I think you'll be surprised at how good it looks, based on the newbie questions I ask sometimes.
KH in dKH = 10.2 This has gone up since the other day, probably due to the calcium reactor, correct?
Alkalinity = 3.66 meq/L Also went up...due to calcium reactor?
Phosphate = .25 Going down, which is a good sign. I've read a lot about vodka dosing. Is this like snake oil or does it really work? I have thought about trying something like half the reccomended doseage to see what it does.
Thoughts on any of this? I'm heading the right direction, correct?
About 4 days ago, I converted a canister filter to a phosphate reactor. It just perfectly fit 2lbs inside of it.
Three days ago, I started dosing some limewater to make up for evaporation, with a drip to slowly add it. I put 12 teaspoons in 4 gallons of water. This is in accordance with BRS's website (3 per gallon).
Last night, I hooked up the calcium reactor I bought from Travis, so I can get that under control. I put on a drip that was about 20-30 drips a minute. I got the pH controller also, but still have to get a C02 bottle, regulator, and a probe to use it. Until then, I will need to be very careful with the calcium levels achieved from the reactor, correct? But I am still safe to use Kalk?
Today, I looked into my sump where the limewater was dripping in, and there was a crunchy film on top of that section of the water. What does this indicate? When I broke some of it up, it now has made my display cloudy. I'm now thinking I should have used a net to scoop it out.
My current water tests show:
pH = 8.0 Still doesn't seem to change no matter what I have done so far. I'm beginning to think I need to check with another test kit to verify mine is correct. Anybody nearby and want an excuse to come check out my tank? I think you'll be surprised at how good it looks, based on the newbie questions I ask sometimes.
KH in dKH = 10.2 This has gone up since the other day, probably due to the calcium reactor, correct?
Alkalinity = 3.66 meq/L Also went up...due to calcium reactor?
Phosphate = .25 Going down, which is a good sign. I've read a lot about vodka dosing. Is this like snake oil or does it really work? I have thought about trying something like half the reccomended doseage to see what it does.
Thoughts on any of this? I'm heading the right direction, correct?
