Question about Kalkwasser

[Tyslin]

Hi,

I want to start using kalkwasser as a source of calcium among the other benefits it has, but I don't want to use a doser to administer into my tank. I want to use it as replacement water. Does anyone use kalkwasser in this way, if so, can you please help me how to prepare and use it in my tank. any help and or suggestions are appreciated, thanks.

[chrisANDbarb]

kalk has a very high PH even at less then half saturation so you always want to drip it slowly. you can rig up a container with an IV type drip controller for pretty cheep and drip it that way. but if your adding it all at once your going to get a big PH spike and end up precipitating out more Ca/Alk then your are adding

[dmh007]

The LFS told me to take a tablespoon of it, and mix it with my 5 gallon jug of top off water. Then wait till the water isnt cloudy anymore to use it. Never shake it up again. And just use it to top off the tank when needed.

[coral reefer]

Kalkwasser has a pH make up of about 12! Kalk is also stable for a short period of time before carbonate hardness and depreciated level of Calcium will ensue. With kalk you MUST keep constant check on your alkalinity to make sure it doesn't go down as a result of adding more calcium!

[Tyslin]

Thanks for the information guys,...do both methods provide the same result, Drip or top off? How long can u have a freshly made batch of Kalk sit before it looses it effectiveness?

Honestly guys I have maybe less then half a gal of evaporation ocurring in my sump,...I also have a two 5 gal containers that I would like to use to mix kalk and just add the replacement water from there,.. for the next,..let's say 2 weeks. Are there any drawbacks to this method? any adivse is appreciated, thanks.

[coral reefer]

Again Kalk has a high pH so if you add it too quickly, it will raise the pH of your water too quick possibly causing problems with the inhabitants of your tank. Drip method is best IMO!
Also, if you add vinegar to the kalk solution, it will increase the amount of available calcium to your water, more so than by just dosing kalk alone!

[djnzlab1]

HI,
Many times we want to try and fix things before they are broke and make it worse, whats your CA,KH, I never add Kalk unless ca is less that 400 and the kh is falling Kalk can kill things if not used properly it would be better to use that CA-cl and a little buffer when needed.this requires accurate water testing, my tanks rarely need calcium and I have coral and lots of those inverts. I usally add a little every 2-3 weeks if needed and only then.
I use a used IV bag ,drip small amounts over night and only at night when your ph is falling
Do you have active airation and water flow the co2 can help stabilze your KH otherwise you'll hit 20 and kill your inverts.
Never add cloudy Kalkwasser I filter my supernate thru paper(Coffee filters) to be sure, this help prevent any KH problem that white powder in the bottom of the kalk jug is loaded with Buffering capcity. 1 TSP of that stuff and your going to have a precip event with invert Die OFF.
I almost gave up using it after a couple brushes with dissaster.
it will clear your water and help remove phos and heavy metals but it can kill if added to fast to frequently without water testing.
Doug

PS only add about 30 -40 mls of white vinegar to your kalk solution, it can reduce the available 02 to your fish and other critters and will increase bacterial bloom activity as they burn off the resulting acetate. its pretty tricky stuff.

here's a good articile about making and using the stuff take it real slow with Kalkwasser
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com